The Landscaping Podcast

In this episode I speak with Ross Uebergang, Jenn Reed and Rorie Clarke. Jenn and Rorie are from Urban Discovery and they're doing a unique garden at this years Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and leaning on Ross for his experience with Show Gardens.

They've got an amazing story about what the garden will be and it's a great representaion of the work that they do, and they're also hoping to come back in the following two years to share more of the work they do.

If you're...

In this episode I speak with Landscaping Victoria CEO Ritchie Hinton.

Ritchie has been in the role for 2-3 years and it's clear from this chat that he's a great person to have in the role, based off of his previous experience and knowledge.

He has a great message about appreciating what he learnt in some of his previous employment roles even though he wasn't enjoying them.

He also shares plenty of behind the scenes information about what goes on at Landscaping Victoria, as...

In this episode, brought to you by The Landscaping School(!), I speak with Josh Meaden from Joshua Tree Outdoor Construction, a landscape construction company based in Melbourne.

Josh is a true construction artist and it was awesome to hear his story about how he wanted to leave school, his parents suggested he stay, and then he discovered a horticulture class, loved working with his hands and ended up getting a landscaping apprenticeship years later.

He also has a great attitude towards his learning experiences in the early days and...

In this episode I speak with Alannah Easton from Olivera Garden Design.

Alannah is a Landscape architect based in Melbourne and it's a fascinating chat with her, hearing about the work she's doing in schools to get them interested and engaged in horticulture as well as hearing about Alannah's approach to and understanding of the way spaces are designed.

She's also doing a Boutique Garden at this years MIFGS and talks about the idea behind the design of that garden as well as some of the challenges she's facing...

In this episode I speak with Jayden Webber from Webber Landscapes, a landscape construction company based on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Jayden also recently started a maintenance side of the business called Breezy Blooms Garden Co, so we talk about the reasons behind that and his plans for that business.

We also talk about Jayden's experience working with a business coach, as he's worked with two different ones over the years.

You can follow Jayden on Instagram @webber_landscapes and check out the...

In this episode I speak with Matt York from Ratio Consultants. Matt is a partner and Landscape Architect at Ratio and is one of the nice guys of the industry.

It was a fascinating chat with Matt, from hearing about his journey in the industry and seeing how relevant it's all been to the work he's doing now, to hearing about what's he doing now, which is designing a city in Kenya which will be home to 250,000 people, starting with 0.

We also talk about Matt's experiences at MIFGS over...

In this episode I speak with Toby France from Exterior Architecture, a landscape architecture firm based in Sydney and on the Sunshine Coast.

Toby started study and work in the UK and worked for some high end companies before moving to Australia, working for a few years here and then starting EA. He's also recently opened the Sunshine Coast office after moving there and is running both offices.

It's great to hear that one of Toby's employees has an interior/architecture background, and he explains how well that works...

In this episode, the final for 2025, I speak with Breana Graham from Breana Graham Landscapes, a landscape architecture/design business based in Sydney working on high end residential projects.

Breana makes some great points in this chat about the importance of challenging the relationship between architect and builder so that they both improve.

She also talks about the way she does her plant schedules within her designs, which is a way I hadn't heard of before, but makes a lot of sense when she explains it.

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In this episode I catch with friend of the show, Peter Donegan from Peter Donegan Garden Design, a designer based in Ireland.

I always love chatting with Peter and hearing the creativity behind his designs, and in this episode he talks about a couple of recent award victories, including one we're he'll be representing Europe.

He also talks about his recent trip to a University in Turkey, as well as a potential garden he'll be designing in Australia.

You can follow Peter on Instagram...

In this episode I speak with Chris Varsamakis from Zorbas Gardens, a design, construction and maintenance business based just outside of Geelong in Teesdale. 

Chris has gone from having his first horticultural job 3 years ago, to being a solo operator as recently as 14 months ago, to now having 7 full time employees as well as a couple of sub contractors on his books, so he's grown very quick, but as you'll hear, it's been measured growth and he's doing a lot of the right things to make it sustainable.

Chris t...

In this episode I speak with Patrick Hudecek from Peak Project Group, a landscaping company based in Mansfield, Victoria building high end landscapes in the high country.

Patrick initially started the business himself, and around 12 months ago had two other team members come on board as partners in the business, and he explains why it's working so well in the partnership.

He also explains how they have weekly meetings between the partners and daily short site chats to let everyone on site know their roles.

In this episode I speak with Tim Hanna from Hanna Digital Design, a design company based in Vietnam who convert 2D designs into stunning 3D renders as well as doing elevation drawings.

Tim talks about how he started his apprenticeship in Parks and Gardens in Melbourne, working in garden maintenance for a couple of big name businesses before starting out on his own and having up to 6 employees, and then moving over to Vietnam where he started Hanna Digital Designs and now employs 8 staff.

He talks about how his...

In this episode I speak with Natalie Back from Living Earth Design. Natalie is a landscape designer based in Melbourne and while only early into her design career, it's clear she has a great business mind and there's plenty to learn from her in this episode.

