The Front Garden

By Landscaping Victoria

Landscaping Victoria brings you the latest in landscaping news, trends, and ideas by sharing some stories from people within the industry to help make your landscaping career a little easier.

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5

11 ratings

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FAQs about The Front Garden:

How many episodes does The Front Garden have?

The podcast currently has 137 episodes available.

The Front Garden episodes:

January 30, 2023 The Front Garden EP67 - Brad Andrews & Zac Connell talk regional landscaping in Victoria's north east
In this episode, Brad Andrews (Brad Andrews Landscaping) & Zac Connell (Evergreen Garden Landscape Solutions) talk to Chris & Tyson about the challenges & rewards of running landscaping businesses in regional Victoria.

EPISODE LINKS:
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
49min
January 16, 2023 The Front Garden EP66 - Bruce McPhee, sports turf management guru.
With over 30 years’ experience in the turf industry, Bruce is a Senior Agronomist with the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association. Bruce takes Chris and Tyson on a journey from his beginnings as an apprentice at Patterson River Golf Club in the mid-1980s, a turf management lecturer at Chisholm Institute of TAFE where he taught the Certificate II and III Sports Turf Management and Parks and Gardens courses through to his current role at the ASTMA.

Bruce also gives some tips on how to keep your turf looking at it's best and reveals his pick for the best sports ground in Australia!

EPISODE LINKS:
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
49min
December 12, 2022 The Front Garden EP65 - Chris Samartzis on the Victorian pool and spa industry
From pubs to pools, Chris Samartzis, CEO of Master Pool Builders Association Australia (MPBAA ), has a long history working in, and supporting small businesses.

Chris sits down with The Front Garden this week to talk about the evolution of the Master Pool Builders Association Australia (MPBAA ), how it rebranded from SPASA Victoria, the importance of good governance, and the work currently being done to clarify national pool building standards.

EPISODE LINKS:
Master Pool Builders Association Australia (MPBAA ) - https://www.mpbaa.com.au/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
58min
November 28, 2022 The Front Garden EP64 - Ian Barker & David Bascombe talk mentoring and business planning
Could a business mentor be the secret to success? This week Chris and Tyson discuss the benefits of business mentoring with Ian Barker of Ian Barker Gardens, and David Bascombe of Green Exteriors.

When David decided it was time for a new challenge, he first discussed it with his then-employer, Ian. With Ian's encouragement and mentorship, David launched his own landscaping construction business - just months before COVID hit! Three years on, and David's business is thriving. He and Ian discuss the challenges of doing business through COVID, the mutual benefits of business mentoring, and the importance of relationships in planning for business success.

EPISODE LINKS:
Ian Barker Gardens - https://www.landscape.net.au/
Green Exteriors - https://www.greenexteriors.com.au/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
50min
November 14, 2022 The Front Garden EP63 - George Hatzimanolis on the birth and mission of Repurpose It, a leading resource recovery business serving the landscaping sector
In this week's episode, Chris and Tyson speak with George Hatzimanolis, CEO of RepurposeIt, a Melbourne based resource recovery business that converts waste to materials for the construction and landscape industries.

After working in the roads sector for many years, George discusses the moment he visited an open-cut mine and realised the impact of road infrastructure and urban development on our natural resources. This eventually led him on the path toward the circular economy, and RepurposeIt was born in 2017.
George talks to Chris and Tyson about the growing demand for recycled materials, how Australia differs culturally in its approach to recycling compared to European countries like Denmark, and how a mindful approach to recycling could help keep costs down in the landscaping industry.

EPISODE LINKS:
RepurposeIt - https://www.repurposeit.com.au/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
49min
October 31, 2022 The Front Garden EP62 - Julie Krieger, ex CEO of the landscaping association in NSW & SME consultant
What makes a small business thrive? This week, Chris and Tyson speak with Julie Krieger, founder of Onsomble, a business management service specialising in supporting small organisations to achieve success.

