The Landscaping Podcast

In this episode, the final for 2023, I speak with Lucy Willcox from Lucy Willcox Garden Design. Lucy is a solo landscape designer based in London and has won several design awards in her time in the industry. Lucy didn't start out in the industry but realised she had a passion for it, so jumped in and that passion has only increased since! I first discovered Lucy after seeing her home garden...

In this episode I speak with Scott Latham from Latham Landscapes, a landscape construction company based in Geelong. Scott has only been running the business for a couple of years, but worked for some high quality companies prior to that, so we discuss that experience, as well as the pros and cons of having equipment, such as an Excavator called Bessie, and a tracked dumper called Wendy! Scott als...

In this episode, I read out a collection of "Crazy client stories" that listeners sent in. There's a story about a cigarette smoking client, a client who baked Olive bread, an alcoholic client, and that's all in the one story! You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page @instyle_gardens @thelandscapingpodcast You can view each e...

In this episode I speak with Ben Scott from Ben Scott Garden Design, a Landscape design company based in Melbourne. Ben is one of my favourite designers and has a pretty cool story about how he started in the industry, working for Julian McCarthy Landscapes and working on Paul Bangay's garden at Woodend, before eventually working for Paul in design. Ben also talks about how he uses photoshop...

This episode, the final of the Instagram Live episodes, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on November 26, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: How have you gone re-homing your MIFGS plants? How much detail do you give in your quotes...

In this episode I speak with Andy Watkins from Leaf By Leaf, a garden maintenance company based in Melbourne. Andy runs a team of four and started out studying visual arts, and still uses the same design principals he learnt, today. Andy has a great outlook on his business, treating his clients more like a friend than just another paying client. To Andy, "It's not just gardening" th...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on November 19, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: What are your 3 favourite podcasts related to the landscaping industry? As a construction company, how much detail do you want in a...

In this episode I speak with Steph Walton from Studio Es Design and Co, a landscape design company based in Adelaide. I was keen to get Steph on to talk to her about the way she's advertising her business, even though she's only been operating 12 months. She talks about the use of 3D designs to not only show her clients the potential of her design, but also to provide social media conten...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on November 12, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: What are your business values and why? Do 3D renders create an unachievable expectation? Is work drying up around Geelong? How do y...

In this episode I speak with Bryce Hillig from Local Green Bean, a garden maintenance company based in New South Wales. Bryce is also studying Landscape Design, and recently had to defer his studies after he was awarded an internship to work in France at Monet's Garden, where he worked for 8 weeks, so we talk plenty about that expereince. Bryce is also looking to build his relationships withi...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on November 5, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: What advice would you give to yourself when you were starting out? How's your front yard coming along? Is it unprofessional to...

In this episode I speak with Grant Boyle from Fig Landscapes, a landscape design, construction and maintenance company based in Byron Bay. Grant shares his story about how, prior to starting Fig landscapes, he worked as a bricklayer and also had a partnership with another landscaping business. He talks about the benefits of building from the ground up when it comes to employing staff, and also tal...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on October 29, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: As a Landscaping Victoria judge, do you feel you learnt anything that will benefit InStyle? What's your favourite plant? What&a...

This episode, where I speak with Jack Hanley of CHF Landscapes, is a little different to the previous 159 episodes. While Jack is a landscaper, and we do start off talking about his landscaping career, he's also currently in the midst of running 50km every day for 50 days, while still working as a landscaper Monday-Friday for his employer New Era Turf and Landscapes! Jack is doing this incred...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on October 22, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: Is there value in seeking Google Reviews from clients in the early days of a landscaping business? What's your favourite '...

In this episode I speak with Nick Rickard from Sheoak Design. Nick runs a business based on the Mornington Peninsula where he does not only Landscape Design, but is also starting to do regenerative garden maintenance. Nick talks about how he likes to incorporate biodiversity seamlessly into his designs rather than making them stand out, and he talks about his passion for improving soil quality and...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on October 15, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: What contributes most to building business credibility/reputation? hat upgrade of vehicle/machine was most vital in the growth of yo...

In this episode I speak with Nadia Cole from Platylobium Landscape Design, and landscape design company based in Melbourne. Nadia has a great story about how she started in the industry and the value of patience in getting to where you want to go. While always wanting to have her own business, she didn't start Platylobium until she'd worked elsewhere for 14 years. A great example of not...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on October 8, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: What's the best quoting software? What's the most recent thing you YouTube'd to work out how to do it? Have you seen a...

In this episode I speak with Steve Rooney from Living Edge Construction, a landscape construction company based in Bendigo, Victoria. Steve has a fascinating story about his journey in landscaping, having previously been a part of two partnerships with the business and now running it on his own. One of the keys to Steve's success in business has been using business coaches, and he talks about...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on October 1, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: How do you mitigate price rises when quoting a project a long way out? What's your choice of spirit level brand? What are the ma...

In this episode I catch up with Peter Donegan from Peter Donegan Garden Design. This is Peter's third time on the podcast as he was a guest on episode 80 and Special Guest Host on episode 124. Peter is coming to Australia in late October to do a couple of talks for the Australian Institute of Horticulture, and you can buy tickets here to see him speak in Cairns and Melbourne. In this episode...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on September 24, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: How long do you spend on an average quote? How quick do you try and get quotes back to clients? What's your favourite timber...

In this episode I speak with Emm Rice from Embrace Garden Co and Jodie O'Toole from Bay Design Gardens. Both based in Melbourne, they met when Jodie was delivering plants as her role as a plant sourcer/supplier to Emm who had specified them in her role as Landscape Designer. They hit it off straight away and have been friends since. Emm is about to launch a Landscape Design workshop where she...

This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on September 17, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays. In this episode I also answered questions such as: What was the Floriade judging experience like? How do you time manage all of the different roles in the business you do? What equa...