Dive into the complete episode list for The Landscaping Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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06 Feb 2022
The Landscaping Podcast Ep34 - Jason King - King's Pools and Gardens
01:10:37
In this episode I speak with Jason King from King's Pools and Gardens. Jason is based in Geelong and is one of the premier landscaping companies in the area, and recently added swimming pool construction to the business, and promptly won multiple awards for the pools he built.
We discuss how he went about adding pools to his services, as well as the reason why he no longer has a commercial side to the business.
Jason also talks about the benefits of some long term relationships he's had with staff and suppliers over the years, and he details a checklist he provides to clients during the initial consultation for a design/pool.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep35 - George Jones - Matipo Landscaping
00:57:01
In this episode I speak with George Jones of Matipo Landscaping. George is a landscape designer and builder currently based in Stafford in the UK, but spent the first 5 years of his landscape career in New Zealand. So we discuss the differences between the two as well as his perception of the Australian landscape industry.
As well as having his own podcast, The Matipodcast, George also has a YouTube channel and has recently being diving deep into the analytics of getting viewers engaged in the content he's producing, so we discuss his findings and tips there.
And throughout the chat, George mentions a few times how he felt himself being stretched too thin, trying to keep everyone happy while still doing what he wanted to do, and he realised, after taking some time off over the New Years break, that time off was exactly what he needed. I'm sure plenty of people will relate to that!
The Landscaping Podcast Ep36 - Paul Bangay - PRB Design
00:30:36
In this episode I speak with world renowned Landscape Designer Paul Bangay of PRB Design. Paul has been a landscape designer based in Melbourne for more than 25 years and is easily the most well known Landscape Designer in the country.
Paul's home garden, Stonefields, features in this chat a few times and I had a guided tour of it in 2016 and it is the most amazing garden I've ever been through and I couldn't recommend visiting and higher!
Paul also offers some advice throughout our chat about how people should get into Landscape Design, tips for designing a small garden, and what he'd tell his 21 year old self if he was starting out again.
You can follow along with Paul on Instagram @paulbangay or visit his website, where you can book tours of Stonefields or purchase his books at paulbangay.com
The Landscaping Podcast Ep37 - Joel Kean - Aquadreamz
00:39:31
In this episode I speak with Joel Kean from Aquadreamz, a boutique pool building company based in Melbourne. Joel is a well respected person within the pool building industry and is currently the President of the Master Pool Builders Association of Australia.
There are many parallels in this chat with Joel between the pool building and landscaping industry, such as when Joel mentioned how he changed the structure of his business after he realised he was working way too hard just to keep employees employed. He also mentions how he won't quote a pool project unless a design has been done, so that there's no grey areas and so that the potential client can compare quotes on the same project.
You can follow along with Joel on Instagram @aquadreamzpl
The Landscaping Podcast Ep38 - Meg Geary - MG Gardens
00:54:43
In this episode I speak with Meg Geary from MG Gardens, a landscape design company based in Melbourne. Meg is not only a landscape designer, but also a plant nerd, and they're a great guest to have on as they're always passionate about what they do.
We talk about how Meg started in the industry and how she got her name out there so that people knew she existed, and we also discuss the strength of having a landscape designer design a garden and how what the client wants, sometimes isn't the best solution.
You can follow along with Meg on Instagram @mggardens
The Landscaping Podcast Ep39 - Clint Adams - Hectogon
01:08:17
In this episode I speak with Clint Adams of Hectogon in South Australia.
Clint runs four different businesses under the one umbrella including an irrigation supply store called WaterPro, landscape supply yard called Railways, lawn fertiliser business called LawnHub and is about to release an app called Dirt Cart. So with all of this in mind, it's obvious Clint knows a thing or two about business, and businesses related to the landscaping industry.
Clint is also a current board member of the Master Landscapers Association of South Australia, so we discuss the work they're doing there. And Clint also hosts The Full Landscape, another landscaping podcast, of which I was a guest on episode 55 and also which Tim Harper from Space Capsule and Mitch Davies from Sand and Stone have both been guests on.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep40 - Ian Barker - Ian Barker Gardens
01:06:14
In this episode I speak with Ian Barker from Ian Barker Gardens and it's one I thoroughly enjoyed recording.
Ian runs a landscape design, construction and maintenance business based in Melbourne and will celebrate 25 years in business later this year.
Ian has designed and built multiple show gardens at both The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and the Chelsea Flower Show, winning Gold at both events. We talk about them as well as Ian's experience meeting the Queen.
Ian shares some great experience and advice about how he runs his business, particularly the construction arm of the business, so there's a lot to learn from this episode.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep41 - Ben Hutchinson - Ben Hutchinson Landscapes
00:36:59
In this episode I speak with Ben Hutchinson from Ben Hutchinson Landscapes based in Melbourne.
Ben is a great example of how you can be a landscaper and not do all of the various roles within landscaping. Ben's niche is native/natural gardens, usually featuring an amazing water feature/pond. He's a certified Aquascape contractor and has travelled to the USA to hone his skills and make valuable contacts.
I love talking to people who are passionate about their work and Ben is another lucky person who loves what they do for a living. I also enjoyed realising in this chat how vast the roles of a landscaper are, when Ben mentioned that he often doesn't just design the pond/water feature for a project, but also specifies which fish will do best in the new habitat.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep42 - Sean Collinsgru - Premier Outdoor Living
00:52:01
In this episode I speak to Sean Collinsgru of Premier Outdoor Living in New Jersey, USA.
Sean runs a successful deck and patio business of which he attributes about 90% of the source of work from his hugely popular social media accounts. He currently has 82,000 Instagram followers, 165,000 on TikTok and 196,000 YouTube subscribers. Throughout the chat, Sean gives some great advice about his most popular videos/posts and also explains the target audience for each platform.
Sean also hosts a great Podcast called The Hardworking Happy Hour with his employee Catherine, where they provide plenty of advice for landscapers on Social Media and Networking and also discuss the reality of making mistakes as well as a great episode centered around mental health.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep43 - Dan Foreman - Danscapes
00:57:45
In this episode I speak with Dan Foreman from Danscapes.
Dan is a landscaper and designer based in Melbourne and we've had this chat planned for a few months, but I wanted to wait until he'd built one of the show gardens at this years Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show before chatting to him. The garden he was construction manager for won the Mark Bence Construction Award.
Dan seems like one of those people nobody could say a bad word about and I've had a smile on my face every time I've spoken to him. He's a lot of fun to talk to so hopefully that translates through this episode.
There's a couple of great business tips Dan learnt from not only working for himself, but also for other landscapers including a couple of larger commercial companies.
