AUTUMN/WINTER 2026
PEOPLE FIRST, PERFORMANCE FOLLOWS
Building stronger teams across the industry
PLANTING WITH PURPOSE
Smarter choices for resilient, lasting landscapes
FINDING THE EDGE
The detail quietly transforming landscape design
SHOW STOPPING GARDENS
Inside the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
2026
THE HIDDEN HAZARD OUTDOORS
What UV exposure means for landscaping professionals
THE EASE IN TREES
How one business is simplifying arboriculture
GROUNDS FOR PLAY
The science behind premium performance turf
Our Cover:
EARTHSTYLE
Publisher: Landscaping Victoria
Editor: Lauren Bianchi
Contributing Editors: Ritchie Hinton
Writers/Contributors: Ritchie Hinton, Lauren Bianchi, Bianca Debono, Mathew Wandmaker, Cancer Council Victoria, Callum McIntyre (Tree Coach), Straightcurve, Arborgreen, HR Advice Online
Art Director: Lauren Bianchi
Photography: Images are sourced from our Members, from commercial use stock libraries, or are AI generated, unless otherwise stated.
Customer Service Enquiries
Landscaping Victoria Sector Offices, Suite 7, Level 3
2 Brandon Park Drive
Wheelers Hill VIC 3150
t: +61 3 9566 7284
e: admin@landscapingvictoria.com.au www.landscapingvictoria.com.au
Editorial/Advertising Enquiries
e: marketing@landscapingvictoria.com.au
Subscription Enquiries
e: member@landscapingvictoria.com.au
Earthstyle is published twice a year. It is Victoria’s premier landscaping publication, dedicated to inspiring and educating landscaping professionals by sharing creative solutions, sustainable practices, and industry expertise.
© 2026 Earthstyle. All Rights Reserved. The content in this publication is for general information only and not intended as specific advice. Readers should seek professional advice before acting on any material. While all efforts are made to ensure accuracy, Earthstyle and Landscaping Victoria assume no responsibility for errors or omissions.
As
Landscaping Victoria approaches its 60th year, the industry continues to build momentum through resilience, innovation, and a stronger collective voice, strengthening
it for the next generation.
As we close out another financial year, I think there’s a real sense of momentum building across Landscaping Victoria, not only within the association itself, but across the broader industry we represent.
The past year has reinforced something I’ve always believed: this is an incredibly resilient, capable, and adaptable sector.
While there’s no doubt many businesses are navigating tighter conditions and a degree of economic caution, there’s also a strong appetite to keep improving, innovating, and investing in the future. That optimism and professionalism are something worth recognising.
Over the past several months, the Board and team have remained focused on strengthening the value of membership and ensuring that Landscaping Victoria continues to evolve alongside the needs of a modern industry.
We’re soon implementing our new Association Management System, a significant investment that will
help us communicate with members and deliver support, services, and opportunities more efficiently and meaningfully.
While systems may sit mostly behind the scenes, their impact is very real. Better communication, easier access to information, more tailored engagement, and stronger connections across our community will all play an important role in shaping the member experience moving forward.
Membership growth also remains a key priority, but not simply for the sake of bigger numbers. A larger, more engaged membership base strengthens our collective voice and our ability to advocate effectively for the industry, whether that’s through government engagement, professional recognition, workforce development or broader industry conversations.
The stronger and more connected our community becomes, the greater our influence in shaping the future of landscaping in Victoria.
This August also marks a particularly important milestone for Landscaping Victoria as we celebrate 60 years as an association. Reaching this anniversary is a significant
achievement, thanks to the many members, volunteers, boards, and staff who have contributed to the organisation over decades of growth and change in the industry.
We’ll be acknowledging the milestone in a number of ways throughout the year, including at our annual Awards event in November, which promises to be a fantastic celebration of both our history and the outstanding work being produced across the industry today. I encourage members to come along and be part of what will no doubt be a memorable occasion for the Landscaping Victoria community.
Behind the scenes, we’re also continuing to grow the team and invest in the organisation’s future capability. As expectations shift and the industry continues to evolve, it’s important that Landscaping Victoria evolves with it, remaining relevant, responsive, and genuinely valuable to members at every stage of business.
Finally, thank you to the Board, Ritchie, and the Landscaping Victoria team for their ongoing work and commitment throughout the year. And most importantly, thank you to our members. The willingness of this community to contribute ideas, support one another and stay engaged is what continues to make this association strong.
I’m looking forward to the year ahead and to continuing the work of building an industry that is connected, respected, and well supported for the future.
As the industry moves into the cooler months, the focus shifts from peak growth to planning, performance, and long-term outcomes. It’s a natural point to reflect on recent work, refine processes, and look ahead to the next phase of delivery.
Autumn and winter bring a natural shift in pace across our industry.
For many, it is a time to step back from delivery, to review the season just passed, and focus on the planning, systems, and long-term direction of the business.
This edition of Earthstyle reflects the strength and capability of our membership.
From the calibre of work showcased at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show to the diverse projects being delivered across Victoria, it is clear that Landscaping Victoria members continue to set the benchmark for quality, professionalism, and innovation.
That consistency does not happen by chance.
It is driven by businesses that are committed to doing things properly through investing in their
teams, refining their processes, and delivering outcomes that stand the test of time. It is also what underpins the trust our industry continues to build with clients, stakeholders, and the broader community.
At an organisational level, LV remains focused on advocating for that standard.
We are continuing our work to strengthen regulatory clarity, support compliant business practices, and provide valuable operational tools to members (such as access to contracts and specialist advice).
Significant energy is also brought to promoting our members to consumers, emphasising the expertise and value they bring to every project, and encouraging future professionals to consider a career choice across the variety of niches the landscaping industry offers.
