Plants Grow Here - Horticulture, Landscape Gardening & Ecology

How much truth is there to the claims of the ability for plants to purify the air? Is it just hype, or do they make a genuine difference? Recently, one of the world's leading indoor plant companies, Ambius, sponsored me to visit their press release for a new study that they funded at the University of Technology in Sydney (UTS) regarding the ability for plants to purify the air and suffice to...

Spiders are a horticulturist's best friend. They're predatory organisms that have an appetite for all sorts of insects that we like to call "pests". In this episode, Dr Ian Smith gives us a general introduction to this class of arachnid. Listen to the end to find out: -What are the different types of spiders that we're likely to find in our gardens? -What different methods...

Are you in the nursery game? Perhaps you work in a sector that relies on the nursery industry? In this episode, nursery industry expert Bruce Durant gives us an insight into the nursery industry, including tips and tricks for people in the production, wholesale and retail sectors of the nursery industry. Bruce is a sales rep for Arborgreen, this episode's sponsor. Check out previous episodes...

AI is the hottest thing right now. But what does it mean for the horticulture industry? Will AI be coming to take our jobs any time soon? Can we use ChatGPT in our everyday horticulture work? The answers to these questions and more can be found in this interview with Aurelie Quade. She's a soil carbon consultant that's interested in the latest tech being used in horticulture; particularl...

PLA are an industry organisation for people working in the parks/gardens, pools, and other recreational outdoor sectors. In this episode, Executive Officer of the Vic/Tas branch Dan Ferguson tells us about the organisation, how they represent and help members, and a couple of their upcoming events including a world congress featuring overseas and local speakers including the CEO of Parks Canada as...

It's officially winter, so that means it's time to rest in the garden, right?  Not quite. In this episode, Mariah Watkin, a gardening enthusiast and representative for Charlie Carp fish emulsion fertiliser, tells us how growing veg in winter differs to growing in the warmer seasons, including how to prepare your soil, how to keep pests and diseases at bay, and what are some of the best v...

Learn about Natural Resource Management (NRM) from a Kiwi inventor of biodiversity solutions whose boots are firmly planted in the ground of rural Victoria. In this episode, you'll learn how Lisette Mill is able to help bring animals back into the landscape that haven't been seen in ages. You'll also learn about her inventions including the Bandicoot Motel and the Pop-Up Puddle whic...

Lawns are a divisive topic amongst garden designers and landscape architects. Are they a staple in every landscape? Are they an ecological nightmare? Are they out of fashion? In this episode, UK horticultural lecturer, Lucy Lewis and I look back on the history of lawns to reflect upon the motivating factors that have led to lawns becoming the staple they are in our built landscapes. EPISODE LINKS...

Are you wasting time, money and effort doing things the way they've always been done? In this episode, Marc Jarvis, head of marketing at our sponsor Arborgreen, discusses some of the innovative products and services that they offer to tree industry professionals in Australia. Stick around to the end of the episode to learn how you can use Arborgreen as a free expert consultancy service, some...

We all love worms, but how much do you know about everyone's favourite soil organism?  Do they all belong to a single family? Can you cut a worm in half to get two worms? Learn the answers to these questions and more as entomologist Dr Ian Smith demystifies another insect-like organism. Follow Ian on Twitter: @Ecologian Follow the Plants Grow Here podcast on Twitter: @PlantsGrowHere Tweet ins...

If you're looking for a hort career but have overlooked sports turf, you're making a mistake. In this episode, Marcus Saddington, an Operations Manager at our sponsor GLG, discusses what's so appealing about a career in this field, what's involved with working as a turfie day-to-day, and why GLG is a great place to work in turf, whether you're already fully qualified with...

Why do people study for a cert 3 at TAFE? What are the biggest challenges? What jobs do they hope to get? In this episode, I interview a class of TAFE NSW students in Tamworth about their hopes, dreams and career plans after graduating with their Cert 3 of horticulture. Each person I interviewed had a unique perspective and their own individual reasons for beginning their studies. EPISODE LINKS Au...