You can follow along with Dan on Instagram @foreman5155
The Landscaping Podcast Ep44 - Mon Palmer - Bare Cabo
00:48:11
In this episode I speak with Mon Palmer from Bare Cabo based in Perth. Mon also has a number of other business she runs including SGO Outdoor Showers, a luxury accommodation experience called Sebatikel, and she also runs a SkethUp course. So she's clearly knowledgeable about business and shares some tips in this chat, including that she's still learning despite being in business for more than a decade.
We discuss the benefits of starting out how Mon did in construction, prior to moving to design. And Mon also shares how she decided to run her businesses based on her passions, which lead her to not just designing outdoor spaces, but interiors as well.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep45 - Mitch Kushturian - Exotic Living
00:41:29
In this weeks episode I speak with Mitch Kushturian of Exotic Living in Sydney.
Exotic Living do Landscaping design and construction, but also Carpentry and Garden Maintenance, and while Mitch runs the Landscaping and Design side of the business, his brother runs the Carpentry and their best mate runs the maintenance. So we discuss how that all works.
We also talk about Mitch's two times working on The Block. And Mitch explains how when he started out, he had a particular type of project he wanted to be working on, and just three years into the business, he's doing just that.
You can follow along with Mitch's work on Instagram @exoticliving_syd
The Landscaping Podcast Ep46 - Lloyd Sharpe - Landscapists
00:56:09
In this episode I speak with Lloyd Sharpe of Landscapists, a landscape design, construction and maintenance company based in Berry, New South Wales.
Lloyd is one of of four directors of Landscapists and is in charge of the construction side of the business, and on next week's episode I'll be speaking with the director who looks after the design side of the business, Tom Humphrey.
Lloyd explains how and why Landscapists started as well as what he was doing prior to then, and we also discuss some of the amazing Tik Tok/Reels that Lloyd has posted along with his employees and how much fun they have while at work and the benefits of it.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep47 - Tom Humphrey - Landscapists
01:11:39
This week I speak with Tom Humphrey from Landscapists in Berry, New South Wales. Tom is one of four directors at Landscapists, and last week I spoke with Lloyd Sharpe who's one of the other directors there.
Tom controls the office/design side of the business and has an interesting and varied path to get to where he is today, including working in garden maintenance, remedial building, studying art and travelling to the UK, before coming back to New South Wales.
Tom shares advice on the benefits of trying new things as well as being able to take constructive criticism, a skill which he learnt while studying art, where it's a normal part of the learning.
Lloyd mentioned Tom was one of the smartest people he knows in a landscaping sense, and it's clear to see why after speaking with him.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep48 - Andrew Smith - Warners Nursery
00:50:19
This week I speak with Andrew Smith from Warners Nursery in Melbourne.
Andrew has worked at Warners since he left school 36 years ago, and shares some of the tips in this episode about how Warners is so good at retaining staff.
Warners are also a significant contributor to the success of The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show each year, and Andrew is hugely involved in that too, so he explains some of the benefits of being involved.
Andrew is also one of the great plant nerds, so there's a bit of plant chat too.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep49 - Bruce Winstanley - Great Ocean Pools
00:52:32
In this episode I speak with an icon of the industry in Bruce Winstanley of Great Ocean Pools and Winstanley Landscapes.
Bruce was a late starter in the industry but has had a huge impact on the professionalism and profitability for fellow landscapers through educating not only his employees, but also anyone in the industry who's wise enough to listen.
Bruce has a great acronym that he measures his overall success by using WHIRL (Wages, Health, Investments, Relationships, Lifestyle) and goes into detail about this in the episode.
He has also had up to 13 employees at one stage, so I ask him about what that was like compared to lower numbers.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep50 - Renee Reiter - Invidia Landscapes
00:32:32
This week I speak with Renee Reiter from Invidia Landscapes. Renee is a designer working in and around Melbourne.
Although already working in the "Green Industry" straight from school, Renee decided to head back to school in her early 30's to study design as a mature aged student and started Invidia Landscapes from there.
She was recently involved in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show so we discussed what that was like and the success she's experienced from it.
Renee also mentions how she got a bit caught up in the whirlwind of starting the business and having plenty of work coming in, so she took a breath and realised the direction she wanted to head, and did it.
This week I speak with Jayden Weatherley from Greener Visions Landscapes, a construction company based in Melbourne.
Greener Visions has been a company I've admired for many years, as they're one of the top landscape construction companies in the country so it was great to have Jayden on.
He talks about what it was like building a show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show as an apprentice, how that compares to building show gardens at the Melbourne Flower Show, and he also gives some great insight about how his company uses the app Build Exact for quoting.
Jayden touches on the pros and cons of using sub contractors on projects and also shares the techniques Greener Visions use for laying paving and Filletti .
You can follow along with the amazing work that Jayden and the Greener Visions team do on Instagram @greenervisionslandscapes
This week I speak with Bethany Williamson from Bethany Williamson Landscape Architecture which is based in Melbourne.
Bethany is one of the top landscape architects going around and a visit to her website or Instagram page will prove this, as some of the projects she designs are simply beautiful.
Bethany shares her story as a student and landscape architect prior to starting her own business, and has some great advice for anyone looking to do the same, such as deciding who it is you want to work with/for, and also the benefit of running a business like it's your own when working for someone else.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep53 - Shaun Laurie - Laurie Landscapes
00:51:04
In this episode I speak with Shaun Laurie from Laurie Landscapes, a design and construction company based in Melbourne.
Shaun has been running the business for around 5 years, employs 9 full time employees and is only 26 years old!
When he explains the types of companies he worked for during his apprenticeship and as an employee, you'll be able to see these styles mirrored in his own unique style of the projects he designs and constructs today.
We discussed what Shaun does to look after not only his mental health, but also physical, and how he's looking to impart that knowledge onto his employees.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep54 - Simon Davies - Manuka Gardens
00:39:49
In this episode I speak with Simon Davies from Manuka Gardens in the Australian Capital Territory. Simon and his wife run a full service company which includes design, construction and maintenance, and he has a team of ten staff.
Simon is another guest who has mentioned the impact his early employers have had on his career/style/knowledge.
Simon comes across as very employee focused and is proactive in looking after his teams mental and physical wellbeing, so we discuss that in this episode and the way he goes about this.
And we also mention some of the benefits of having a design, construction and maintenance business.
You can follow along with Simon's projects on Instagram @manukagardens
In this episode I speak with Inge Jabara from Inge Jabara Landscapes. Inge runs a design, construction and maintenance business around Melbourne.
My favourite part of this chat is when Inge mentions the systems and procedures 'bible' she's produced over the years, which is a document which lists almost every procedure done within the business.
We also talk about how Inge started in the industry as well as Inge's time working on TV shows like The Block.