Connection across the industry also remains a priority.
LV has a keen focus on creating opportunities for members to come together through events and initiatives such as The Landscape Show, our Masterclass networking series (powered by William Adams CAT), our Golf Day, our annual Award program, and other crosssector activities.
They combine to provide an important collective platform to share knowledge, build relationships, celebrate craftsmanship, and support business growth.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Earthstyle
Thank you for your-on-going support of Landscaping Victoria, and for continuing to raise the bar across the industry.
As always, please feel free to reach out to the LV office for assistance or support at any time.
Recognised at the 2025 WorkSafe Awards, Natural Growth Partners’ Tree Coach™ system is helping reshape tree planting through safer installation methods, smarter design innovation, and a longterm commitment to healthier urban landscapes.
For many in the landscaping industry, tree planting has long been accepted as physically demanding work. Repetitive, labour-intensive, and reliant on traditional methods that have changed little over decades.
But Melbourne-based Landscaping Victoria member Natural Growth Partners is challenging that thinking through its innovative Tree Coach system, recently recognised at the WorkSafe Awards 2025.
Tree Coach™ received the Workplace Health and Safety Solution of the Year award, recognising the product’s ability to improve both workplace safety and long-term tree establishment outcomes across landscaping and civil construction projects.
Founded by brothers Tim and Rob Buruma, Natural Growth Partners was born from more than 30 years of experience within the commercial landscaping industry and a growing frustration with outdated staking methods and the workplace risks associated with them.
Their goal was to create a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable approach to tree establishment; one that could improve landscape outcomes while reducing the physical strain placed on workers during installation.
The result was Tree Coach™, an allin-one planting and watering system designed to eliminate traditional stake ramming and reduce repetitive lifting, awkward bending, and overhead work on site.
Through consultation with contractors, councils, and installation crews, the system has continued to evolve, with the latest version delivering improved ergonomics, faster installation times, and greater structural rigidity.
Natural Growth Partners invested more than $250,000 into new injection moulds and hundreds of hours into research and development to refine the product.
Manufactured in Melbourne using recycled plastics sourced from kerbside
and e-waste streams, Tree Coach™ also reflects the company’s broader commitment to sustainability and circular design principles.
Importantly, the innovation extends beyond the product itself. The team has delivered more than 1,000 hours of product training with contractors and council crews, helping businesses integrate safer installation methods into everyday operations and Safe Work Method Statements.
For the landscaping industry, the award highlights the growing role innovation can play in improving safety, sustainability, and the long-term success of urban landscapes, proving that meaningful change often starts by rethinking the fundamentals.
To learn more about Tree Coach and its award-winning tree planting system, visit Natural Growth Partners
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fresh country air, a championship course and a long weekend escape made the 2026 LV Member Golf Day at RACV Goldfields Resort a memorable celebration of connection, community, and a little friendly competition.
This year, Landscaping Victoria took one of its most-loved member events west, with around 90 people heading to the stunning RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick for the annual Member Golf Day.
Set amongst rolling fairways and beautiful bushland in the heart of regional Victoria, the event offered more than just a day on the course. With the March long weekend perfectly timed, many attendees turned the occasion into a mini country getaway, taking the opportunity to unwind, reconnect, and enjoy everything the resort had to offer.
While Landscaping Victoria events are often centred around Melbourne and its surrounds, bringing the Golf Day to western Victoria was a deliberate move.
It created a more convenient and accessible location for members based west of the city, while also giving regular attendees the chance to experience somewhere new. And the change of scenery certainly delivered.
From the first tee-off through to postgame drinks and conversations at the clubhouse, the day struck the perfect balance between networking, relaxation and good-natured competition.
Contractors, designers, suppliers and industry partners came together in a relaxed setting where conversations flowed as easily as the swings—some more accurate than others.
Whether members arrived as seasoned golfers or enthusiastic beginners, the
atmosphere remained welcoming, social and unmistakably communityfocused. New connections were formed across the course, existing relationships strengthened, and plenty of stories exchanged between rounds.
As always, the success of the day was made possible thanks to the support of Landscaping Victoria’s industry partners and sponsors, whose contributions helped create another standout event on the member calendar.
More than just a golf day, the event was a reminder of the value of stepping away from the worksite and making time to connect as an industry— preferably with good company, fresh air and the occasional lucky putt.
Thank you to our 2026 LV Member Golf Day sponsors:
Network Insurance House William Adams CAT
Coolabah Turf HIDE
INEOS
Murray Mallee Training Co.
Shapescaper
Shell Card
Speciality Trees
Straightcurve
Running a successful landscaping business today takes more than delivering quality projects on site.
Behind every strong business is a capable team, clear systems, and the confidence to manage HR, workplace safety and compliance.
Nobody started a landscaping company because they loved payroll classifications, but HR can make or break long-term success.
That was the focus of Landscaping Victoria’s recent Masterclass with industry partner HR Advice Online, where directors Sally Garner and Kerrie Canning (pictured above) shared practical, industry-specific advice to help businesses manage their people, reduce risk, and build stronger workplace foundations. Here are some key takeaways from their presentation.
people side of business risk
For landscaping businesses, people management can be complex. Teams are often spread across multiple sites, work can be seasonal and physically demanding, and many businesses rely on a mix of full-time staff, casuals, subcontractors and labour hire.
Add award interpretation, payroll obligations, safety requirements and changing legislation, and even wellrun businesses can find themselves exposed.
Common HR challenges include:
• Award coverage and correct classifications
• Wages, overtime and allowances
• Subcontractor versus employee arrangements
• Payroll and record-keeping obligations
• Underpayments and wage theft laws
• OHS responsibilities, including fatigue and supervision
• Psychosocial risk and employee wellbeing
From compliance and payroll to workplace culture and retention, strong people management is becoming one of the most important drivers of long-term success for landscaping businesses.
