In this episode…
What does it take to create landscapes that perform well beyond handover—and build a team capable of supporting them?
Paddy Milne, owner of Ballarat-based The Scape Artist, joins host Adam Hompas to discuss the value of connecting landscape design, construction and ongoing maintenance. Drawing on 13 years in business and experience across each stage of a project, Paddy explains why long-term garden success begins well before work starts on site.
Working in Ballarat brings distinct challenges, from heavy clay and long, wet winters to severe frosts and hot, dry summers. Paddy shares how his team responds by carefully preparing the ground, installing subsurface drainage, and selecting plants suited to the site. He also explores the potential of combining Australian natives with Mediterranean plants to create diverse, climate-responsive planting schemes.
The conversation moves beyond the landscape itself to the systems and people behind it. Paddy discusses thorough construction documentation, transparent client communication, the decision to hire machinery and experienced operators as needed, and why growing too quickly prompted him to take a more measured approach to team development.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why maintenance should be considered during the design and construction stages.
- How local climate, frost, and soil conditions influence plant selection in regional Victoria.
- Why improving existing clay can be more effective than replacing it entirely.
- How subsurface drainage supports plant and garden performance through wet winters.
- Why detailed documentation can improve quoting, construction, and client communication.
- What Paddy learned from growing his team too quickly and scaling back to move forward steadily.
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👁️🗨️ About Paddy Milne
Paddy Milne is the owner of The Scape Artist, a Ballarat-based business with in-house design, construction, and garden maintenance teams. Its work includes residential landscapes in Ballarat and on larger regional properties.
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Building Landscapes and Teams for Long-Term Success | The Front Garden EP151
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