The Front Garden

Helix Australia co-founder Adrian Parsons joins Adam Hompas to explain how waxflower varieties are selected for gardens and the cut flower trade. The conversation gives designers, landscapers, and maintenance teams practical ways to assess plant habit, flowering time , and pruning needs before choosing a variety.  In this episode… Will that waxflower stay compact along a garden edge, or will it ne...

In this episode… Discover how Garden DesignFest gives landscape professionals fresh design ideas, opportunities to showcase their work, and a way to support local communities through open gardens. What can you learn about landscape design by stepping into a finished garden and asking the person behind it why they made those choices? Garden DesignFest organisers and Rotary members Phil Mortimer and...

Daniel Eastman shares how he’s developing his landscaping team, balancing quoting and administration, and maintaining quality as he learns to step back from site. In this episode… How do you make room for quoting, planning, and administration when the easiest option is to stay on site and get the job done yourself?  Daniel Eastman, owner of Evergrow Landscapes in East Gippsland, is working through...

In this episode… Have a sculptural feature in mind , but aren’t sure how it will work on site? Bringing a fabricator into the conversation early can help shape the design and resolve practical questions before construction begins. Host Adam Hompas speaks with Timothea Jewell and Chris Vassallo of Lump Sculpture Studio. What began with water features made in a garage has grown into a studio creatin...

In this episode… Do you know which parts of your landscape projects are making money, and where your margins may be slipping? John Corban, otherwise known as the Landscapers Coach, joins Adam Hompas to explore how landscaping businesses can build greater confidence through clearer numbers, practical systems, and consistent accountability. Drawing on his experience working with landscaping, design,...

In this episode… What does it take to create landscapes that perform well beyond handover—and build a team capable of supporting them? Paddy Milne, owner of Ballarat-based The Scape Artist, joins host Adam Hompas to discuss the value of connecting landscape design, construction and ongoing maintenance. Drawing on 13 years in business and experience across each stage of a project, Paddy explains wh...

Pia Lefevre shares how thoughtful site analysis, clear plans, and functional design can create more sustainable gardens while building confidence with clients and contractors. In this episode… What makes a garden sustainable in practice—not just in principle?  Pia Lefevre, Owner of Joyscapes, joins Adam Hompas to explore how careful site analysis, functional planning, and clear communication can s...

Mitch Lyons explains how thoughtful planning, professional photography, and strong client relationships can help landscape projects look their best and work harder in marketing and awards. In this episode… Great landscape photography starts well before the camera comes out. The condition of the garden, time of day, seasonal timing, and site preparation can determine whether the finished images tru...

In this episode… What does it really take to build a landscaping business from the ground up?  In this episode of The Front Garden , host Adam Hompas sits down with Shem Quilliam from Cedarscapes to unpack a career that has taken him from landscape apprentice to subcontractor, building foreman, project coordinator and, ultimately, business owner. Shem shares some of the lessons he learnt in the ea...

In this episode… Adam Hompas sits down with Corey Shalevski from RYCOR Landscapes for a candid chat about business growth, team culture, systems, and the realities of building a landscape business with momentum. Corey shares the RYCOR story, from growing up on a Yarra Valley property with his brother and business partner Ryan, to combining Ryan’s hands-on landscaping experience with Corey’s backgr...

In this episode… Our host, Adam Hompas , sits down with Peter Hum from Peter Christopher Gardens for an honest chat about career changes, starting a business, backing yourself, and the importance of doing the little things properly. Peter shares how he moved from graphic design into horticulture after discovering that life behind a computer screen was not for him. What began as a side job helping...

In this episode… Our host, Adam Hompas, is joined by Aaron Leslie and Brenna Kinnaird from Timeless Outdoors for a conversation that moves between craftsmanship, design thinking, construction challenges and the reality of delivering high-quality landscapes at scale. Aaron shares the evolution of Timeless Outdoors, from its construction roots through to a growing focus on design, and the role that...

In this episode… Our host, Adam Hompas, chats with La Muxlow from La Muxlow Garden Design about the realities, rewards, and relentless preparation involved in creating a garden for the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Fresh from her 2026 MIFGS balcony garden, La reflects on the emotional high of exhibiting, the pressure of delivering a garden in a tight timeframe, and the value of...