In this episode I speak with Alistair Kirkpatrick who works for Stratis Landscape Architecture. He was previously a joint owner of AKAS Landscape Architecture.
Alistair is a Landscape Architect and also teaches at RMIT, Melbourne University and Melbourne Polytechnic and has been proactive in teaching the Architecture students more about plants and horticulture than they'd otherwise learn.
We discuss Alistair's first interaction with horticulture and the path he took as a student and then starting his business after completing his studies, in a different physical and economical environment than we have today.
We also discuss why Alistair likes teaching and the benefits of using Tafe/University teachers as a great resource to find your next employee.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep57 - Josh Hooper - Landscape Techniques
00:40:55
This week I speak with Josh Hooper from Landscape Techniques.
Josh runs a design and construction company in South Australia, working in the top end of the market on some of the best properties in Adelaide and the surrounding suburbs.
In this chat we talk about the challenges of growing your staff numbers, advantages of using/buying the best equipment or tools for the job and the importance of a healthy body and healthy mind.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep58 - Matt Hiner - Hiner Outdoor Living
00:50:57
In this episode I speak with Matt Hiner from Hiner Outdoor Living, a landscape design and construction company based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Matt designs and builds some of the most amazing natural water features in the world, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop to many of them.
In this chat we discuss how he started out working for himself, with just $300 to his name, and how he built his business up to where it is now, turning over around $5,000,000 annually.
He shares some advice on empowering staff as well as giving a run down of some of the Hiner Outdoor Living Core Values and how he implements them to new employees.
They say time flies when you're having fun, and this felt like the fastest podcast I've done to date, so hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did!
The Landscaping Podcast Ep59 - Tim Pilgrim - T.P Gardens
00:44:27
In this episode I speak with Tim Pilgrim of T.P Gardens. Tim's company is based in Central Victoria and he does Landscape Design, Installation and Maintenance.
He describes his style as Naturalistic gardens for a modern Australian context, and his Instagram page illustrates this brilliantly.
While researching Tim, I saw on his website that he lists a 'from' price for the services he provides. I thought this was a great idea so we discuss the benefits of this.
I also brought up two stunning gardens that I saw on Tim's page, and when Tim describes them both, they have something in common which is a great indicator to why they were so successful.
You can follow along with Tim's beautiful Instagram page @t.p_gardens
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 or on our website instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
07 Aug 2022
The Landscaping Podcast Ep60 - Sam Langham - Outside Indulgence Pools and Landscapes
01:03:05
In this episode I speak with Sam Langham from Outside Indulgence Pools and Landscapes. Sam runs a design and construction company based in South West Sydney and operates with 6-8 staff.
Throughout this chat I realised that Sam does a lot of the 1%ers really well, things like putting time into customer service/communication, ensuring staff are taught and teach things the right way, lots of small things like this that seem obvious, but not a lot of companies do.
We also discuss potential benefits of long term employees as well as a great way to build your skills as a business owner, by making connections with other business owners who operate a larger/more successful company.
The top post on the Outside Indulgence Instagram page is a pinned post about services they offer, and it's a brilliant post, so I recommend you check it out, along with their other work @outsideindulgence_landscaping
The Landscaping Podcast Ep61 - Dean Herald - Rolling Stone Landscapes
00:49:38
In this episode I speak with Dean Herald form Rolling Stone Landscapes. Dean runs his landscape design and construction company in Sydney, and has done so for more than 30 years, starting out on his own before building the business up to a super high end company building some of the best landscapes in the country.
Dean shares plenty of tips and advice in this chat, and it's all achievable for any sized business, which I found fascinating. Simple things such as turning up on time make you stand out from the majority of businesses, and it's not hard!
Dean also mentions why he doesn't charge consultation fees, and shares his processes for staff communication and job tracking.
You can follow along with the phenomenal work produced by Dean on Instagram @rollingstonelandscapes and you can see the 2011 Show Garden we discuss at Rollingstonelandscapes.com . It's mind blowing that this is a show garden and the ground hasn't been penetrated to build it.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep62 - Andrew Hopkins - Hopkins Construction
00:54:25
In this episode I speak with Hoppo from Hopkins Construction. Andrew runs a construction company with a landscaping and carpentry crew in Melbourne, and has been doing so for the past 5 years.
I first met Hoppo on The Block in 2019 so we discuss our time there, as well as some business tips that he's learnt along the way, such as employing people to do the things you're not good at.
We also discuss charging for quotes, getting budgets off clients and whether you should have clear boundaries between employer and employees.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep63 - Nick Conley - Nicklaus Landscaping
00:45:52
In this episode I speak with Nick Conley from Nicklaus Landscaping, a landscape design and construction company based in Northern California.
Nick has been in business for around 6 years, and something he did early, which he's no doubt benefited from, was obtaining the services of a business coach. Specifically one who previously worked in landscaping, so we discuss that.
Nick also talks about the reason why he wants to build a successful business that will allow his employees to support their families.
And there are plenty of experiences that Nick discusses which will sound familiar to landscapers regardless of what country they're in, such as when he mentions how he no longer provides exact start dates for projects, as he wouldn't be able to meet the deadline, and would end up stressed and with an unhappy client, so now he just gives a very loose estimate.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep64 - A chat with Dan Foreman at the Melbourne Home Show
00:41:10
This weeks episode is a different format to the usual schedule. Previous guest Dan Foreman was the landscaping ambassador at the recent Melbourne Home Show, and part of that included designing and building a display garden, and he also organised to have a heap of different designers, landscapers and suppliers come in to be interviewed by him on stage.
This episode is my chat with him where we discussed things like choosing the right landscaper, the importance of making a plan prior to starting landscaping, and my experience at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show as well as on The Block.
In the intro I mention who the other speakers were, and you can head to the Melbourne Home Show Facebook page to watch/listen to these chats by the other guests.
The Landscaping Podcast EP65 - Eden Hill - EHL Landscaping
01:31:02
In this episode I speak with Eden Hill from EHL Landscaping, a construction company based on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
Eden has been landscaping since he was 14 and running the business since he was 19, which was only 4 years ago. The things he's doing inside and outside of his business are what many landscapers who've had their business for 10+ years aspire to do, so it was an awesome chat to have with Eden.
He employed a business coach early on, and has clear goals set out for the short and long term, as well as a plan on what he's going to do to achieve them.
He also talks about the many ways his company uses Xero, his time at the World Skills competition, and how fortunate he was to start his career at Cornerstone Landscapes.
The tradie group that I mention in this chat which was started by Rich from Bluesky Landscaping is called The Trade Society and is on Instagram @the.trade.society You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page @instyle_gardens @thelandscapingpodcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep66 - Adam Hompas - Adam Hompas Landscapes
00:47:45
In this episode I speak with Adam Hompas from Adam Hompas Landscapes, a landscape construction company based in Melbourne.