After flirting with studies in landscape design, Julie Krieger eventually found herself as the CEO of The Landscape Association, working with landscapers in NSW and ACT. Her experience working in an association gave her valuable insights into the needs of small businesses, and in 2017 she established of Onsomble. In this episode, Julie discusses the importance of business strategy and planning, knowing when to say ‘no’, and planning for failure on your journey to success.

EPISODE LINKS:
Onsomble - https://onsomble.com.au/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au

(**Note: this episode was recorded online, and listeners may experience some variations in audio in parts.)
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
49min
October 17, 2022 The Front Garden EP61 - Peter Donegan, internationally renowned Irish landscape designer
Kicking off Season 6 is an interview with Irish landscape designer, Peter Donegan.

Starting out as the geeky kid who was 'into plants', Peter launched his own landscaping business in 2001, at age 24. He has become known for winning awards for 17th and 18th century gardens across Europe. Notably, he was selected to represent Ireland to design & realise the Irish WW1 Centenary Peace Garden at Chateau de Péronne in 2018, and returned to design a second inaugurated garden in 2022.

In this episode, he talks with Chris and Tyson about the privilege and responsibility of working on historic gardens, the influence of climate change on his choice of plantings, his favourite garden project, and the inspiration for the show garden he has planned as guest designer at MIFGS 2023.

EPISODE LINKS:
Peter Donegan Garden Design - https://doneganlandscaping.com/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au

(**Note: this episode was recorded online, and listeners may experience some variations in audio in parts.)
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
57min
October 03, 2022 The Front Garden EP 60 - Hamish Mitchell owner and MD of Speciality Trees talks all things arbory
Even as an 11 year old, Hamish Mitchell loved working in the garden. After a brief stint as a 'terrible' landscaper, Hamish found his feet taking care of the gardens at Government House in Canberra, followed by a tenure at Parliament House as the head horticulturist. Today, Hamish runs Speciality Trees, one of the leading suppliers of advanced and semi-advanced trees to landscapers. He talks to Chris and Tyson about the Australian Tree Standard (AS 2303:2018), the importance of investing in new talent in the horticulture industry, how climate change might influence tree choices in the future, and tips for ensuring tree planting success.

EPISODE LINKS:
Speciality Trees - https://www.specialitytrees.com.au/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
52min
September 19, 2022 The Front Garden EP 59 - Lily Sabo, pool designer extraordinaire!
This week, Chris and Tyson sit down with landscape architect, Lily Sabo, of Sabo Design.

With a childhood dream of becoming an architect, Lily side-stepped into landscape design, getting her start designing backyard pools for some of Melbourne's most successful pool builders. Finally deciding to back herself, she decided to launch out on her own, and Sabo Design was born. Lily talks about the ups and downs of starting a design studio, the significance of relationships in getting new customers, and the importance of self-care when running your own business.

EPISODE LINKS:
Sabo Design - http://www.sabodesign.com.au/
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
39min
September 05, 2022 The Front Garden EP 58 - Nic van Diemen, Victorian landscaping royalty, and paving demon!
After 50 years in the industry, Nic van Diemen knows a thing or two about landscaping. He catches up with Chris and Tyson this week to discuss how he started out in the industry, how he developed his expertise in segmental paving, and how the industry has evolved since he first started out.

EPISODE LINKS:
Botanix Plant Supplies - https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au/
Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers - https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/
Enter the 2022 Victorian Landscaping Awards - download the entry form
Become an LVML Member - https://www.masterlandscaper.com.au
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Entries are now open for the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards.
Showcase your work, build your credibility, and celebrate your team’s achievements.
Entries close Friday, 4 September.
Enter online today through Landscaping Victoria and put your business in the spotlight.

Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
...more
52min

FAQs about The Front Garden:

How many episodes does The Front Garden have?

The podcast currently has 137 episodes available.

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