Many businesses don’t set out to do the wrong thing. Risk often creeps in quietly through outdated contracts, unclear workforce arrangements, inconsistent records, or assumptions about how awards and employment obligations apply.
Confidence around pay structures, award classifications and workforce arrangements is critical. Incorrect classifications, missing allowances, poorly documented overtime, or casual staff engaged without the right contracts can all create significant issues.
For businesses that use contractors or labour hire to manage changing workloads, it is also important to understand when someone is genuinely a subcontractor, and when they may be considered an employee. The wrong arrangement can carry serious implications for pay, leave, superannuation, insurance, and compliance obligations.
The advice is simple: review early, review regularly, and don’t wait until a problem arises. A payroll or HR audit may not sound like a thrilling afternoon, but it can identify gaps before they become costly mistakes.
Workplace safety has always been front of mind in landscaping. Heavy materials, machinery, weather, fatigue and supervision all require careful management.
But safety now also includes psychosocial risk, such as stress, poor workplace behaviour, unclear expectations, and excessive work pressure.
Strong communication, leadership and culture are more than “nice to have”. They are part of running a responsible and resilient business.
now
Businesses can start by reviewing award classifications and pay structures, auditing payroll and record-keeping practices, checking labour hire and contractor compliance, strengthening OHS systems, reviewing contracts and workplace policies, and focusing on attraction, retention, and workplace culture.
A good place to begin is by asking three simple questions:
1. Are we confident our pay and classifications are correct?
2. Do we fully understand our workforce arrangements?
3. Where are our biggest people risks right now?
Why getting HR right matters
Good HR is more than avoiding problems. It helps create the conditions for better communication, stronger teams, safer worksites, and more confident business decisions.
With specialist support, landscaping businesses can take a more proactive approach to managing people, pay, compliance, and workplace culture before small gaps become big risks.
As workforce pressures continue to evolve, investing in the right advice, systems and conversations is essential to building a resilient, sustainable business, one that can look after its team, protect its future, and keep delivering great work across Victoria.
Need support navigating HR, compliance, or workplace safety?
Landscaping Victoria members can connect with the team at HR Advice Online for practical, industry-specific HR and workplace support tailored to landscaping businesses. Simply log into the LV Member Hub. landscapingvictoria.com.au/login
has supported landscapers, architects, and builders with reliable access to premium natural stone.
With one of Australia’s largest inventories of travertine, bluestone, limestone, crazy paving, pool coping, and stone cladding, we keep projects moving with consistent supply and materials that meet professional standards.
The Victorian Landscape Industry Awards return in 2026, and this year, they carry extra meaning. As Landscaping Victoria celebrates its 60th anniversary, the Awards will honour not only the standout projects, people, and practices shaping today’s industry, but six decades of skill, creativity, and progress across Victoria’s landscaping community.
Each year, the Victorian Landscape Industry Awards shine a spotlight on the talent, creativity, and hard work shaping our built and natural environments.
From elegant residential gardens to complex commercial landscapes, specialist maintenance programs, and innovative sustainable solutions, the Awards celebrate the depth and diversity of landscaping across Victoria.
This year, they also form part of a much bigger story.
As Landscaping Victoria marks its 60th anniversary, the 2026 Awards will be a chance to recognise not only the work being delivered now, but the people, businesses and ideas that have helped shape the industry over six decades. It is a moment to look back with pride, look around with appreciation, and look ahead with ambition.
Finalist or winner, the Awards is more than a trophy moment. It tells clients, collaborators, and peers that your work meets a high professional standard. It can open doors to new projects, strengthen your business profile, and create a valuable point of difference in a competitive market.
Just as importantly, entering the Awards is a chance to recognise the team behind the work. Every completed project carries the mark of planning, problem-solving, craft, patience, weather negotiations, supplier juggling and—usually—a few tears!
The Awards are open to all Landscaping Victoria members and are designed to reflect the breadth of the industry. They are not just a showcase for the largest projects or the most established businesses.
Whether you are a small crew delivering high-impact residential work, a maintenance specialist keeping landscapes thriving, a designer pushing creative boundaries, a horticulturalist passionate about planting, or a business leading the way in landscaping precision, there is a category for you.
The process of entering can be valuable in itself. Taking the time to document a project, reflect on the decisions behind it, and present the outcome to industry judges can offer fresh perspective on the quality and impact of your work.
With categories spanning design, construction, maintenance, softscaping, and the future of the industry, the Awards highlight the exceptional
landscapes around the state, and the people who bring them to life.
And when Awards night arrives, this year’s gala promises to be one to remember.
The night will be a celebration of community. It will be a chance to gather with peers, honour excellence, cheer each other on, and mark 60 years of Landscaping Victoria supporting, connecting, and championing the industry.
So, if you have completed a project you are proud of, delivered consistent excellence, or watched your team go above and beyond, this is your moment to share it. Entries open this July.
For more information on how to enter the 2026 Victorian Landscape Industry Awards, or to review the entry criteria and begin planning, visit the Events section on the Landscaping Victoria website: landscapingvictoria.com.au
SIX WHOLESALE NURSERIES. OPEN SIX DAYS. MELB > Langwarrin Wantirna Thomastown Werribee BRIS > Willawong GOLD COAST > Carrara Download our free Legal Ready Reckoner for handy information at your fingertips!
Clean lines matter, but so does efficiency on site. Straightcurve’s ClickConnect™ system is designed to simplify edging installation without compromising finish quality.
As landscape projects become increasingly time-sensitive and labour-conscious, products that simplify installation without compromising finish quality are gaining attention across the industry.