Adam started out working in Commercial Landscaping before moving to domestic landscaping projects and starting his own business, so he talks about the differences between the two sectors.
He's currently working with Landscaping Victoria to launch a wellbeing hub, which will be a resource centre for landscapers to go to to be able to get help or education about improving their mental health and that of their employees.
Adam also touches on the fact that he's starting to use sub-contractors more than he has in the past and the reasons/benefits of this, as well as how he's choosing a balanced work life, rather than growing into a massive, high end company.
In this episode I speak with Glenice Buck from Glenice Buck Designs. Glenice runs a landscape design, garden maintenance and tree consultation business based in Young in NSW working with herself and her husband in the business.
She first knew she wanted to work as a garden designer when she was 7-8 years old, so her passion for the industry is obvious.
We talk about the importance of designing a garden for the space it's in, the benefits of proving her consulting clients with to-do lists, and also about her garden coaching.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep68 - Tim Davies - Tim Davies Landscaping
00:55:50
In this episode I speak with Tim Davies from Tim Davies Landscaping, a landscape design, construction and maintenance company based in Perth.
Tim started in the industry almost 40 years ago at King’s Park botanical gardens in Perth and has built his business up to now have 120-130 full time employees.
No surprisingly, Tim has got plenty of advice to share from his time in the industry, and while I usually have three or four valuable ‘clips’ to choose from to post to Instagram from the chats with my guests, I had eight from this chat with Tim, such was the amount of value he shares.
We talk about systems and processes, empowering staff, the importance of good communication and Tim also shares one of his biggest mistakes, and what he would do differently.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep69 - Paul Pritchard - Paul Pritchard Landscape Design
00:45:46
In this episode I speak with Paul Pritchard from Paul Pritchard Landscape Design. Paul is a designer based in Melbourne and has been in the industry 26 years.
He originally started out in construction and ran a couple of construction crews and was doing design and construction but has recently made the transition to being design only, so we discuss what that process was like.
Paul also talks about the importance and value of having a great bunch of landscaping contractors he can refer work to, and also emphasizes the importance of staying in your lane when I asked him whether he ever did maintenance or not.
The landscaping Podcast Ep70 - Jim Wertz - The 7 Figure Landscaping Network
00:37:06
In this episode I speak with Jim Wertz from The 7 Figure Landscaping Newtork. Jim is a landscaping business coach and consultant, working with clients remotely. Prior to starting the coaching/consulting business, Jim ran a landscaping company for 35 years so is well experienced in what he's coaching.
Jim talks about the reason to put systems and processes in place as well as when a great time to do this is.
One of the most important skills Jim relates to a successful business is the ability to build good relationship between employee and employer.
Jim has a YouTube channel which can be found here, and his Facebook group can be found here.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep71 - Ineke Clark - Ambition Social
00:57:17
In this episode I speak with Ineke Clark from Ambition Social, a Social Media and Brand Strategy company based in South Australia, working with clients around Australia and New Zealand.
Ineke has previously worked for paving suppliers and was the CEO of the Master Landscapers Association of SA and has been successful in every roll she's done prior to starting her own business .
In this chat we talk about the importance of doing a career you enjoy doing, even if you've spent four years studying a different subject. We discuss how Ineke's business was taking on any task their clients would ask of them, before realising they should niche down to Social Media and Brand Strategy, which was their passion and skill, and how this is similar to landscaping companies taking on tasks for clients outside of their skillset.
I also ask Ineke plenty of questions about how to be successful with social media.
You can follow along with Ineke on Instagram @AmbitionSocial
The Landscaping Podcast Ep72 - Mark Ryan - InStyle Paving
01:11:53
In this episode I speak with Mark Ryan from InStyle Paving, and it is one of my favourite episodes I've done in the 72 episodes of the podcast so far!
Mark started out as a landscaper in Adelaide and then niched down to doing mainly paving, which is what he does today.
We talk about why he niched down, why he doesn't have up to four employees like he once did and the importance of communication. We also discuss the amount of extra work that goes into paving these days compared to when we started and why that may be.
Mark is also in the early stages of starting another business, called Grow Mens Coaching, where he's planning on being a life coach for men, so the second half of the episode if pretty much dedicated to that side of things and the lesson's he's learned that he hopes to pass on to others to improve their life as they have to his.
I first heard Mark on the Full landscape podcast with past guest, Clint Adams. You can listen to that episode here on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or YouTube
In this episode I speak with Emmaline Bowman from Stem Landscape Architecture, a landscape architecture and design company based in Melbourne who specialise in natural, sustainable designs which also create habitat for animals and inspects.
We discuss how Emmaline started out in the industry, including the similarities between the aquariums and aquascapes she was creating with landscaping.
Emmaline also shares some great advice about the best time to start working on your systems and processes and why.
And she talks about the benefits of trying new plants rather than the same old ones which could be considered a 'safe' choice, and also provides some advice about avoiding burnout.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep74 - Neale Wilson - Terrain Landscapes
00:39:37
In this episode I speak with Neale Wilson from Terrain Landscapes, a landscape construction company based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Neale started studying horticulture in High School and was fortunate to start work working for a high end landscaping company early on, before heading overseas to Sydney and London to travel and also work in landscaping.
Being a construction only company, Neale discusses the importance of only quoting projects which have had a design done, and we discuss what the New Zealand landscape industry is like and Neale points out a benefit of working for difference designers.
You can follow along with Neale's work on Instagram @terrainlandscape
The Landscaping Podcast Ep75 - Matt Harding - Outdoor Oasis Landscapes
00:45:07
In this episode I speak with Matt Harding from Outdoor Oasis Landscapes, a design and construction company based on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
Matt only started the business a few years ago at the start of Covid, but is already working on some really nice projects and it's clear through the chat that he's got and idea on where he wants to get to, and what he needs to do to get there.
We discuss the benefit of only posting the type of work you want to do to social media, so that you get more of that type of work. And Matt also mentions why he likes to occasionally work for other designers, doing different and interesting work.
It's clear Matt enjoys what he does, so much that when I asked what his favourite part was, he couldn't just pick one thing, because he likes everything about landscaping.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep76 - Instagram Live Q and A
01:01:45
In this episode I recorded an Instagram Live where I answered questions from followers of our Instagram accounts as well as one who were watching live.
There were some great questions including asking about our 2023 MIFGS garden, have I thought about life after landscaping, when's the last time I washed the tools after a concrete pour and about 12-15 others.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep77 - Weston Zimmerman - Synked Up
00:52:14
In this episode I speak with Weston Zimmerman from Synked Up. Weston was the creator of Synked Up, which is a complete landscape management software that he developed during his 16 years as a landscaper.
