The Front Garden

The talented Dean Herald (of Sydney’s Rolling Stone Landscapes ) talks with the boys about finding his feet in the industry, making mistakes and finding the value in learning from them, and how he managed to grow a small company into success from age 19. Email tfg@landscapingvictoria.com.au if you've got a question, a suggestion for a topic or a guest you’d like Chris and Tyson to chat to on...

The passionate Kerry-Anne Hagen chats with the boys about her change of careers from hospitality to horticulture, her current apprenticeship with Super Gardens , and the benefits of study as a mature-age student in the industry.   Email tfg@landscapingvictoria.com.au if you've got a question, a suggestion for a topic or a guest you’d like Chris and Tyson to chat to on ‘The Front Garden’.  Got...

The experienced Carl Soderlund ( Botanix Plant Supply ) chats with the boys about the challenges and opportunities within the booming nursery industry! In this episode, Carl discusses his journey into the industry – from working with his dad who established Plantmark in 1988, to the introduction and success of Botanix Plant Supply.   Email tfg@landscapingvictoria.com.au if you've got a questi...

The talented Steve Taylor of COS Design chats with the boys about his passion for landscaping, design and construction! In this episode, Steve takes us on his journey into the industry – from working on his own property in his youth, to providing free designs, and balancing his time between running a successful landscape construction business and the introduction of design work. Email tfg@landscap...

On this special episode of The Front Garden – recorded live at The Landscape Show 2021 – Chris and Tyson sit down with a group of industry experts (David Thomson of StrathAyr , Andrew Triantafillou of Semken Landscaping , and Brett Robinson of ACRE ) to discuss the benefits of marketing and exposure, and the importance of staying relevant in the current climate. Email tfg@landscapingvictoria.com.a...

The wise and experienced Marty Semken of Semken Landscaping sits down with the boys to discuss his entry into the industry, and how he has grown his business to where it is now! During this episode, you will learn all about Marty’s journey from finding an apprentice gardener role in a newspaper, to running his own successful company in Semken Landscaping .  Email tfg@landscapingvictoria.com.au if...

The professional and experienced Rob Stewart of Holmesglen TAFE sits down with the boys to discuss all things education, apprenticeships, and industry opportunities! During this episode, you will learn all about Rob’s journey from becoming the first registered Landscape Construction Apprentice in Victoria, to owning and running his own business, and now mentoring new landscaping apprentices in the...

The professional and experienced Hendrik Van Leeuwen sits down with the boys to discuss all things business management, garden maintenance, and landscaping! During this episode, you will learn all about Hendrik’s journey from serving retail customers at a local nursery, to now running a successful team of landscaping professionals.  When it comes to successful business, Hendrik discusses the key a...

The professional and experienced Steven Browning sits down with the boys this week to discuss the importance of business planning and what ambitious business owners can do to ensure success. Sit down with Chris, Tyson and Steven as they discuss leadership, strategy, and the ever-changing business landscape.  When it comes to successful business, Steven discuss the key aspects you need to consider,...

Self confessed 'plant nerd' Andrew Smith talks all things Horticulture and his 35 years working at Warners Nurseries.   Find out how Andrew's love of plants commenced at a really early age - he recalls some great stories of being part of different plant clubs whilst still at school.     He also provides advice on the things individuals can do to get into the industry and shares why...

Ollie Stephens from Hungry Wolf talks about his meteorical rise from a supermarket register operator to becoming a concreter highly regarded in the landscaping industry.  As concrete started to enter homes through floating stairs and BBQ benches, Ollie capitalised on the boom in social media, in particular Instagram, to grow his business and explore interesting and unique ways to utilise concrete...

Our Hosts Chris Weiss and Tyson Owen share their experiences of lessons learnt throughout their careers and discuss how, as a business owner, that the way you respond to the challenges you face will shape the future success of your business.   From using new contractors to taking on jobs 'just a little bit' out of your capability, or the best way to set up your teams on site, tune in as...

In this episode of 'The Front Garden', Chris Weiss and Tyson Owen, have a chat with Lisa Ellis from Lisa Ellis Gardens about how she happened upon the Landscaping industry, the challenges of operating within a predominantly male dominant industry and industry specific challenges in general.  With a successful career in marketing to a Graduate Diploma in Horticulture, Lisa speaks with pas...

Chris Weiss and Tyson Owen, together with Andrew Grasby, Managing Director of Super Gardens and current President of Landscaping Victoria discuss smashing through the stigma of having more women join the predominantly male-dominant Landscaping industry on this brand-new episode of ‘The Front Garden’ brought to you by StrathAyr, the home of ‘World Class Grass’.  Andrew also takes us through the hum...

Chris Weiss and Tyson Owen have a chat with Shah Turner, Landscape Architect and owner of Pitch Box, on this brand new episode of ‘The Front Garden’ brought to you by StrathAyr, the home of ‘World Class Grass’.  Shah takes you on a journey of how his love for Landscaping got him enrolling in a degree in Landscape Architecture at RMIT before setting up Pitch-Box, an online ‘on-demand’ service, work...

On this episode we take a deep dive on the topic of OH&S standards and the importance of staying on top of your obligations for the safety of your workers, and the survival of your business.  David Jarman from Coolabah Landscapes, with 36 years of knowledge, experience and know-how under his belt takes us on a journey through his early days in the business, whilst emphasising the importance of...

Yet another informative episode brought to you by StrathAyr where Chris Weiss and Tyson Owen pick the brains of Ineke Clark, Director of Ambition Consultants, a successful Marketing Consultancy whose primary objective is to help small business Landscapers and entities in the built industry to build brands online. Ineke takes us through her journey from being the former CEO of Landscaping Associati...

In this episode, we speak with Bruce Winstanley from Winstanley Landscapes and Great Ocean Pools about his 30 years in the landscaping business.   Bruce has a great story to tell - from his beginnings of working in a Bank for 10 years, to completing his apprenticeship at 28 years of age! He has some great tips for tradesmen in general and offers advice on how you can improve your business. Got a s...

In this episode, we are speaking with Chris Keay. He describes how he started his career as an (almost) roof tiler before deciding on a Landscaping Apprenticeship, culminating into the creation of his own commercial landscape business, Landscapes Plus.  Chris gives Chris and Tyson his tips for building a successful business and outlines the process he went through in successfully selling an 80% sh...

In this episode, co-host Tyson Owen takes us through his experience dealing with VCAT in a 2-year battle. He provides a background of his business and how the project came about.  From positive beginnings, communication then stalled, leading Tyson to navigate the VCAT  process. Some of the key tips and tricks Tyson provides includes how to maximize Landscaping Victoria Master Landscaping Membershi...

In the launch episode of The Front Garden, hosts Chris Weiss and Tyson Owen chat with Adam from Adam Hompas Landscapes. Adam summarises his 6 year journey of owning his own business and describes how it was the passion he had that really pushed his business to new heights.      Adam, Chris and Tyson discuss their experiences of 2020 and share how COVID has affected them personally and professional...