The Landscaping Podcast

In this episode I speak with Josh Norman from Josh Norman Landscapes, a landscape design and construction company based in Melbourne.

Josh has a great story about how he started out, firstly with his old man who was a bricklayer, but then he worked at multiple places including travelling to Darwin, Perth and the UK for work, before coming back to Melbourne and working for a couple of high end companies prior to starting his business.

Josh also has a great story about how he started getting work for his business, by being proactive and contacting designers to get work, and then building on those relationships from there.

You can follow Josh on Instagram @joshnormanlandscapes

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 former owner of InStyle Gardens, Jack Bath.

Jack is currently a project manager at Landscape Solutions based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

It was fascinating chatting to Jack and hearing about his transition from business owner to employee and going from residential to commercial, as well as hearing about the pros and cons of having a business in two different states at the same time.

I also loved him recalling a quote from Bruce Winstanley that the only time you make money on a project, is when you quote it.

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 Chris Hose from Chartwell Nurseries, a wholesale nursery based just outside of Geelong in Bannockburn.

I absolutely loved chatting with Chris, not only because he's a plant nerd, but also because he's one of the nicest people in the industry.

He's got a great story about his early life in the industry where he was working at a nursery while still at school, but decided to do extra plant study so that he'd have answers to questions when people asked him.

Chris was one of the major supporters for our 2023 MIFGS garden and it was exciting to hear that he's teaming up with another designer for next year, and he spoke about how beneficial it is having this much notice, so he can grow things on and have options.

You can follow Chris on Instagram @chartwell_nurseries

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 answer some questions asked via Instagram.

Normal interviews will resume next week.

If you're wanting to sign up to be on the mailing list for The Landscaping School, you can find the link here.

You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page
@instyle_gardens
@thelandscapingpodcast

You can view each episode on our YouTube channel

In this episode I speak with Hayden from Vereya Gardening, a garden maintenance business mased in the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne.

Hayden has a great story about one of his first projects, working for someone who decided to post an ad for a gardener at the music college Hayden was studying at.

He recently went to various gardens overseas for 7 weeks, so he talks about the challenges of running his business remotely for that period of time as well as the planning he put in place prior to leaving.

He also has a great localised business model which he shares as well.

You can follow Hayden on Instagram @vereyagardening

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 Mia Bueskens from Terravita Horticulture, a garden maintenance and installation company based in Melbourne and around Daylesford, where Mia grew up.

She had a great start to the industry with multiple family members part of the industry, and she talks about how influential some workmates and employers were during her development prior to starting her own business, including where she worked for Lucas House and Garden and Jane Jones Landscapes.

Mia also has a great message about the importance of charging professionally for a professional service.

You can follow Mia on Instagram @terravita.horticulture

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 Gareth Wilson from GK Wilson. Gareth is a highly decorated and respected landscaper in the UK and has built at least 30 show gardens, including multiple ones at Chelsea, and has won 11 gold medals as well as best in shows, best in category and best construction.

Gareth is also an author, consultant, lecturer and awards judge, among other titles, so despite stepping back form landscaping, he's still just as busy.

We talk about the importance of working as a team between landscapers and designers, and Gareth also explains why saying No can be one of the hardest things to master in landscaping.

You can follow Gareth on Instagram @northern_landscaper_gareth_

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 Ashley O'Sullivan from InDepth Landscape Construction, a company based in Canberra. Ash is the operations manager there and has been for 3 months.

Prior to moving to InDepth, Ashley originally worked for his father's business for 10 years and then worked in commercial landscaping for 8-9 years, so we talk about the pros and cons to both and how one can help the other.

You can follow InDepth on Instagram @indepth_landscape_construction

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 Suzannah Kennett Lister from SKL Gardens, a landscape design business based in Melbourne.

Suzannah originally started her working life in the Theatre space before studying landscape design when COVID closed down the arts world. Her mother is a successful landscape designer in South Australia, so Suzannah grew up around the industry, and she also works on projects with her mum as well as her Melbourne projects.

I worked with Suzannah on the Wurundjeri Biik garden at this years MIFGS, so we discuss the origin and story behind that, as well as how amazing the plants were and the challenges of obtaining such a variety of indigenous stock in retail nurseries.

You can follow Suzannah on Instagram @skl_gardens

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 Sean Dowling from Bayon Gardens, a design and construction company based on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne.

Sean has not only a unique story about the path he took to start in the industry at 27, but also about how he came up with the name Bayon Gardens.

He also shares the different way he started the business, with 4-5 employees including zero apprentices to start off with.

Sean also shares his story about the Japanese Garden Show build he did with Ross Uebergang where they took out a Silver medal.

You can follow Sean on Instagram @bayongardens

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