Knowing your numbers, and understanding the true cost of doing business is the key message Weston is trying to get landscapers to understand, and in this chat he mentions the benefit of knowing your numbers, as well as the two things people always get wrong when trying to work out the amount they should charge.
Weston was awarded the Aquascape Artist of the year when he was landscaping, and through that was able to work on a pond for Shaq, so we discuss that in this episode also.
You can follow along with Weston on Instagram @synkedUP
In this episode I speak with Myles Baldwin from Myles Baldwin Design. Myles heads a team of 16 landscape architects from a studio in Redfern in Sydney and is one of the most sought-after designers in Australia.
Myles talks about the great start he had in the industry, completing an apprenticeship at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, followed by studying at Ryde Tafe prior working on a project at Bronte House before starting out on his own.
He talks about why he downsized the services he offered from design, construction and maintenance to just design as it is now.
He also mentions the way he presents his designs to his clients, in a way that helps convey the design message as well as saving time in revisions.
You can follow along with Myles' work on Instagram @mylesbaldwin
The Landscaping Podcast Ep79 - Phil Wither - Phillip Withers Landscape Design
00:53:03
In this episode, this final for the year, I speak with Phil Withers from Phillip Withers Landscape Design. Phil runs a landscape design and horticulture company based in Melbourne and has done for around 10 years.
Phil talks about how he started in the industry studying design but also working in construction and maintenance to get a better idea of what everything actually is that he was designing.
He talks about how great Garden Shows are and shares when he'll be doing a garden show next, as well as talking about a book he's looking to publish.
We also touch on Phil's respect for the land he builds gardens on and he shares why this is and how design can be done better.
The Landscaping Podcast Ep80 - Peter Donegan - Peter Donegan Garden Design
01:05:57
In this episode I speak with Peter Donegan from Peter Donegan Garden Design. Peter is a Landscape Designer based in Ireland and will be designing a garden at the 2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, so we discuss how that came about.
Peter started his passion for gardens and design at a very young age, 5 or 6, and still has the same passion for it 40 years later.
He comes across as a very knowledgeable individual, and shares plenty throughout the chat, such as the importance of designers, landscapers and other trades all knowing their role when working together on a project, to ensure it runs smoothly.
Peter also tells a story about a friend of his who started a music festival and invited him to come along, and his first questions was "Who's going?" to which his friend replied "If you're offered a ticket on a rocket ship, you don't ask who's going, you just get on the rocket ship", and this is a philosophy Peter lives by, saying yes to opportunities that come along, while also acknowledging that if you've got responsibilities like a mortgage, sometimes you have to say no!
The Landscaping Podcast Ep81 - Instagram Live Q and A #2
00:34:52
In this episode I answer questions submitted via Instagram in an Instagram Live recording.
This is something that I'll be hoping to do weekly, recorded on Sunday night at 8.30pm EST and released as a podcast on the Thursday of the following week, in addition to the regular guest, released on the Monday as normal.
Some of the questions answered in this episode are : What is your process for leading clients into getting their project drawn up with a design? What do landscapers do? Any words of advice on starting your own business and how to bring on your first employee? ARE YOU TIRED? Do you get anxious about upcoming work, ie did I cost it right, timings, allowances etc? What is the single best piece of business advice you've been given? Which end do you start at when eating a dimmy?
The Landscaping Podcast Ep82 - Martin Semken - Semken Landscaping
00:48:07
In this episode I speak with Martin Semken from Semken Landscaping, a construction and maintenance business based in Melbourne which Martin started 35 years ago.
Semken Landscaping were the first Australian construction company to build a Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show and have also been involved in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show every year since inception, so we discuss both shows in this chat.
Martin discusses the value of garden maintenance and why more landscapers should be offering it.
I got goosebumps when Martin was talking about the amount of care he has for his apprentices when they start, and how he likes to meet with their parents prior to them starting so that they have an understanding of who their child is working for, what to expect, and so that they can contact him if needed. It's obvious that Martin treats his employees like family, not just the half dozen who literally are family!
The Landscaping Podcast Ep 83 - You're not alone if you struggled through 2022
00:31:38
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on January 29 2023, will be the first mid week podcast episode, which will be a weekly event, recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 est and released on the podcasts on Thursdays.
In this episode I answered questions such as :
What’s the most memorable point of your career?
Thoughts on landscapers using subbies more?
Why did you decide to do a podcast?
How are you handling the wet weather in terms of lost time and profits?
Episode 84 - Darin Bradbury - Mint Pool and Landscape Design
01:03:53
In this episode I speak with Darin Bradbury from Mint Pool and Landscape Design, a design company based in Melbourne.
Darin has a great, well rounded resume of experience prior to starting Mint, having started in a Vineyard, before studying at Burnley, working in maintenance and then working for Ian Barker and Associate's and then starting with Scott Wynd from TLC Pools.
Darin talks about the importance of garden maintenance and I also ask him the best way to go about working out how much you should charge for a design.
Darin has also been involved in plenty of designs for marketing of the business including being on The Block, at MIFGS, designing a garden for Shayna Blaze on a TV program and projects at the HIA home show and Spasa Pool and Spa show, so he shares which ones he thinks are the best to get work from, and which aren't.
You can follow along with Darin's work on Instagram @mintdesignau
Episode 85 - When did you know you'd made it in business?
00:31:44
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on February 5 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released on the podcasts on Thursdays.
In this episode I speak with Malcom Berce from Desert Flower Landscaping, a landscape design and construction company based in Adelaide, South Australia.
Malcom is a wealth of knowledge and a great person to talk to. The conversation I had with him prior to the podcast officially starting was so good that I had to leave it in.
He talks about the reason he charges for consultations, where his passion for gardening and landscaping originated and what it's like being on the MLSA board.
Malcom had a long term vision of what he wanted to be and to achieve prior to starting in landscaping, and it's great to see him achieving his vision and working towards a continually improving one.
Episode 87 - What's the best ratio of staff per site?
00:43:06
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on February 12, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released on the podcasts on Thursdays.
In this episode I answered questions such as :
What design program do you use and why?
What's the best purchase for your business you've made under $100?
What is the best staff numbers to have on site?
Where do I begin when landscaping on a sloping block?
In this episode I speak with Liam Riley from Indigenous Design Landscaping. A design and construction company based in Melbourne who build sustainable and environmentally sensitive landscapes.
Liam has 18 employees and completes residential and commercial projects and in this chat he talks about the importance and his willingness to upskill his staff.
He has a great story about the luck he had in starting in the industry, just by handing out flyers in his street.