Straightcurve’s new ClickConnect™ edging system has been developed with installers in mind, aiming to reduce time on site while maintaining the clean lines and durability expected in both residential and commercial landscapes.
An installer-focused system designed to reduce time on site while maintaining precision, durability, and finish quality.
Straightcurve’s ClickConnect™ system has been developed to address a familiar challenge in landscape construction: balancing installation speed with finish quality. For contractors and specifiers, edging is
critical to defining space and setting levels, yet traditional systems often require time-consuming alignment, fastening, and on-site adjustments, adding pressure to both timelines and budgets.
ClickConnect™ simplifies this process. Using a patented connector plate, panels can be joined without screws or precise hole alignment. Installers simply slide sections together, secure them with spikes, and move on, eliminating the need for welding, clamping, or fabrication on site.
Early industry feedback points to meaningful time savings and reduced labour demands. By simplifying installation, the system can be used by a broader range of workers, minimising reliance on specialist trades while still delivering clean, consistent lines.
Manufactured from thick-grade weathering steel, ClickConnect™ is built for durability. Over time, the material develops a natural protective patina, removing the need for coatings or sealants and reducing long-term maintenance requirements.
Available in 100mm and 150mm heights, the system includes multiple panel lengths: 1800mm, 800mm, 400mm, and 200mm, along with an optional corner piece. Flexible and rigid options allow it to adapt to a wide range of applications, from
garden beds and pathways to lawn edges, tree surrounds, and more structured landscape designs.
Safety is also a key consideration, with rolled top and bottom edges making the system suitable for public spaces, schools, and other high-traffic environments.
ClickConnect™ reflects a broader trend within the landscaping sector toward modular, installer-friendly solutions that prioritise efficiency without sacrificing finish quality. As projects become more timesensitive and cost-conscious, systems that reduce complexity on site are increasingly valued.
Straightcurve continues to focus on innovation shaped by practical, onthe-ground challenges, with a product range that supports both residential and commercial landscaping projects across international markets.
For product details, specifications and installation information, visit straightcurve.com/au/
Lump Studio’s ‘Ink Blot’ privacy screen is seamlessly incorporated into the Merrilands project by Bijil Architecture. It combines modern architectural design with effective privacy solutions, meeting all Australian Overlooking Regulations and Privacy Standards.
25% Light Filter 75% Privacy
Exactly where you need it to be!
Customisation is key - Most of our Lump Sculpture Studio screen designs can be tailored to achieve a 25% - 75% privacy rating. Speak with one of our designers today about creating a unique privacy screen for your next project.
Shipping Australia wide weekly and International shipping available upon request.
+61 3 9489 4766
info@lump.com.au
lump.com.au
Bijil Architecture - Merrilands Project. Photography, Tom Ferguson
Cooler weather doesn’t mean lower UV risk. For landscaping professionals working outdoors yearround, sun protection remains
an essential part of workplace safety—even through autumn and winter.
For many in the landscaping industry, working outdoors is simply part of the job. But while temperatures drop through the cooler months, UV exposure doesn’t disappear—and neither does the risk.
Australia continues to have some of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, with outdoor workers among the most exposed. Landscapers, horticulturists, and construction crews can spend long hours in direct sunlight in every season, often without realising how much cumulative UV exposure builds over time.
That’s why SunSmart Victoria is encouraging workplaces to treat UV protection as a standard safety measure, not just a summer consideration.
Just as PPE, steel-capped boots, and high-vis clothing are accepted parts of site safety, sun protection should be built into everyday routines. Simple measures such as wearing broadbrim hats, UV-protective clothing and sunglasses, applying sunscreen regularly, and planning breaks in shaded areas can significantly reduce long-term health risks.
Importantly, workplace policies also play a role. Research from Cancer Council Victoria has shown businesses with formal sun protection policies are more likely to provide protective equipment, discuss UV safety regularly, and create stronger safety cultures on site.
For landscaping businesses, that approach benefits both workers and employers. Clear expectations around sun safety help reinforce professionalism, support team wellbeing, and reduce preventable health risks across the industry.
Autumn and winter can also create a false sense of security. Workers can feel less exposed in cooler temperatures, yet UV radiation can still reach damaging levels, particularly in the middle of the day and during clear-sky conditions. Reflection from surrounding surfaces, including concrete, paving and lightcoloured materials, can also increase exposure on site.
Building a sun-safe culture doesn’t need to be complicated. Keeping sunscreen stocked in work vehicles, encouraging regular reapplication, scheduling breaks under cover, and leading by example on site can all help make sun protection part of the everyday routine.
For business owners and team leaders, conversations around UV safety are also becoming part of broader discussions about workplace wellbeing
and retention. Creating safe, supportive work environments matters.
There’s also growing awareness among younger workers entering the industry, many of whom expect workplaces to take health and safety seriously across all aspects of the job. Visible sun protection practices on site can help reinforce a professional culture while setting consistent expectations across crews and subcontractors.
Importantly, sun protection doesn’t need to interrupt productivity. Many of the most effective measures are simple, low-cost habits that can be built naturally into the workday—much like hydration breaks, stretching before manual tasks, or checking tools before use.
The message from SunSmart is straightforward: if you’re working outdoors, sun protection matters all year round.
Because good landscaping is about creating environments that last, and the people building them should, too.
For information, resources, policy templates and training support, visit SunSmart’s website: sunsmart.com.au/advice-for/workplaces
Proudly supported by:
The 2026 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show brought colour, conversation and no shortage of inspiration to Carlton Gardens, with landscapers, designers, and plant lovers turning out in force for one of the industry’s biggest weeks of the year.
From ambitious Show Gardens to smartly resolved Boutique spaces, this year’s builds celebrated the creativity and craftsmanship shaping Australian landscapes right now. There were bold ideas, beautiful planting combinations, and plenty of moments that made visitors stop in their tracks, or quietly take photos for future inspiration.
