Richie Hinton fills in for Chris in this episode of The Front Garden. He sits down with Mathew Wandmaker, a Board member of Landscaping Victoria and the owner of Blue Ridge Property Maintenance.

Mathew shares his inspiring journey from working in the banking sector to founding a thriving garden maintenance business.

He dives into the challenges and triumphs of starting small, his decision to shift from residential to commercial maintenance, and his passion for keeping things hands-on while scaling his operations.

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👁️‍🗨️ About Mathew Wandmaker

• Website https://www.blueridgepropertymaintenance.com.au
• Facebook @blueridgepropertymaintenance
• Instagram @blueridgepm
• LinkedIn Mathew Wandmaker

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Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

In this episode…

In this episode of The Front Garden, guest host Ritchie Hinton steps in for Chris Weiss to chat with Lauren Bianchi, Marketing and Communications Officer at Landscaping Victoria, about marketing strategies for landscaping professionals.

Lauren shares her background in marketing and communications, her journey to Landscaping Victoria, and provides valuable insights and tips for small to medium businesses in the landscaping industry. She shares five essential marketing tips for landscaping professionals;

1. Know your customer
2. Create a marketing plan
3. Invest in core content
4. Prioritise high-quality visuals
5. Build an online presence outside of social media

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👁️‍🗨️ About Lauren Bianchi

• Website www.landscapingvictoria.com.au
• Resource Landscaping Victoria Marketing Quick Guide
• Instagram @landscaping_victoria
• Facebook Landscaping Victoria
• LinkedIn @laurenbianchi and @landscaping-victoria

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

In this episode…

Special guest host Richie Hinton, CEO of Landscaping Victoria, interviews Wayne De Klijn from AQL Landscape Design. Wayne shares his journey from interior landscaping to running a diverse landscape architecture and construction business.

He discusses his approach to various projects, from botanical gardens to urban spaces, emphasising the importance of adaptability in design, consideration of climate change, and the value of well-designed public spaces.

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👁️‍🗨️ About Wayne De Klijn

• Website: www.aql.net.au
• YouTube: @aqlaustralia8335
• Facebook: AQL Landscape Design
• Instagram @aqlandscape
• LinkedIn: Wayne De Klijn

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

In this episode…

Chris Weiss chats with Abby Kempe from Tradeswomen Australia (TWA), who shares insights on promoting gender diversity in the trades industry. Abby discusses TWA's role as a social enterprise, emphasising the importance of education and cultural change in creating inclusive workplaces.

She explores the challenges and opportunities in attracting and retaining women in trades, highlighting the value of open conversations and practical solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Abby explains that everyone can contribute to shaping a more inclusive industry, whether you're a small residential landscaping company or a large corporation. It starts with a simple conversation: Where are you at, and where do you want to be?

Some key takeaways from this episode:

🔧 How TWA balances immediate impact with long-term cultural change

🏗️ The importance of psychosocial change in the trades industry

💡 Practical steps for businesses to create more inclusive work environments

🤝 Why open, judgment-free conversations are crucial for progress

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👁️‍🗨️ About Abby Kempe

• Website: https://tradeswomenaus.com
• Resource: TWA Services Guide
• Facebook: @twaustralia
• Instagram: @twaustralia
• LinkedIn: @abbykempe @tradeswomen-australia

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

In this episode…

Chris chats with Michael Chapple from Urbane Landscape Construction, who shares his insights on growing a successful landscape business. Michael emphasises the importance of building a trusted team and offering comprehensive services.

He discusses industry challenges, innovative techniques, and plans for Urbane, highlighting the value of professional development and client education in the evolving landscaping market.

Some key takeaways from this episode:

🌱 How to go from a one-man show to full-service landscape pros

🏗️ Becoming a Registered Building Practitioner

💡 Game-changing materials you need to know about

💰 Pricing strategies for 2024 and beyond

🔔 Hit ‘FOLLOW’ so you don’t miss future episodes of The Front Garden.

👁️‍🗨️ About Michael Chapple

• Website https://urbanelandscape.com/
• Facebook: @urbanelandscapeconstruction
• Instagram: @urbanelandscape_pty_ltd
• LinkedIn: Michael Chapple

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

In this episode…

Chris chats with experienced landscape designer Paul Pritchard, who shares insights on transitioning from construction to landscape design and his recent win at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS).

He emphasises the importance of horticultural knowledge in landscaping and discusses industry trends towards sustainability and new materials.

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👁️‍🗨️ About Paul Pritchard

• Website: https://ppld.com.au
• View Paul's 2024 Boutique Garden winning entry – Innersanctum
• Facebook @ppldelwood
• Instagram @ paulpritchardlandscapes

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

After four years, co-host Tyson Owen bids farewell to Chris Weiss and The Front Garden podcast, reflecting on the podcast’s history, memorable moments, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

Chris and Tyson look back on the podcast's journey from a COVID-era connection tool to a valuable industry resource and a good yarn, emphasising perseverance, valuing yourself, and the importance of sharing diverse experiences in the landscaping field.

Tyson shares his most memorable episodes:

• Paul Hamilton (Ep. 78); discussing work-life balance and burnout
• Brendan Condon on sustainable urban agriculture
• Mike Jantz on transitioning from landscaping to winemaking

From the team at The Front Garden Podcast, Landscaping Victoria, and our listeners… thanks for the memories, Tyson. Cracking innings!

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👁️‍🗨️ About Tyson Owen | Signature Landscapes

• Website https://www.signature-landscapes.com.au
• Facebook @thesignaturelandscapes
• Instagram @signature_landscapes

The Front Garden is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria and is brought to you by Botanix Plant Supply.

Landscaping Victoria: https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au

In this episode…

Chris & Tyson chat with landscaper Matt James and designer Nadia Cole about their experience creating a show garden for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

They discuss the challenges, rewards, and lessons learned from collaborating on a high-profile project with tight deadlines and logistical hurdles.

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👁️‍🗨️ About Matt James | Atlas Concrete & Landscapes

• Website https://atlasconcreteandlandscapes.com
• Facebook @atlasconcreteandlandscaping

👁️‍🗨️ About Nadia Cole | Platylobium Landscape Design

• Website https://www.platylobium.com.au
• Facebook @platylobium
• Instagram @platylobium
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-cole-69681345/

The Front Garden is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria and is brought to you by Botanix Plant Supply.

Landscaping Victoria: https://www.landscapingvictoria.com.au/

Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!

Botanix Plant Supply is a wholesale nursery dedicated to the production of high quality trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
Established in 2007, Botanix now produce trees and shrubs over two nursery sites, and 24 acres.

https://www.botanixplantsupply.com.au