He also talks about how he studied business in his early days, as he's more of a natural landscaper than businessman. We also discussed the difference in the pros and cons of residential and commercial landscaping.
You can follow along with Liam's work on Instagram @id_landscaping
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on February 19, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released on the podcasts on Thursdays.
In this episode I answered questions such as :
Do you meet on site, or at the shed in the morning?
How do you balance work and life, and when do you find time to do quoting and other paper/computer work?
Long pants, or shorts all year?
What's the first question you get asked or ask during a quote/consultation?
Episode 90 - Adam Gee - Anston Architectural Products
00:35:22
In this episode I speak with Adam Gee from Anston Architectural Products. Adam works as a sales manager at Anston but originally started his working life out of school as an apprentice landscaper at The Garden Company in Melbourne.
Adam became qualified and started his own landscaping business before realising it wasn't for him, so moved into sales and ending up at Anston 10 years later.
In this chat we talk about Adam's time as a landscaper and how that experience has helped him in his role with Anston. He also lets us know what the current trends have been in terms of colours and sizes of pavers, and I ask him what the best way to lay paver is.
Anston are sponsoring our Garden Show build with some of their concrete spheres, so I asked Adam what the motivation is behind sponsoring events like MIFGS and the Block.
Episode 91 - What do you think social media has done for the Landscaping Industry?
00:48:23
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on February 26, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released on the podcasts on Thursdays.
In this episode I answered questions such as:
What attention do you pay to soil conditioning?
What do you think is the ideal crew size? Cost effective/productive?
What's a power tool you wish you bought earlier?
What was the motivation to start the podcast? Did you think it would get so popular?
In this episode I speak with Les Edwards from ED Landscapes, a design and construction company which started in 2006 and is operating in Sydney and Mudgee in New South Wales.
Les has a great story about where his love for the green industry began as a small child watching his dad's cousin mow their lawn, before going on to study horticulture at Ryde TAFE, and then going on to work for his dad's cousin for 6-7 years as a landscaper.
Les talks about how in the early days of business he was taking on every job that came along, but then after sharing emails with Dean Herald from Rolling Stone, he decided to take Dean's advice and niche down slightly, choosing landscaping of new homes as his target market.
There's also a great story about one of Les' employees starting as an apprentice and now moving into the operational side of the business many years later.
You can follow along with Les and ED Landscapes on Instagram @ed_landscapes_
Episode 93 - What is the most profitable part within landscaping?
00:35:29
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on March 5, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday at 8.30 EST and released on the podcasts on Thursdays.
In this episode I answered questions such as:
What is the hardest thing to teach employees? Work ethic or detail?
What do you think of the IQ Power Tool saw with its dustless, dry cut system?
In this episode I speak with Adam White from Dorset Bottega, a landscape design and construction company based in Brisbane, Queensland.
Adam started his landscaping business later than most, but had plenty of valuable experience prior, working as a cabinet maker, carpenter, furniture designer, renovating 17 houses and having hardworking and creative parents.
He talks about the vision he created prior to starting Dorset Bottega and how he wanted to build beautiful gardens for nice people, and he continues to uphold this philosophy today, while also creating a great environment for his employees to work and grow.
In an Instagram video I reference that Adam made, he talks about how he learnt to train his thoughts which filled his creative head, and Adam talks about how he went about doing that.
You can follow along with Adam and Dorset Bottega on Instagram @dorsetbottega
Episode 95 - Should a quote be split 50/50 for labour/materials?
00:26:06
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on March 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 answered questions such as:
What is the rudest client experience you've had and how did you deal with it?
What's the best study/qualification to have to get a job in landscaping?
Should a quote be split 50/50 between materials and labour?
Is a uniform necessary on a building/landscaping site? And are track pants ever acceptable?
In this episode I speak with Charlie Albone from Inspired Exteriors, a landscape design, construction and maintenance business operating in Sydney.
Charlie is also a presenter on Better Homes and Gardens and has worked in TV for around 16 years, so I asked him about how challenging it is, working in TV while having your own business.
He has an amazing story about how he started in the industry and got his first job. And has some great advice about making mistakes when you're starting out in business.
Charlie has designed show gardens in Sydney, Melbourne and Chelsea, so we talk about those experiences as well as what to expect from his upcoming one at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Episode 97 - Who's the best landscaper in Australia?
00:42:17
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on March 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 answered questions such as:
Who's the best landscaper in Australia?
What is one material/product you refuse to use again?
What are you worried/stressed about with your display garden at MIFGS?
If you were a landscaping product, what would you be and why?
In this episode I speak with Steve Dedrick from Endemic Environments. Steve is a landscape designer and native plant specialist based in Adelaide and has 20+ years of experience.
Shortly before this episode is released, he'll have sold out a gardening workshop which he's running, and he also has plans to create a podcast in the future where he's talking to what he calls 'future gardeners', people who dedicate their career to a brighter future. So there's plenty of reasons to give Steve a follow!
We also talk about the design program Steve uses, Morpholio Trace, which is a tablet based app which allows Steve to do electronic hand drawing.
Steve also talks about the benefits of having a designer involved in plant placement.
Episode 99 - How much money do you spend on a garden show?
00:22:32
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on March 28, 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 answered questions such as:
How much money do you spend on a garden show?
What are three tips you would give to someone wanting to build a MIFGS garden in 2024?
What happens to your show garden once it's over?
With interest rates rising, what area of landscaping would you focus on if you could only choose one?
In this episode I speak with Renata Fairhall from Renata Fairhall Garden designs, a landscape design business based in Victoria.
Renata made the switch from the corporate world to landscape design after studying at Burnley and then went on to start her own business.
She talks about how, when you start out, you take on every job that comes along but soon realise they're not all worth taking on, and she knocks back 1-2 jobs per week, at least one of which she'd love to take on.
I also ask Renata about how she went about working out what to charge when she started out.
Episode 101 - What's it like building a larger show garden compared to a Boutique Garden?
00:31:20
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on April 2, 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 answered questions such as:
Did you achieve everything you wanted to at the garden show this year?
What's the best way to grout crazy paving?
How do you go about paying yourself Super?
What's it like building a larger show garden compared to a Boutique Garden?
Episode 102 - Adam Robinson - Adam Robinson Design
00:37:14
In this episode I speak with Adam Robinson from Adam Robinson Design, a landscape design and exterior styling firm based in Sydney.
Adam is also the brand ambassador for the Landscape Design Institute and has been a member for 14 years, since he was a student.
Adam has a great story about how he started in the industry, starting in consturction before realising his passion was in the design of landscapes.
We talk about the importance of showing your face in marketing and Adam also talks about the anxiety he felt prior to hiring his first employee, and now he has a team of nine.