DESIGN: TIMELESS OUTDOORS
CONSTRUCTION: COASTAL ELEMENTS LANDSCAPING
Reverie offered visitors a place to slow down in a contemplative garden centred on texture, movement and quiet escape. Designed by Daylesford-based studio Timeless Outdoors, the space explored how thoughtful material choices and soft, immersive design can shape the way people feel within a landscape.
The innovative use of slate roof tiles as a walling feature, introduced rich texture and an unexpected sense of rhythm while reflecting the studio’s considered approach to sustainability. Circular forms softened the layout, drawing the eye from the central spa through sweeping bands of lush lawn and layered planting.
Founded by Aaron Leslie and Kelsey Johns, Timeless Outdoors creates landscapes grounded in practical knowledge, regional sensitivity, and a strong connection to the natural environment. That philosophy was evident throughout Reverie, where floating elements and carefully balanced forms gave the garden a light, almost dreamlike quality.
At the 2026 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, Reverie presented an invitation to pause, reflect, and momentarily step outside the pace of everyday life.
DESIGN: RUBIRA BY DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION: SEMKEN LANDSCAPING
Native Whispers invited visitors into a softer, slower kind of landscape, one shaped by memory, movement, and a deep connection to the natural world. Awarded Silver, the garden balanced ecological thinking with cottagegarden romance, creating a space that felt both nostalgic and quietly alive.
Designed by Yarra Valley–based landscape designer Emily Rubira of Rubira by Design, the garden celebrated native planting in all its texture and fluidity. Flowing drifts of grasses moved gently through sculptural shrubs and upright perennials, while layered planting created rhythm, habitat, and seasonal interest throughout the space. Every species played a dual role: beautiful in form, but also valuable to pollinators and biodiversity.
At the centre of the garden, a handcrafted greenhouse built from recycled materials became both a practical feature and a poetic focal point. Nearby, a low bubbling water feature threaded sound and movement through the landscape, drawing in birds, insects, and visitors alike.
Native Whispers reminded visitors that gardens don’t need to shout to leave an impression.
DESIGN: LUXESCAPE DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION: KASPAR PROJECTS
Longevity showed that even the smallest gardens can have a meaningful impact on daily life. Created by Luxescape Design, the compact wellness garden explored how thoughtful outdoor spaces can support movement, mindfulness, and restoration through simple everyday rituals.
Founded by Brett Ingwersen, with Galin Dimitrov leading creative and technical delivery, Luxescape Design is known for combining plant-focused landscapes with innovative technology and immersive design thinking. In Longevity, that approach translated into a space that felt calm, intentional, and deeply human.
Within its modest footprint, the garden layered sensory planting with practical wellness features designed to encourage people outdoors. Lemongrass, lavender and sage filled the air with fragrance, while blueberries, finger limes and espaliered apple offered moments of seasonal harvest and connection. Creeping thyme and native violets softened the space underfoot, while a graceful ginkgo provided shade and structure.
Beneath a slim louvred canopy, a warm timber deck created space for stretching, breathwork, or quiet pause, while tempo steps encouraged gentle movement and balance throughout the garden.
DESIGN: OLIVERA GARDEN DESIGNS
CONSTRUCTION: OLIVERA GARDEN DESIGNS
Re-Learn, Re-Grow invited visitors to look more closely at the stories held within the landscape. Designed by Landscape Architect and Director Alannah of Olivera Garden Designs, the garden explored how memory, history, and ecology continue to shape the way we understand and interact with the land today.
Known for creating purposeful residential landscapes grounded in sustainability and connection to place, Alannah approached the garden as both a physical space and a quiet act of reflection. Set conceptually within the Victorian Volcanic Plains, Re-Learn, Re-Grow moved through layered narratives of Aboriginal pre-colonial, colonial, and contemporary relationships with land.
As the garden rose from left to right, structural layers revealed shifting patterns of land use and evolving environmental values. Planting and material choices worked together to express cycles of growth, decay and regeneration, creating a landscape that felt both contemplative and hopeful.
Rather than offering easy answers, the garden encouraged visitors to pause and consider their own relationship with the environment—how landscapes are shaped over time, what has been lost, and what can still be restored.
DESIGN: CENTRED LANDSCAPES CONSTRUCTION: CENTRED LANDSCAPES
White proved that restraint can be every bit as powerful as boldness. Designed by Mornington Peninsula studio Centred Landscapes, the garden explored how a pared-back palette, thoughtful materials, and soft planting can create a space that feels calm, welcoming, and deeply liveable.
Led by directors Paul and Lockie, the team approached the garden with the belief that outdoor spaces should feel like natural extensions of the home; places designed for gathering, slowing down, and everyday enjoyment. That thinking carried through every detail of White, where curved forms and layered textures created a strong sense of continuity throughout the space.
Large-format concrete and limestone steppers guided movement through the garden, leading to a curved seating zone and a limestone-clad plunge pool that offered a quiet moment of retreat. Nearby, a sculptural pizza oven became the social anchor of the garden, balancing refinement with warmth and practicality.
Rather than feeling stark, the white palette revealed itself as textured, relaxed, and inviting. Layered planting softened the hardscape with movement, sculptural form, and edible elements woven naturally throughout.
For Landscaping Victoria, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show provides an opportunity to advocate for the landscaping industry, showcase member excellence, and connect directly with the public at scale.
With more than 100,000 visitors through the gates this year, MIFGS26 once again provided a valuable platform for Landscaping Victoria to champion the professionalism, creativity, and capability of the Victorian landscaping industry.
