The Landscaping Podcast

In this episode, I use a program from Google called NotebookLM to make a podcast reviewing episodes which I uploaded from the previous 10 episodes. AI technology is phenomenal, but also has its flaws. The hosts (which are AI and don't actually exist) don't even mention three or four of the episodes I uploaded, even thought they seem to run out of content and repeat some of the same thing...

In this episode I speak with Brendan Eccleston from Brisbane Landscaping Co, a design and construction company based in Brisbane. Brendan had a great variety of experience prior to starting his business, which included owning a franchise for a lawn maintenance business, where he didn't make as much money as he'd have liked, but did learn a lot for his future businesses, one of which incl...

In this episode I speak with Andrew Christopher Dunne, and garden designer from Ireland who also has a mentorship/course called The Garden Design Mentor, which he created after getting great feedback on the advice he was offering on Instagram. In this episode he talks about how most people learn by doing, and the importance of putting yourself in your client's shoes, understanding their probl...

In this episode I speak with Daniel O'Callaghan from Nature Build, a landscaping and water feature business based in Bendigo, Victoria. Daniel started out working in heavy timber construction, so does some beautiful timber work, and he also developed a lot of other skills from working around other skilled tradesmen. He discovered water features, so headed off to the US to learn from the best,...

In this episode I speak with Emma Sage from Sage Journal, an online magazine for the garden industry, sharing stunning projects, education, gardening tips and how to's, recipes and everything else you'd expect to find in a gardening magazine. Emma is based in Hawkes Bay in New Zealand and originally studied commercial law and marketing and has used her marketing knowledge to build the au...

In this episode I speak with Christian Douglas from Christian Douglas Design as well as The Back Yard Farm Company. Christian started out in the UK, studying design and having a business partnership which also designed gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, before leaving this business and moving to California and starting the current businesses. He discovered a passion for permaculture, and started...

In this episode I speak with Colleen Southwell from The Garden Curator. Colleen is a landscape designer and artist based in Orange, NSW. Colleen mentions that her artwork has taken over more of her time recently, and I was fascinated with how beautiful and unique her paper sculptures were, so we talk plenty about that and her piece which was sent to New York. Colleen also does garden design worksh...

In this episode I speak with Andrea Proctor of Andrea Proctor Landscapes, a design firm located in Melbourne. Andrea has an awesome story about how she got started in the industry and the importance of being proactive and persistent. She worked for Andrew Laidlaw for ten years after working with John Patrick for 5, and she has since worked on around 20 Botanic gardens and went out on her own in 20...

In this episode I speak with the World Famous Ashley James from Ashley James Gardens. Ash was a guest on episode 13 where he spoke about his path into the industry, so I thought it was a great time to get him back on the podcast 3+ years later to see what he's been up to. We talk about his work writing for Home Beautiful magazine, his partnership with a real estate agency and the launch of hi...

In this episode I speak with Andy Murray from Andy Murray Landscape Design, a landscape design business based in Melbourne. Andy had a unique path into the industry, starting out in childcare before studying permaculture design, studying further at Burnley and then working in horticulture for a couple of people. He then started a business partnership with one of those people he was working for and...

In this episode I speak with Elissa Astorino of Elissa Astorino Garden Design. Elissa is based in Canada and currently a student, but graduating this month. She came out to Australia in March to help Peter Donegan with his MIFGS garden as well as designing and building her own garden in the Border Gardens competition. She has a great attitude towards learning, which is what has lead to her being i...

In this episode I speak with Jim Fogarty from Jim Fogarty Design, a landscape design company based in Melbourne. Jim has probably done more garden shows than any other Australian designer, winning more than 30 awards, including 16 Gold Medals including a Gold at both Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Jim was also a student at Burnley, which has produced an incredible amount of talented peopl...

In this episode I speak with Josh Norman from Josh Norman Landscapes, a landscape design and construction company based in Melbourne. Josh has a great story about how he started out, firstly with his old man who was a bricklayer, but then he worked at multiple places including travelling to Darwin, Perth and the UK for work, before coming back to Melbourne and working for a couple of high end comp...

In this episode I speak with the former owner of InStyle Gardens, Jack Bath. Jack is currently a project manager at Landscape Solutions based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It was fascinating chatting to Jack and hearing about his transition from business owner to employee and going from residential to commercial, as well as hearing about the pros and cons of having a business in two differe...

In this episode I speak with Chris Hose from Chartwell Nurseries, a wholesale nursery based just outside of Geelong in Bannockburn. I absolutely loved chatting with Chris, not only because he's a plant nerd, but also because he's one of the nicest people in the industry. He's got a great story about his early life in the industry where he was working at a nursery while still at scho...

In this episode I answer some questions asked via Instagram. Normal interviews will resume next week. If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here. You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page @instyle_gardens @thelandscapingpodcast You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

In this episode I speak with Hayden from Vereya Gardening, a garden maintenance business mased in the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne. Hayden has a great story about one of his first projects, working for someone who decided to post an ad for a gardener at the music college Hayden was studying at. He recently went to various gardens overseas for 7 weeks, so he talks about the challenges of running h...

In this episode I speak with Mia Bueskens from Terravita Horticulture, a garden maintenance and installation company based in Melbourne and around Daylesford, where Mia grew up. She had a great start to the industry with multiple family members part of the industry, and she talks about how influential some workmates and employers were during her development prior to starting her own business, incl...

In this episode I speak with Gareth Wilson from GK Wilson. Gareth is a highly decorated and respected landscaper in the UK and has built at least 30 show gardens, including multiple ones at Chelsea, and has won 11 gold medals as well as best in shows, best in category and best construction. Gareth is also an author, consultant, lecturer and awards judge, among other titles, so despite stepping bac...

In this episode I speak with Ashley O'Sullivan from InDepth Landscape Construction, a company based in Canberra. Ash is the operations manager there and has been for 3 months. Prior to moving to InDepth, Ashley originally worked for his father's business for 10 years and then worked in commercial landscaping for 8-9 years, so we talk about the pros and cons to both and how one can help t...

In this episode I speak with Suzannah Kennett Lister from SKL Gardens, a landscape design business based in Melbourne. Suzannah originally started her working life in the Theatre space before studying landscape design when COVID closed down the arts world. Her mother is a successful landscape designer in South Australia, so Suzannah grew up around the industry, and she also works on projects with...

In this episode I speak with Sean Dowling from Bayon Gardens, a design and construction company based on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne. Sean has not only a unique story about the path he took to start in the industry at 27, but also about how he came up with the name Bayon Gardens. He also shares the different way he started the business, with 4-5 employees including zero apprentices to st...

In this episode I speak with Chloe Foster from Foster Your Garden. Chloe is a horticulturist, writer, educator, designer and host of the 3CR Garden Show. She started in the industry straight out of school, working at PGA nurseries while studying, and talks about the benefits she's experienced from being involved with volunteer work within the industry and how it's benefited her as well....

In this episode, the 200th of The Landscaping Podcast, I speak with the first guest and inspiration behind starting the podcast 3+ years ago, Grahame Rowe from Better Homes and Gardens. Grahame talks about the amount of thought and work that goes into a segment on BHG Tv, which blows me away to think about, and he also talks about the 2 year break he had from working in the green industry where he...

In this episode I speak with Zac Connell from Evergreen Gardens and Landscape Solutions, a landscape construction company based in Benalla in regional Victoria. Zac had a great start in the industry, starting at a nursery before starting his own business doing garden maintenance and then moving more towards construction and dabbling in design. We talk about the challenges of working in regional ar...