Episode 103 - Is Peter Donegan better looking to the James Bond theme tune or in real life??
00:23:56
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on April 9, 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 answered questions such as:
What's your process to existing soil in preparation for planting?
What's the best business advice you can give to someone just starting their business?
What dictates planting trends at the garden show?
Is MIFGS the landscaping/gardening version of a triathlon?
The Instagram Reel of Peter Donegan doing a James Bond impersonation can be found here
In this episode I speak with Cam Freeden from Peninsula Stonemasons, a stone mason company based on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
Cam's passion for rocks began at an early age, joining a rock and gemstone club at the age of 13, and starting his stone masonry apprenticeship in 1977. There's obviously been plenty of changes in the industry since that time, so we discuss some of them including tools he used and now uses, as well as the way he teaches his apprentices compared to the Spanish stonemasons he learnt from.
We discuss the detail required to work on the high end projects Cam works on, and how important it is to have employees who appreciate that level of detail as well as how hard, but rewarding the work can be.
Episode 105 -Do you believe the next 12 months is going to be challenging for landscaping businesses?
00:25:18
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on April 16, 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 answered questions such as:
Do you prefer mortar or adhesive around pools?
Do you think you should have a distinctive style or trademark with designs?
In this episode I speak with Brooke Goodwin from Brookes Blooms, a landscape design, construction and maintenance company based in Brisbane, Queensland.
Brooke has grown the business from just herself 12 years ago, to now employing 96 people across the business. I asked her if she has the same passion for the business now as she did 12 years ago.
Something I loved that Brooke did was setting out clear roles within the business and tasks completed within those roles, so that when people are applying for a role, or working in it, they know exactly what to expect and what's expected of them.
Brooke also spoke about how she gets her designers to be involved with plant placement on their projects, which I thought was an awesome idea.
Episode 107 - What are you putting in your quotes to help protect you?
00:30:03
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on April 23, 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 answered questions such as:
What do you believe the biggest asset in your landscaping business is?
What are your top 3 podcasts, and do you think the landscape podcast market could do with more podcasters?
How did you find running your business and trying to get a home loan in the early days?
What is the most important part of designing a water feature?
In this episode I speak with Cam Hainsworth from Abcam Horticulture, a garden maintenance company based in Melbourne.
Cam started working in a couple of different wholesale nurseries prior to going out on his own, working on one of the most expensive properties in Victoria prior to getting his business really established.
Cam talks about the challenges he knows he'll face as he looks to expand the capabilities of his business, and we also discuss the importance and value of really looking after your client and how it can lead to referral work.
Episode 109 - Do you struggle to keep the motivation levels up?
00:26:19
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on April 30, 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 answered questions such as:
Do you have a business mentor or someone you discuss ideas about how to better improve the business and operations?
What percentage are you currently putting on the different elements that go into a job?
Do you prefer designing and building your own projects or building someone else's design?
When quoting jobs, what is the hourly rate for an experienced qualified landscaper?
In this episode I speak with Liz Filmer from Liz Filmer Landscaping, a residential and commercial design and construction company based in Gippsland and South East Victoria.
Liz has had the business for more than 25 years and her story began like a few others I've spoken to, working for a great employer for her apprenticeship. She stayed with that company for 10 years before starting her own business.
Liz talks about what she looks for in an employee as well as recently working out what was missing from her life after moving to a property in Orbost.
Liz is about to take on the largest project of her career, so we also discuss that in this chat.
Episode 111 - What do you look for in an employee?
00:28:23
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on May 7, 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 answered questions such as:
If you were no longer allowed to be a landscaper or designer, what would you be?
What's the best design programs out there for garden design?
Pros and Cons to being a sole trader as opposed to a company?
What's the best construction tip you've ever received?
In this episode I speak with Carla Ramsland from R Haus, a Landscape Architecture Studio based in Perth, Western Australia.
Carla began her studies in Sydney at Ryde Tafe and worked for a Design and Construct business, before moving to Queensland and studying Landscape Architecture, and then moving across to Perth and starting her business there about two years ago, after more than 20 years in the industry.
Carla explains the difference between landscape design and landscape architecture from her point of view, having done qualifications for both.
Carla has a mantra she mentions a few times in this chat of "Good people attract good people", and she has remained friends with many of the colleagues she's worked with along the way, and now creates successful connections with contractors she engages to build her projects.
My favourite part f the episode was when she explains the importance of giving the professional freedom to do what they do best, whether that's a designer, bricklayer, stonemason or whoever.
Episode 113 - What is the worst work situation that has happened on site for you/your team?
00:30:19
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on May 14, 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 answered questions such as:
What percentage of a quote should be just for plants?
Is it still shorts weather?
What is one type of construction you feel you've never nailed?
How do designers deal with starting out and their self doubts of their design?
In this episode I speak with Tim Volant from Tim Volant Stonemason, a Melbourne based Stonemason who started in the industry when he was 28.
Tim has a great story about how he started out and the challenges he faced, and he's another guest who had a big impact on the stonemason he is today thanks to who he worked for, both in reference to employer and also client.
Tim speaks about the most challenging client he's worked for, his desire to employ an apprentice, and his feelings after he finishes each project.
Tim also talks about his passion for work, and whether his endless pursuit of doing the best job possible is perfectionism or just workmanship.
He also talks about the amount of thought that even goes into his Instagram posts to show his work in the best possible way.
Episode 115 - Is $99/hr per person too high for a landscaper to charge?
00:31:20
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on May 21, 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 answered questions such as:
Will you ever put ads in the middle of your podcast?
What does your average day look like?
What do you think the future holds for the landscaping industry?
In this episode I speak with Simon Buchanan from Landart Landscapes, a design and construction company based in Melbourne.
Simon had a similar sound to his story about starting in the industry, in that he had a passion for graphic design in his school days, and then was fortunate enough to work for a great landscaper as his first employer, in Scott Wynd from TLC, where he not only learnt all things landscaping, but also pool construction, and Simon now also runs Striking Pools with his business partner.
Striking Pools won the most recent Pool of the Year for the Master Pool Builders Association and Landart the best landscaping project in the $250k category for Landscaping Victoria.
Simon talks about how he travelled to two different countries thanks for Landscaping, and also talks about his World Skills experiences.
Episode 117 - What are some tips for a landscape tradesman starting to run jobs?
00:24:42
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on May 28, 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 answered questions such as:
What's one word that describes your design style?
If you could go anywhere in the world to learn a new landscaping skill set, where would you go?
What plate compacter, brick saw and laser level do you use?
What advice would you give a student designer that is designing a display garden?
In this episode I speak with Brady Skevington from Boutique Timeless Landscaping, a residential and commercial construction company based in Perth, Western Australia.