At the centre of that presence was the Boutique Gardens competition, proudly hosted by Landscaping Victoria. Featuring five gardens designed by Landscaping Victoria members, the showcase highlighted the depth of talent within the industry while giving visitors direct access to the people behind the projects.
Importantly, the show also creates opportunities for broader public education. From conversations on the show floor to almost 10,000 copies of The Best magazine distributed throughout the event, Landscaping Victoria used the platform to encourage
homeowners and clients to engage landscaping professionals who value quality, professionalism, and industry standards.
Thousands of co-branded Coolabah Turf and Landscaping Victoria, recycled PP5 plastic buckets produced by Garden City Plastics, flooded the event, further extending the organisation’s visibility and reach, helping put the industry in front of audiences well beyond the Show.
But the value of MIFGS extends beyond public engagement.
With so many designers, contractors, suppliers, educators, media representatives, and industry leaders gathered in one place, the show also provides important opportunities for connection and collaboration, from formal meetings through to the countless informal conversations that
help strengthen the industry over time.
“MIFGS26 gave us a valuable opportunity to connect with key stakeholders and audiences, advocating for the Victorian landscaping industry.
It gives us a chance to educate attendees on the importance of choosing a landscaping professional who values quality and professionalism. Like an LV Member,” said Ritchie Hinton, CEO, Landscaping Victoria.
As LV looks to the future, events like MIFGS remain an important part of building a stronger, more connected, and more visible industry for both members and the wider landscaping community.
DESIGN: MATT YORK CONSTRUCTION: RATIO
AWARDED
CITY OF MELBOURNE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - BEST IN SHOW
HORTICULTURAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST USE OF PLANT LIFE
GOLD MEDAL
Designed as an immersive coastal retreat, We the Wild distilled the rugged beauty of Victoria’s southern coastline into a garden that felt intimate, atmospheric, and restorative.
Created by Matt York of Ratio, the Gold Medal-winning Show Garden paired granite boulders, weathered materials, and layered native planting to create a landscape rich with texture and movement.
With resilient planting supplied by Kuranga Native Nursery, Surf Coast Palms and Proven Winners, the garden balanced sculptural beauty with ecological purpose—a reminder that wildness and wellbeing can comfortably coexist.
Photography: Lyons Photography
DESIGN: JOEL BARNETT OF INSTYLE GARDENS
CONSTRUCTION: THE LANDSCAPING SCHOOL
AWARDED
MARK BENCE CONSTRUCTION AWARD
GOLD MEDAL
Playful, expressive and full of personality, je ne sais quoi brought Joel Barnett’s unmistakable design style to MIFGS26. Created by InStyle Gardens and awarded Gold, the Show Garden balanced bold geometry with relaxed, welcoming energy, the kind of space people naturally gravitate towards.
Curved bluestone paths, circular lawn forms, and sculptural gathering spaces created movement and rhythm throughout the garden, encouraging visitors to wander and explore from different angles.
Recycled brick detailing and painted timber stumps added texture and character, giving the space an urban edge softened by layered planting and flowing forms.
The planting palette combined structural natives, soft grasses, lush foliage, and seasonal colour to create contrast, movement and depth. The result felt artistic yet approachable; carefully resolved without losing its sense of spontaneity.
More than a showpiece, je ne sais quoi captured something harder to define: a sense of joy, curiosity and connection that lingered long after visitors had moved on.
DESIGN: ANDREW STARK GARDENS
CONSTRUCTION: MPF GARDEN COMPANY
AWARDED
SILVER GILT MEDAL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Urban Luxe draws visitors into a garden of quiet grandeur, where clipped formality softens into layers of abundant planting and rich seasonal texture.
Inspired by European garden traditions but grounded in a distinctly Melbourne sensibility, the space balances symmetry, craftsmanship, and botanical generosity with remarkable ease.
Stone, structure, and foliage work together to create moments of pause. Intimate one minute, expansive the next.
There’s a confidence to the garden. It invites you to slow down, look closer and enjoy the theatre of beautifully resolved design.
DESIGN: JASON HODGES
CONSTRUCTION: SEMKEN LANDSCAPING
AWARDED
SILVER MEDAL
As day fades across Carlton Gardens, this garden settles into its own kind of romance.
Soft lighting catching white blossoms, bluestone underfoot, and bronze Brolgas frozen middance among the planting.
Designed as the setting for a real wedding ceremony during the Show, Love Blooms Here carries the emotion of the occasion in every detail, from the layered pastel blooms to the quiet sense of enclosure created by dense greenery and flowering trees.
There’s generosity in the way the garden unfolds, revealing intimate spaces that feel made for gathering, reflecting, and celebrating.
More than spectacle, it offers something deeply personal: a reminder that gardens are often woven through the stories we cherish most.
DESIGN: EMMA DOMAN DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION: AVOCA LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
AWARDED
SILVER MEDAL
Where We Gather captures the relaxed rhythm of subtropical outdoor living, pairing lush layered planting with warm natural textures and resort-style calm.
Oversized palms, soft stone, and organic paving create a garden that feels generous and deeply liveable, designed as much for everyday rituals as special occasions.
A curved bench seat forms the social heart of the space, while quieter moments unfold through tucked-away daybeds, shaded greenery and an outdoor shower framed by foliage.
Contemporary yet welcoming, the garden celebrates the simple luxury of slowing down and spending time together outdoors.
DESIGN: JAMIE DURIE
CONSTRUCTION: SEMKEN LANDSCAPING
AWARDED
SILVER MEDAL
Jamie Durie’s return to Carlton Gardens feels both familiar and forward-looking, with a show garden that places sustainability at the centre of the conversation without losing sight of beauty or liveability.
Drawing inspiration from Jamie Durie’s Future House, the design explores how circular materials, smart technology, and thoughtful planting can shape the way we live outdoors in the years ahead.