Carnivorous plants are among the most fascinating plants on earth. Learn about four different types of carnivorous plants, and how to care for these plants with or without using peat as a substrate. Megan Webb is a carnivorous plant researcher and production horticulturist based in the UK that runs the Carnivorous_Plant_Girl Instagram and YouTube channels. Stick around to the end of the episode to...

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is over for another year! Listen to three horticulturists and an entomologist chat about what we saw, what we liked, and what we hope to see next year. EPISODE LINKS Australian Institute of Horticulture: aih.org.au MIFGS website: https://melbflowershow.com.au/ Search for horticulture jobs: HortPeople.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: @Plant...

Learn how to test soil pH and texture with these simple steps from Scott Smith. Plants are only as good as the substrate they're planted in, and soil testing is as complex or simple as it needs to be. In this episode, you'll learn how to correctly take a soil sample that accurately represents your site. You can send this sample off to a soil lab, or you can do some testing on-site or at...

Green infrastructure is probably the most exciting area of horticulture to get into. You can work with plants in a completely different setting: the vertical plane. Green walls, rooftop gardens, and other green infrastructure assets are going up faster than ever before, and with this comes a demand for professionals working in the space. In this episode, you'll hear from two managers at green...

Ladybirds are cute from our perspective. But you wouldn't feel the same way if you were an aphid! As one of our best allies against a variety of small, slow-moving plant pests, ladybirds are most welcome in any garden. Listen as Dr Ian Smith enlightens us about this group of insect (and sometimes fungus) pest-eating garden allies. Follow Ian on Twitter: @Ecologian Follow the Plants Grow Here...

How can forestry for profit fit into an agriculture setting? Agroforestry is the combination of forestry with agriculture and in this episode, Rowan Reid (agroforestry expert at Bambra Farm) explains how growing trees for profit can benefit the individual growing them, their community and the wider environment. EPISODE LINKS Rowan's website:  www.agroforestry.net.au Shop tools and timber: htt...

Have you ever wondered how to design gardens? There's a lot of theory to discover, and in this episode, Scott Smith breaks down some of the fundamentals to make it easy for you to get started. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-h-smith-mcihort-diphort-rhs-3ab122227/ Read Scott's weekly articles in The Press & Journal: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/...

Do you know the basics behind choosing indoor plants, and taking care of them? Whether or not you answered yes to that question, you'll gain a lot of value from this episode, which reminds us of the basics behind taking care of indoor plants. Jane Perrone is the host of the On The Ledge podcast, and the author of two books, each linked below. She's the perfect person to explain all thing...

Fungus gnats are one of the most common indoor plant pests, and in this episode Dr Ian Smith explains what we need to know about them as horticulturists. What threat do they pose our plants? When should we do something about them? What methods can we use to reduce numbers, or remove them completely (with and without chemicals)? Follow Ian on Twitter: @Ecologian Follow the Plants Grow Here podcast...

Attracting staff is difficult at the moment. By retaining staff, you save on making unnecessary hires for positions that should be filled by passionate plant people. In this episode, Jay Worth from Single Ops and the Green Industry Perspectives podcast helps us explore workplace culture dynamics. to help you build a place where everybody wants to work, whether you're an employer or an employe...

This is a chainsaw refresher course, not an introduction to chainsaw work. Scott Smith reminds us of chainsaw safety considerations and how to cut small trees so that they fall the way you want. Don't be afraid to listen to some parts several times as I couldn't find a decent diagram that I can link here in the show notes. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott...

As an AIH council member, it was my pleasure to be a part of the Student of the Year award ceremony this week, celebrating Nathan Watson's outstanding efforts over the recent years.  He graduated last year, but wasn't able to receive his award in person so the AIH went regional. He works for Tamworth Regional Council, where you might find him working in the Botanic Gardens. In this episo...

This episode was requested by Dylan Whiffler from Western Australia. The polyphagous shot-hole borer is a significant horticultural and forestry pest that's causing substantial damage to crops in Western Australia. In this episode Dr Ian Smith explains how we can identify it, and what to do once we suspect its presence. Report this pest: mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au/reporter (08) 9368 3080 . E...