Design Concepts / Environmental Management / Erosion Control / Horticulturalists / Landscape / Landscape Architecture / Landscape Construction / Landscape Design / Landscape Structures / Landscaping - Hard
Green Infrastructure to Make Cities More Liveable and Sustainable
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) has released a Green Infrastructure Position Statement calling on non-government agencies, industry organisations and governments at all levels to make significant progress towards improving the liveability and sustainability of urban and regional settlements through Green Infrastructure. Green infrastructures are the strategically planned networks of natural and semi-natural areas...
Environmental Management / Green Walls & Green Roofs / Horticulturalists / Landscape / Landscape Architecture / Landscape Construction / Landscape Design / Landscape Structures / Street & Outdoor Furniture / Street and Outdoor Furniture / Uncategorized
RECYCLED IS THE NEW BLACK
With global consciousness about the environment growing, eco-friendly, recycled and composite products are becoming the new norm in the construction industry. The market for environmentally sound building materials is changing. If you think bamboo can just be used to grow beans up in your garden, think again. BAMBOO AND MODIFIED TIMBER Pandas aren’t the only...
Why are Old Eucalypts Worth Saving?
In urban landscapes, many consider large and old eucalypts a dangerous nuisance that drop limbs, crack footpaths and occupy space that could be used for housing. But when we remove these trees they are effectively lost forever. It takes at least 100-200 years before a eucalypt reaches ecological maturity. As trees mature, their branches become...
Collective Farming in China
Value Farm is an amazing urban agriculture project in Shenzhen, China that encourages locals to participate in a collective farming effort. Thomas Chung, together with Tris Kee and Chi Fai Fung, transformed an open area within Ole Bouman’s Value Factory from an abandoned industrial facility into an expansive farm that flourishes with a smorgasbord of edible plants. Projects...
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...
Let Your Personality Shine Through Your Backyard
The backyard is much more than just an extension of the home; it’s a reflection of your lifestyle and personality which is why it’s important to consider every element and choose a style for your backyard that compliments your own. The preferred style does not have to be defined by the area you live in;...
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...
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...
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...
Planting under Eucalypts
Many gardens have established Eucalypts, and as designers, landscapers and horticulturists, we have to be aware of the requirements of these existing trees if we want to have a successful planting under and around them. I will take three Eucalyptus species as an example of their varied requirements. Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowood) is naturally fond in...
The right plant in the right soil
In a school near where I live, 25 trees had to be removed as they were found unstable. The reason was that the species chosen was not suited to the soil type and their root system could not develop adequately. Not long ago I was given a plan to quote from. Of the plant specification...
Self Learning
Horticulture is a profession that requires constant learning. Our profession deals with the natural word which works in a complex web of interaction between organisms and their environment. Because of its multi-disciplinary aspect, our profession needs to stay abreast of the constant discovery in biology and plant re-classification. For those of us specifying and recommending...