Recycled and repurposed elements are woven seamlessly through the garden, alongside layered greenery, contemporary outdoor spaces and an Elsewhere Pod integrated into the landscape.
Ambitious in scale yet grounded in practical ideas, the garden offers a glimpse of a future where sustainable design feels less like compromise and more like aspiration.
It’s your turn to create something beautiful.
Each year, the Boutique Gardens Competition, hosted by Landscaping Victoria, brings fresh ideas and big impact to small spaces at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show.
DESIGN: IFTIKHAR AHMED OF TREELINE DESIGNZ CONSTRUCTION: SEMKEN LANDSCAPING AWARDED
BRONZE MEDAL
Stepping into Echoes of the Ancient Silk Road feels like wandering through the remnants of another civilisation; one slowly and beautifully reclaimed by nature.
Weathered brickwork, blue-tiled pathways, and a semi-ruined tower emerge through layered planting and climbing greenery, creating a garden rich with atmosphere and quiet discovery.
A reflective pond and softly moving water bring calm to the space, while textured planting, from flowering perennials to sculptural Australian natives, blurs the line between ruin and renewal.
Inspired by the ancient trade routes of Uzbekistan, the garden invites visitors to slow down, look closer and lose themselves in a landscape shaped by history, memory and time.
This unique platform invites both emerging and established designers to showcase their creativity, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a compact footprint.
Entries for the 2027 competition open in July 2026. If you’re ready to tell a story, test a concept, or build your dream garden on centre stage, this is your chance.
Visit www.landscapingvictoria.com.au for more information and keep an eye on LV News for updates. Not a Landscaping Victoria member? Now’s the perfect time to join!
GOLD SHOW GARDENS
We the Wild
Design: Matt York
Construction: Ratio
je ne sais quoi
Design: Joel Barnett of InStyle Gardens
Construction: The Landscaping School
SILVER GILT SHOW GARDEN
Urban Luxe
Design: Andrew Stark Gardens
Construction: MPF Garden Company
SILVER SHOW GARDENS
Love Blooms Here
Design: Jason Hodges
Construction: Semken Landscaping
Where We Gather
Design: Emma Dorman Design
Construction: Avoca Landscape Construction
The Future Garden
Design: Jamie Durie
Construction: Semken Landscaping
BRONZE SHOW GARDEN
Echoes of the Ancient Silk Road
Design: Ikftikhar Ahmed of Treeline Designz Construction: Semken Landscaping
CITY OF MELBOURNE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - BEST IN SHOW
We the Wild
Design: Matt York Construction: Ratio
MARK BENCE CONSTRUCTION AWARD
je ne sais quoi
Design: Joel Barnett of InStyle Gardens Construction: The Landscaping School
HORTICULTURAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST USE OF PLANT LIFE
We the Wild
Design: Matt York Construction: Ratio
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Urban Luxe
Design: Andrew Stark Gardens
Construction: MPF Garden Company
LANDSCAPING VICTORIA BOUTIQUE GARDENS COMPETITION
GOLD
Reverie
Design: Timeless Outdoors
Construction: Coastal Elements Landscaping
SILVER
Native Whispers
Design: Emily Rubira of Rubira by Design Construction: Semken Landscaping
To the designers, builders, growers, makers, LV Members, and behind-thescenes legends—thank you.
It takes time, talent, sweat, soil under the nails (and let’s be honest, the occasional tear) to bring MIFGS to life.
Whether you took home an award or not, you’re all winners for making it to the MIFGS stage.
We see you—and we think you’re blooming brilliant!
From the Landscaping Victoria team.
Urban trees are essential to cooler, more liveable cities. They support biodiversity, reduce urban heat and improve community wellbeing. But as climate pressures intensify and urban density increases, the challenge is no longer just planting more trees, it’s ensuring they establish, survive and deliver long-term value.
While demand for urban planting continues to grow, the systems and materials supporting it are under increasing strain.
Supply challenges, safety considerations and rising sustainability expectations are forcing a rethink of traditional approaches. The future of urban forestry will be defined not just by volume, but by smarter, more considered planting methods.
Supply constraints and sustainability pressures
One of the most visible pressure points is material supply, particularly for products that have long been standard practice. Hardwood stakes are a clear example.
For decades, they have been widely used to support young trees, but they are typically single-use, rarely recovered, and increasingly difficult to source at scale. Pressure on forestry resources, combined with regulatory and land-use changes is reducing availability and driving up costs.
Project expectations have also shifted. Tree planting is now assessed across its full lifecycle, with greater scrutiny on embodied carbon, material sourcing, and
end-of-life outcomes. In this context, single-use materials are becoming harder to justify.
The reality for installation crews
There are practical considerations on the ground too. Traditional staking methods often rely on repetitive manual handling and tools such as post knockers, contributing to fatigue and increasing the risk of injury. Oversized stakes—sometimes up to 2.4 metres— may also be specified regardless of tree size, increasing material use and placing additional strain on crews during installation.
These challenges are driving interest in solutions that are safer, more efficient, and better aligned with modern sustainability goals.
One example is the second-generation Tree Coach system, developed as an alternative to traditional staking methods. Tree Coach 2 combines a watering well with a modular staking system, designed to support tree establishment while simplifying installation.
Manufactured from recycled e-waste and post-industrial plastics, the system responds to growing demand for materials with lower environmental impact. It allows for one to three stakes, with 1.2 metre and 1.8 metre height options to suit common urban planting scenarios, enabling practitioners to tailor support to the tree and site conditions rather than defaulting to oversized solutions.
Installation is straightforward and does not require post knockers. Components
are assembled by hand, placed within the planting hole, and backfilled as usual. Trees are secured using standard tying methods, maintaining familiar practices while reducing physical strain on crews.