TL;DR Alexandria Jayde and Maurizio Lepori from Takaynar Landscaping share how they built a landscaping business grounded in sustainability, strong team culture, and meaningful client relationships. The episode explores everything from permaculture principles and project management to creating gardens that genuinely improve the way people live and connect with nature.   In this episode… Our host A...

Karen Dickson and Greg Palmer from Ayus Botanical join Adam Hompas to explore the art, business and emotion behind plant-led landscape design. From nursery beginnings and commercial projects to botanical retreats and the Chelsea Flower Show, this episode is a thoughtful look at how gardens can shape the way people feel, connect and slow down. In this episode… In this episode of The Front Garden ,...

Dean Oliver and Matt Johnston from Can Do Landscapes chat with Adam Hompas about leadership, apprenticeships, communication, and the systems that help landscaping businesses run well on-site and behind the scenes. In this episode… What does it take to build a strong landscaping team, create systems that work on site, and step confidently into leadership? In this episode of The Front Garden podcast...

TL;DR: In Episode 140 of The Front Garden, Adam Hompas chats with Tomas Runciman from Straightcurve about why garden edging is one of the most overlooked but important elements in landscape construction.   From modular systems and faster installs to material choices and emerging design trends, this episode is a practical look at how the right details can lift the entire project. In this episode… A...

In this episode… Our host, Adam Hompas, sits down with Mark Slefendorfas, Director of Brocor Group , to talk about building a commercial landscaping business from the ground up. Mark shares how he went from apprentice to business owner, starting out with the idea that it would just be him, one machine and a bit of work on the side, before growing Brocor Group into a large-scale operation deliverin...

In this episode… Our host, Adam Hompas, sits down with Michael Casey , Director of Evergreen Infrastructure , a specialist in green roofs and green infrastructure for urban, built developments.  Michael shares how he found his niche in the early 2000s, why extensive green roofs are among the toughest projects to get right, and what needs to change in the way we design, build, and maintain green in...

In this episode… We’re joined by Alannah Easton , owner of Olivera Landscape Architecture and Design , whose work sits at the intersection of community design, habitat gardening, and practical, buildable landscapes.  Alannah shares her unusual pathway into the industry (from the Department of Justice), why public spaces shape behaviour and connection, and how she’s turning that passion into real c...

TL:DR A practical and candid conversation with Tobias Lestrell (Shapescaper) on better edging systems, weathering steel insights, and the realities of growing an Australian manufacturing business in the landscaping industry. In this episode… Adam sits down with Tobias Lestrell , owner and director of Shapescaper , to unpack the story behind a brand that’s become a go-to for metal edging, modular p...

In this episode… In this episode of The Front Garden, host Adam Hompas is joined by Mitchell William-Kelly and Jaimee Olsen from Green by Nature to unpack what it really takes to operate one of the largest commercial landscaping and grounds maintenance businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Born from the merger of four established companies, Green by Nature now brings together more than 120...

In this episode… Our host, Adam Hompas, sits down with landscape designer Natalie Back from Living Earth Design in the Dandenong Ranges to explore how a creek-loving childhood, a passion for plants and chickens, and her studies at Swinburne shaped her values-led approach to gardens.  A former LV student member turned full member and business owner, Natalie is carving out a niche for joyful, resili...

In this episode… Ashley Kellett from Global Landscapes chats with Adam about learning through mistakes, quoting with clarity, choosing the right materials for site and climate, balancing family life with work, and mentoring the next generation.  From shale in Wonga Park to sand in Bayside, granite vs bluestone, and why limestone’s having a moment, this episode digs into the practical decisions tha...

TL;DR A practical deep-dive into contractor-first innovation with Madewell Products covering fibreglass reinforcement (GFRP), reusable formwork, architectural concrete know-how, and the on-site support that helps landscapers deliver better work with less labour. In this episode… From a simple idea to cut waste on site, Madewell has grown into a contractor-first toolkit for concrete done smarter. K...