The Front Garden
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.
Episodes
132 episodes
Plant Life, Purpose and The Chelsea Show with Karen Dickson & Greg Palmer | The Front Garden EP142
TL;DRKaren Dickson and Greg Palmer from Ayus Botanical join Adam Hompas to explore the art, business and emotion behind plant-led landscape design. From nursery beginnings and commercial projects to botanical retreats and the Chel...
Building Strong Teams with Dean Oliver & Matt Johnston | The Front Garden EP141
Dean Oliver and Matt Johnston from Can Do Landscapes chat with Adam Hompas about leadership, apprenticeships, communication, and the systems that help landscaping businesses run well on-site and behind the scenes.In this ep...
Precision in the Details with Tomas Runciman | The Front Garden EP140
TL;DR: In Episode 140 of The Front Garden, Adam Hompas chats with Tomas Runciman from Straightcurve about why garden edging is one of the most overlooked but important elements in landscape construction. From modular sy...
Commercial Landscaping, Culture and Growth with Mark Slefendorfas | The Front Garden EP139
In this episode…Our host, Adam Hompas, sits down with Mark Slefendorfas, Director of Brocor Group, to talk about building a commercial landscaping business from the ground up.Mark shares how he went from apprentice t...
Rooftop Gardens That Work with Michael Casey | The Front Garden EP138
In this episode…Our host, Adam Hompas, sits down with Michael Casey, Director of Evergreen Infrastructure, a specialist in green roofs and green infrastructure for urban, built developments. Michael share...
Designing for Community, Canopy & Kids with Alannah Easton | The Front Garden EP137
In this episode…We’re joined by Alannah Easton, owner of Olivera Landscape Architecture and Design, whose work sits at the intersection of community design, habitat gardening, and practical, buildable landscapes.&nbs...
Shaping Landscapes with Toby Lestrell | The Front Garden EP136
TL:DRA practical and candid conversation with Tobias Lestrell (Shapescaper) on better edging systems, weathering steel insights, and the realities of growing an Australian manufacturing business in the landscaping industry....
Scaling Green: Inside 'Green by Nature's Tech-Driven Growth | The Front Garden EP135
In this episode…In this episode of The Front Garden, host Adam Hompas is joined by Mitchell William-Kelly and Jaimee Olsen from Green by Nature to unpack what it really takes to operate one of the large...
Sustainable Sanctuaries & 3D Design with Natalie Back | The Front Garden EP134
In this episode…Our host, Adam Hompas, sits down with landscape designer Natalie Back from Living Earth Design in the Dandenong Ranges to explore how a creek-loving childhood, a passion for plants and chickens, and her studies at ...
From Paving to People: Building a Resilient Landscaping Business with Ashley Kellett | The Front Garden EP133
In this episode…Ashley Kellett from Global Landscapes chats with Adam about learning through mistakes, quoting with clarity, choosing the right materials for site and climate, balancing family life with work, and mentoring the nex...
Game-Changing Concrete Solutions with Madewell Products | The Front Garden EP132
TL;DRA practical deep-dive into contractor-first innovation with Madewell Products covering fibreglass reinforcement (GFRP), reusable formwork, architectural concrete know-how, and the on-site support that helps landscapers delive...
Diversify to Thrive: Kahl Gaffke’s Regional Growth Story | The Front Garden Ep131
TL;DR: Kahl Gaffke reveals how diversification, resilience and family focus built Gaffke’s Gardens & Landscaping into a multi-arm landscaping business ready for interstate growth.In this episode…From m...
Recipe for Landscaping Success: Why Great Gardens Start Below the Surface with Rob Mihailescu | The Front Garden Ep130
TL;DR: Former chef turned horticulturist Rob Mihailescu shares how he built The Cutting Hedge into a trusted name by putting soil science and sustainability first. From swales to soil prep, this episode dishes up insights on creating g...
Pricing, Permits & Paid Consults: Building Smarter Landscaping Businesses with Angela Maroney | The Front Garden EP129
TL;DR: Landscape architect and educator Angela Maroney shares 30+ years of lessons on pricing with confidence, nailing permits and approvals, and switching from free site visits to paid consultations. We dig into systems, t...
Breaking the Silence on Mental Health with Kurt Everard from TIACS | The Front Garden EP128
In this episode…It’s a milestone episode for The Front Garden as Adam Hompas takes the reins as host for the very first time. A landscaper by trade and long-time supporter of the show, Adam steps into the role with...
From Jim’s Mowing to $2M Contracts: Westland Group’s Commercial Evolution | The Front Garden EP127
TL;DRFrom humble beginnings with a wheelbarrow and a shovel, Westland Commercial Group has grown into a powerhouse commercial landscaping business delivering multi-million-dollar projects with an integrated team. In Chris Weiss’s ...
Supporting the Shift: How CLS Fosters Career Change & Business Growth | The Front Garden EP126
In this episode...Host Chris Weiss (Formation Landscapes) is joined by Joel Emmins and Alex Gow from Complete Landscape Solutions to explore the evolution of a business built on strong values, steady growth, a...
Family, Growth, and Green Futures with Samuel Fragapane from All Green Nursery & Garden | The Front Garden EP124
In this episode…Chris sits down with Samuel Fragapane from All Green Nursery, a family-run business with a rich 45-year history in Melbourne’s west. Samuel shares how his grandparents’ humble beginnings selling plants ...
Designing with Nature: Jocelyn Bennett on Native Gardens & striking Gold at MIFGS | The Front Garden EP124
In this episode…Our host, Chris Weiss, chats with Jocelyn Bennett from Earthcore Landscapes, the design force behind the gold-winning Boutique Garden at the 2025 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show.Jocelyn shar...
Plantology: Passion & Planting Wisdom with Lisa Ellis & Teena Crawford | The Front Garden EP123
In this episode…Our host, Chris Weiss, is joined by plant-loving power duo Lisa Ellis and Teena Crawford, co-authors of the groundbreaking new book Plantology. With over 60 years of combined experience in land...
Turf Tech & Trade Secrets with Dave Geltch | The Front Garden EP122
In this episode…Chris Weiss sits down with Dave ‘Geltchy’ Geltch, General Manager of Farms at Coolabah Turf, to explore the evolving world of turf production. Dave brings a unique perspective as a landscaper-turned-far...
Mindset over Muscle with Jamie Young | The Front Garden EP121
In this episode…Chris Weiss sits down with former A-League goalkeeper and now PhD candidate in sports psychology, Jamie Young, to explore the surprising parallels between elite sport and running a trade business.Jami...
Branding Beyond the Build with Samantha Tait | The Front Garden EP120
In this episode…Our host, Chris Weiss, chats with brand strategist and founder of BRND, Samantha Tait, about how landscaping businesses can harness the power of brand to stand out in a crowded market.Sam shares her journey ...
Shaping the Future of Landscaping with Caitlin Sanderson & Jessica Whatnall - The Apprentice edition| The Front Garden EP119
In this episode…Host Chris Weiss chats with the 2024 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards Apprentices of the Year—Caitlin Sanderson (Horticulture, Parks & Gardens) and Jessica Whatnall (Landscape Construction)—about their uniqu...
Growing a Landscaping Business with Purpose with Peter Shaw | The Front Garden EP118
In this episode…Chris Weiss is joined by Peter Shaw—founder and creative director of Ocean Road Landscaping and author of Soulscapes: Connecting Gardens to Landscapes, for an honest and insightful conversation about build...