She talks about how valuable it's been being part of Landscaping Victoria's mentor program, where she's being mentored by Peter Shaw.

She also talks about her experience designing and building a garden at MIFGS this year with Open Gardens Victoria, and more importantly...

In this episode I catch up again with Amy Downie from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Amy was last on about 6 months ago on episode 236 and she spoke about how at the Botanic Gardens, she works on escarpment horticulture, and that she was hopeful of one day going on a trip where they'd need to climb on a 300m cliff to get the seeds of an endangered Eucalypt, Eucalyptus stenostoma. Well she just got back from that exact trip, so I wanted to get her on to hear all about it and what could...

In this episode I answer some questions asked via Instagram.

Regular episodes will return 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 Tyler Howard. Tyler is a horticulturist based in NSW and is an extremely knowledgeable fella, so much so that he was awarded the AIH Horticulturist Of The Year for 2025 by the Australian Institute of Horticulture.

He's also been a recipient of the Global Footprints Scholarship where he travelled overseas to work on some of the world's best gardens, and created great contacts while there, to the point where he's travelled back to work at the Chelsea Flower Show for folks he met there previously.

In this episode I speak with Amy Drought from Greencare Project. Amy works as a horticulturist at Greencare and has done for a little over 6 months.

She started her passion for the industry hanging out with her dad in their productive permaculture garden at home and has built on the passion from there, getting her certificate in horticulture, planning on getting one in Parks and Gardens and also Landscape and Garden Design.

Amy has also recently been awarded a scholarship for the global footprints award, so she'll be heading...

In this episode I speak with Vic Jones from Smove Studio, a landscape design company based in Melbourne. 

Vic previously worked for past guest Nadia from Platylobium before achieving her goal of starting a business before she turned 25, which she turned last Monday. Even though Vic only started the business in February this year, some 8 months ago, there's some great advice to learn from her about the way she's gone about it. From having other employment in case she isn't overwhelmed with work in the early days, to putting a huge amount of thought i...

In this episode I speak with Emma Doman from Emma Doman Design. Emma is a landscape architect based in Brisbane, but works on projects all around Australia.

She started out working in the commercial area of landscape architecture, and after 17 years there, made the move to residential when she started her business, two weeks prior to her second child being born!

Emma talks about the differences between commercial and residential design, and what things she was able to bring across to her business, particularly with presenting the designs.

In this episode I speak with Tim Fogarty, one of two directors at Loci Landscapes, a design, construction and maintenance company based in Tasmania who focus solely on using Australian native plants.

Loci Landscapes existed prior to Tim joining the business, so we discuss how thie business looked when Tim joined compared to now, roughly 3-4 years later, and we also discuss what Tim was doing in the industry prior to joining Loci, which was working alongside Charlie Albone at Inspired Exteriors.

We also discuss the pros and cons...

In this episode, or non-episode, I explain why there was no episode last week or this week, but that normal episodes will resume next week, barring any unexpected medical emergency

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 Dylan Barker from Jade Built, a landscape construction company based in Brisbane, and unfortunately we had some technical difficulties with the Zoom camera, and it's on me the whole time. So not great if you're watching on YouTube, but the audio is 100% fine for podcast listeners.

Dylan runs a 10 person team and has worked in residential and commercial, and worked for not only last weeks guest, Paul Pritchard, but also for another past guest from a month ago, Scott Wynd at TLC.

Dylan...

In this episode I speak again with Paul Pritchard from Paul Pritchard Landscape Design.

We catch up on what his experience was like winning a gold medal and best construction at this years MIFGS.

He also talks about some of the phenomenal gardens he saw in France and his thoughts on the Chelsea Flower Show.

We also talk about my upcoming garden show build next year.

You can follow Paul on Instagram @paulpritchardlandscapedesign and you can listen to his...

In this episode I speak with Rob Mihailescu from The Cutting Hedge Landscaping. Rob is a qualified horticulturist and landscape designer, and got into the industry after working as a fine dining chef.

I met Rob at a Landscaping Victoria night and after a brief chat with him, knew immediately that he'd be a great guest to have on the podcast, and he shares plenty of tips and advice in this episode.

He's also got a phenomenal garden at his own house, so we talk plenty about that and...

In this episode I speak with Suzanne Lefroy from Lefroy Landscape Design, a one person landscape design business based in Perth.

Suzanne has a great story about how she started in the industry, studying at Tafe.

She also has some great reasoning about why she's running the business the way she is, including the types of projects she works on.

Suzanne has a unique looking Instagram profile where she's using Grid Posts, so it's well worth checking it out @lefroylandscapedesign

If...

In this episode I speak with Scott Wynd from TLC Pools.

Scott is someone I've looked up to in the industry for as long as I've been aware of him, with his show garden at MIFGS in 2011 being one of my earliest memories of a garden show build. It just so happened to be a smaller version of the garden he'd designed and built at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2010, winning a Gold medal.

Scott was fortunate to start in the industry working for a company which did pools...

In this episode I answer some questions asked via Instagram.

Regular episodes will return 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 the Icon of our industry, Graham Ross.