Of all 118 episodes I've done, this is right up there with the most fun I've had talking to someone, so hopefully that translates into an enjoyable listen as well.
Brady is yet another former employee from Tim Davies Landscaping, and he explains the importance of companies like TDL in WA and how valuable they are for the industry.
Brady also talks about the different designers he works for and the importance of working with talented people.
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on June 4, 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 answered questions such as:
What's your process for laying porcelain pavers?
How do you navigate doing small jobs for family and friends?
How old do you think you'll be when you set your last piece of stone?
What are the benefits of hiring machines rather than buying?
In this episode I speak with Adam Beswwick from Ovata Gardens, a design and construction company in Tasmania run by Adam and his wife, who he met while working at one of his earlier jobs at a wholesale nursery in Western Australia.
Adam shares his story about not only how he started in the industry, but the fortuitous way he made his way into working in Landscaping and in particular, creating Japanese gardens.
Adam talks about how difficult landscaping can be both mentally and physically, and shares a way he combated the latter.
Episode 121 - Being profitable or creating sublime work. How do you find the perfect balance?
00:26:12
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on June 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 answered questions such as:
What should I be focusing on as a first year apprentice?
How do you communicate with a client about what their goals are?
Do you use Landscaping Victoria contracts or your own?
What's something you've done/changed in your business and wished you did it years ago?
In this episode I speak with Liam Daly from Wiilde Co Garden Design, a design company currently based on the South Coast of NSW but in the coming weeks to be on the Mornington Peninsula.
Liam is a native plant specialist and has a unique design presentation style he gets from using Morpholio Trace and editing it with ProCreate. He talks about how he came about designing like this in the episode.
Liam has a musical background and he mentions how similar composing music can be to creating a landscape design.
Liam also has his own podcast, The Australian Garden Podcast, which he hosts with Nick from SheOak Design.
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on June 18, 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 answered questions such as:
What is the best estimating/quoting software to use?
What is your preferred tile adhesive for natural stone paving?
Should we take on front fences with auto gates or outsource it?
Do you charge a % on mulch order or a set fee per m3?
In this episode, Peter Donegan from Peter Donegan Garden Design takes over as the host and interviews me!
Peter asks a lot more thoughtful questions than I do so hopefully it's not only entertaining, but there's also something valuable to take away from out chat.
Episode 125 - How would you spend money to promote more residential landscaping leads?
00:22:07
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on June 25, 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 answered questions such as:
What factors go into choosing to lay on a mortar or adhesive bed when paving?
How much money should be put aside for a rainy day?
Did Ashley James leave his phone in his boogie board bad at the airport, and it got pinched?
Episode 126 - Craig Clarke - Total Garden Management
00:53:50
In this episode I speak with Craig Clarke from Total Garden Management, a garden maintenance company based in Melbourne.
Craig started in the industry by mowing lawns when he was about 8, and hasn't left in more than 30 years. He worked for Semken Landscaping and Robert Boyle in his first 10 or so years in the industry so had a couple of great companies to learn from prior to going out on his own.
He's since built relationships with designers such as Gareth Le Page and Jaye Metcalf where he maintains some of the gardens they design, and it was a great example of how beneficial that can be, working with regular designers, so that you get to understand their vision and how they like their gardens to be realised.
Episode 127 - John Hall - Cactus Country - Replay of Episode 18
01:09:32
This episode is a replay of episode 18 from almost two years ago. We didn't have enough questions for a Q and A episode this week, so I'm replaying this amazing chat which didn't have as many listens as it should have!
In this episode I speak with John Hall from Cactus Country.
Cactus Country is a Australia's largest Cactus garden situated near the Murray River bordering Victoria and New South Wales in Strathmerton.
John's parents started Cactus Country and run the business along with John, and it's not just a garden, but a retail nursery, wedding venue, restaurant/cafe and education centre. I discuss all of this with John as well as their plans to grow.
We also go more off the landscaping track in this episode than I have in others, discussing meditation and NFT's, and Dami Im even gets a mention!
I loved recording this episode and could've chatted with John for days!
In this episode I speak with Dan Knight from Knight Landscapes, and landscape construction company based in Geelong.
Dan started out in the commercial side of landscaping, so it was great to talk to him about the benefits of that, particularly about their use of subcontractors for the commercial projects and how Dan then learnt off of them and used those skills for his residential projects.
Episode 129 - How do you boost morale during the mid year slump?
00:32:39
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on July 9, 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 answered questions such as:
Do you own or rent your business premises?
What are a few popular computer programs to draw designs?
If money was no object, what tools or equipment would you get to make life easier on site?
Episode 130 - Daniel Althaus - Althaus Landscape Design
00:55:24
In this episode I speak with Daniel Althaus of Althaus Landscape Designs. Daniel runs his design business based out of Ballarat but works in Melbourne and around Victoria, creating predominantly natural, native habitat gardens.
It was great to talk to Daniel who is early in his business to find out how he started and some of the things he's doing to accelerate the growth and success of his business, such as doing a garden at MIFGS and using the advice of a couple of mentors in the industry.
Daniel also shares some great advice about not being afraid to knock on doors to ask for help, as the worst thing that can happen is that the door doesn't open.
Episode 131 - What are some tips to help manage cashflow?
00:29:18
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on July 16, 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 answered questions such as:
How much written detail should you put into a quote?
Do you consider only those who have done an apprenticeship, true landscapers?
Do you use square meter rates when quoting?
Do you consider the maintenance of a garden when designing it?
Episode 132 - Kate Seddon - Kate Seddon Landscape Design
00:47:44
In this episode I speak with Kate Seddon from Kate Seddon Landscape Design, a landscape design company based in Melbourne.
Kate runs an extremely popular business, and it was awesome to hear her share her story about how she started in the industry, after having a career in sales and marketing prior. She spoke about the benefits of the flexibility in days when she started so she could work around looking after her young kids at the time, and it was so great to hear this example, as many people wonder how they could make the switch from their current career, and Kate shares how she did it.
Kate has also had gardens she design open as part of the Open Gardens scheme, so she speaks about the benefits of this over a garden show build, and how much she enjoys being part of them.
Episode 133 - What's the most pivotal business decision you've made?
00:29:46
This episode, which is a recording of an Instagram Live I did on July 24, 2023, is part of our mid week release which are recorded Live on Instagram every Sunday, sometimes Monday, at 8.30 EST and released as a podcast on Thursdays.
In this episode I answered questions such as:
How many square meters of crazy paving are you getting through per day per guy?
Get LinkedIn or not?
Do you ever go plant shopping yourself or just have them delivered? Are there pro's can cons either option?
What's your process for scope creep and constant changes during construction?
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