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;...
Create a Unique Statement in your Garden
Spending some relaxing time in a beautiful garden is food for the soul in every essence! A blooming space that celebrates nature, calms the soul and inspires creativity is most often found in public gardens which are filled with interesting design choices. But what if you can create the same choices when planning a garden...
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Comes to Fruition
The newly completed Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital on Brisbane’s south bank adopts a salutogenic approach to healing. The term coined late last century by Aaron Antonovsky refers to the utilisation of factors that support well-being and health, rather than those that cause disease. Aspects such as clear way finding, allusions to the surrounding environment, stunning...
MAD Tree-House
Tree covered terraces and translucent metallic walls line the exterior of the approved renovation plans for a residential block in Rome. After initially winning a design competition in 2010, the Beijing Architecture studio, MAD, was charged with completely overhauling the 8-storey building originally built in 1971. 4 years later MAD has finally gotten approval from...
Beirut Breaks Ground
A unique design challenge has been presented to the architects behind a new 11-storey residential building in the trendy neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael in Beirut. The unique design challenge comes in the form of a heritage listed, charming little cottage built in the 1920’s, which resides adjacent to the construction site. Immediately calling to mind...
The Last Stop
One of the few opportunities motorists are afforded to learn about the culture, tradition and history of the towns they travel through, is about to become a thing of the past. Roadside stops in North America are becoming a seriously endangered part of the landscape as motorway budgets become tighter and tighter. While only 24 of...
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...
Footbridge hits the mark
On budget and on time, that’s the target every project aims for. Add in a material that’s durable as well as sustainable and you have a winning combination that really hits the mark. A stunning 56 metre pedestrian bridge across Rifle Range Creek at Bagara has just been completed by Bundaberg Council in Queensland using...
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...