It was an absolute honour to have Graham agree to come on the podcast, and while the episode goes for about 70mins, I could've spoken to him for 5 hours!

It was an absolutely fascinating chat and is one I'll listen to multiple times!

You can follow Graham on Instagram @realgrahamross

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School...

In this episode I speak with Aaron Holman from Aaron Holman Landscape Design. Aaron has worked in design and construction during his time in the industry, and is currently in the process of studying Psychology to make a pivot and help out men with the health and wellbeing.

We discuss both his time in the industry, where we talk about the value of working for a good company (Aaron has worked for good and bad) as well as his time studying Landscape Architecture, and what it's been like for him studying psychology.

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In this episode I speak with Kathleen Murphy from Kathleen Murphy Landscape Design. 

Kathleen has a great story about not only working as a designer for 20 years, but also then how she pivoted to her main business now, which is Design Your Dream Garden, an online course where she teaches people how to design like she did, so that they can do their own garden or for others.

Kathleen also talks about some of the important things she discovered when designing, being the relationships with others in the industry.

In this episode I speak with Tahlia Webster from Yergan Landscape and also My Home Harvest. 

Tahlia is a horticulturist and works at Yergan Landscape as a Garden Designer and Maintenance Manager, and also has her own business, My Home Harvest, where she's doing workshops, talks and education around sustainable and organic gardening.

As well as discussing how she started in the industry, in the episode we talk about Tahlia's experience at MIFGS and also then heading to Chelsea flower show.

You can follow T...

In this episode I speak with Jason Schulz from Yergan Landscape, a one stop company based in Adelaide doing design, construction, maintenance and pool building.

Jason talks about his involvement in the Gold medal, best in show winning garden at this years MIFGS, as well as his trip to the Chelsea Flower Show.

He has a great passion for the industry and teaching others, and mentions the importance of starting with the basics a couple of times in this chat.

You can follow Jason...

In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Craig Castree, and absolutely loved it!

Craig is an edible garden expert and has a wealth of knowledge which he willingly shares, and explains in an understandable way.

He talks about his experience with the Werribee Park Heritage Orchard where they have 115 different Peach trees, more than 60 types of Cherry, and he also talks about his own 5 different apple trees at home, where he's grafted 18 different varieties of apple onto those 5 trees!

Craig has...

In this episode I speak with Attila Horgosi from Attila The Horticulturist. Attila is a gardener based just outside of Canberra and is an awesome person to talk to who is extremely passionate about the industry.

He has a great story about his pathway into the industry and then when he's talking about his own business that he started, he talks about a unique niche that he offers within his business.

Attila also talks about his own property he's had for nearly 30 years, including a fully netted orchard which...

In this episode I speak with BJ Wallace, from not only TBL Property Maintenance, but also host of the In To The Green podcast, and founder of the Lawn and Land Equip Expo.

BJ has a unique story about how he started in the industry, and also talks about the reasoning behind starting the Expo, which raises funds for children's charities.

He offers some advice about the best way to get the type of projects you want to work on, and also shares some ideas about how he'd like...

In this episode I speak with Ryan and Corey Shalevski from Rycor Landscapes.

Ryan and Corey are a couple of brothers from Melbourne in business together, and working on some quality projects and building the business as they do.

They talk about how the business started, with just Ryan at the start before Corey joined, and they talk about their experiences in business, on The Block and at MIFGS.

You can follow their business on Instagram @rycorlandscapes

If you're wanting to...

In this episode I speak with Kath Meier, who along with her husband Nigel, own Virtual Landscape Design and Hunter Landscaping Design + Construction. Nigel started the business 30 years ago, with Kath joining one year in, and they've gone from doing only fencing to start, to building up Hunter Landscaping and then in the past two years, starting Virtual Landscape Design as well.

Kath shares how important her home landscaping is and also shares the various different team members working within the two businesses, including employees in Egypt, the Philippines and Bangladesh, and have sponsored...

In this episode I speak with Paul Hamilton from Insight Coaching, and formerly owner and founder of Hamilton Landscapes before handing the business over to one of his employees and starting the coaching business.

Paul talks about his experiences in Landscaping and some of the talented people he came across along the way, and touches on the moment he decided he wanted out of the business, and how he came about to be a coach.

You can follow Paul on Instagram @insight_business_coach or check out his brand...

In this episode I speak with Seam Lam from Saint Remy , a landscape design studio based in Melbourne.

Seam had a great start in the industry, studying at Burnley and then getting her first job at Eckersley Garden Architecture.

She makes some great points in this chat where she talks about the value of working with landscapers and learning from them as well.

She also talks about her experience at the recent Landscape Conference which she attended.

You can...

In this episode I speak with Jackie Warburton from Terra Solarus. Jackie is a horticulturist, garden designer and columnist with the City News Canberra and is a super passionate person in the industry, so was a lot of fun to chat to.

She has a great story about starting out maintaining a property in the early days of her career, and now recently being employed to re-design the garden to bring it back to it's former glory.

She also has some great bits of advice in this episode about...