Do you know your planting success rate?
This is an important question that we, as business owners or managers, need to know the answer to. For small and medium landscaping companies it is relatively easy to keep records and to monitor statistics and understand the reason for any failure. For big landscaping companies the large amount of plants used may hide the...
Spiritual Gardens
For many generations gardens were considered a place of rest, medicine, reflection and a way to be closer to nature and the Deities. In this modern world the need is no less than it was in older times. People still seek solace in wild nature or the managed natural world of parks and gardens. Clients wanting...
Rainforest Identification Tool
There is a new and important resource for rainforest plant identification. Developed over 13 years by Gwen Harden, Hugh Nicholson, Bill McDonald, Nan Nicholson, Terry Tame & John Williams, this interactive identification key and information system is a must have tool for Educational Institutions, Native Nurseries, Bush Regenerators, Botanists, Landscapers and anyone with an interest...
Horticulturists of the future
On Friday November 7, the Australian Institute of Horticulture hosted the 2014 National Awards night for professional horticulturists. Amongst the Awards given that night two categories were of note for the future of our industry. The BBM Sir John Pagan Horticulture Award included a travel scholarship to the UK and Europe worth $8000. The 2014 Scholarship was...
Barefooting
Have you heard of barefooting? I hadn’t until I visited and interviewed the director of a horticultural training centre for disabled people, “Les Jardins de Broceliande” in Breal sous Monfort in Brittany, France. Amongst the many activities for the general public found in the centre is the Barefoot trail. The director got the idea from...
Turfing the worms?
For those who like their lawn or golf course tidy, Earthworms can create disruption and maintenance problems. The worm castings are faecal matter deposited on the soil surface. It is important to remember that earthworms do not feed on green grass and are therefore not a pest. Earth worms need moisture and organic matter, therefore...
Plants and Bats
In mostly urban areas some wildlife can be seen as a potential problem or even threat. Flying fox (Pteropus sp.) is one of those species that is often complained about in cities and large towns. Those complaints are related to smell and noise of the camps. Added to that is the fear of the Australian...
Myrtle Rust an example of failed bio-security
In 2010-2011 a fungus, the Myrtle Rust (Uredo rangelii), made the headlines of not only trades magazines but also mainstream papers such as the Sydney Morning Herald. The Myrtle Rust as its name indicates affects trees and shrubs in the Myrtaceae family. The Myrtaceae is a large family of plants and includes Australian natives like...
Cut and fill
As I mentioned in my last blog, where landscaping is concerned cut and fill sites come with their own set of problems. What usually happens to a cut and fill site? The excavated material is piled irrespective of its natural layers. Top soil and sub soil is either mixed up together or more often the...
Soil preparation
When we design or plant a garden, we want our final product to stand the test of time. Plants need to be healthy when we plant them and continue to be so year after year. Good soil preparation is the primary reason for a healthy and successful garden. Begin by understanding the soil you will...
Cleaning Our Acts
As all landscapers are well aware, we are often the last trade called in after house alterations or new construction work. While most trades leave the site clean, we often have to deal with the residues of their clean-up operation, This is mostly a problem where cement products are concerned. Nowadays, the wash out from paint...
Eating out
Cooking outdoors has always been a common sight in Australia. The BBQ is its most common form, although in the last decade we have seen it being transformed from the sizzle to the semi professional. The Pizza oven is the second most common, likely due to the Pizza oven kits you can buy over the...