A key advantage of Tree Coach 2 is its reusability. Unlike hardwood stakes, which are often discarded after a single project, the system is designed to be recovered and reused across multiple planting cycles.
This reduces material waste and can deliver cost efficiencies over time, particularly for organisations managing ongoing planting programs. Additional components can be added as needed, providing flexibility without requiring full system replacement.
Urban forestry is at a turning point. The pressures facing the industry are real, but they are also creating space for innovation.
Traditional materials like hardwood stakes will continue to play a role, but they are unlikely to remain the default in all situations. Solutions like Tree Coach 2 demonstrate how the industry can respond by combining practical design, improved safety and circular material thinking, helping ensure urban planting is not only scalable, but sustainable for the long term. For product details, specifications and installation information, visit
Specialising in Workplace Deliver y
contact –
David McFa rla nd
Training Consulta nt
mobile 0417 558 177
email dmcf a rla nd@mmt c .com. a u
Murray Mallee Training Compa ny is a Registered Training Orga nisation delivering these training qualifications –
• AHC30716 Cer tificate III in Hor ticulture
• AHC30916 Cer tificate III in Landscape Construction
• AHC31016 Cer tificate III in Parks and Gardens
Other courses availa ble –
• First Aid
• Skid Steer Loader
• Construction Induction Card
• Excavator
• Chemical Users
The Landscape Show continues to cement its place as Victoria’s key meeting point for the landscaping industry, and exhibitor demand is only getting stronger.
This year’s exhibitor floor plan booked out well in advance, with suppliers, service providers, and industry partners securing their place early to connect directly with landscaping professionals from across the state.
That momentum reflects the strength of the event and the value exhibitors see in being part of it. Last year, The Landscape Show attracted more than 2000 attendees, bringing together contractors, designers, horticulturists, business owners,
apprentices, suppliers, and industry decision-makers for a full day of connection, innovation, and practical conversations.
For brands wanting to build visibility in the Victorian market, The Landscape Show offers something hard to replicate: a focused industry audience, all in one place.
TLS is a chance to demonstrate products, start conversations, strengthen existing relationships, and introduce new ideas to the people using, specifying, and recommending products every day.
The booked-out exhibitor floor plan for 2026 is a strong signal of where the event is heading. As the show continues to grow, early planning is becoming increasingly important for businesses wanting to secure a place on the floor.
With demand continuing to build,
businesses interested in exhibiting in 2027 are encouraged to register their interest early. The floor plan is expected to fill quickly, and early engagement gives you the best chance to explore available options and secure a position that suits your goals.
Whether you’re launching a new product, expanding your reach, or simply looking to stay front-of-mind with Victorian landscapers, The Landscape Show offers a valuable platform to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Expressions of interest for The Landscape Show 2027 are now welcome so you can get ahead of the game!
Industry events are a chance to catch up with familiar faces, share a bite and swap a few stories. But Landscaping Victoria’s Masterclass series is proving they can also be something more: practical, valuable professional development that members can put to work straight away.
There will always be something worthwhile about getting the industry together.
In a busy, hands-on profession like landscaping, it is easy to move from one job to the next without much time to pause, compare notes or look beyond the immediate demands of the day. So yes, the chance to step away from site, reconnect with colleagues and enjoy a good feed still matters.
But increasingly, Landscaping Victoria’s industry events are being shaped around a bigger purpose: making sure members leave with something useful—a practical idea, a clearer process, a new contact, or a piece of knowledge you can apply in your business or career the very next day.
That thinking has been at the heart of the Landscaping Victoria Masterclass series, driven by William Adams CAT,
which continues to attract strong turnouts and enthusiastic feedback from members across the industry.
The series has already covered topics from marketing and legal responsibilities to human resources, with each session designed to deliver clear, relevant insights for business owners, managers, emerging leaders, and team members building their skills.
The momentum continues in June, with a finance-focused Masterclass helping you better understand the numbers behind a sustainable business.
In July, the program moves into practical territory with a ponds and water feature installation masterclass for those looking to expand or refine their technical skills.
It’s this mix of business insight, technical learning and peer connection that makes the series so valuable.
A strong event gives you more than a notebook full of good intentions. It gives you something you can act on.
That might be a better way to approach a staff issue, a clearer understanding of legal obligations, a sharper marketing idea, a financial habit that supports better decisions, or a technical detail that improves the way a feature is designed, built, or maintained.
Just as importantly, these events create space for the conversations that don’t always happen on site or in the office.
Members can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others
who understand the pressures, opportunities, and curveballs of running a landscaping business.
No matter your role or experience level, there is value in being in the room.
Apprentices and team members can hear directly from industry leaders and build confidence in their place within the profession, while business owners can step back from the day-to-day and focus on the bigger picture.
But the real value is in what you take back with you— to your teams, your clients, your worksites, and your businesses.
From community sports fields to commercial landscapes, turf is being asked to work harder than ever. For StrathAyr, performance starts with understanding how a surface will be used, and specifying the right system from the ground up.
A good turf surface should look the part. A great one also needs to perform.
Across Victoria, natural turf is being asked to carry heavier workloads, from busy local sports fields and school ovals to racetracks, golf courses and largescale commercial landscapes. These are not passive green spaces. They are working surfaces, expected to handle repeated use, recover quickly, present well, and remain safe under pressure.
That is where turf selection becomes more than a finishing touch.
For more than three decades, StrathAyr has specialised in high-performance natural turf systems for demanding environments.
Based in Victoria and with a strong reputation across sport, racing, golf and commercial landscapes, the business works with project managers, sports field managers, councils, contractors, and landscapers to match the right turf to the right application.
Because there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all turf solution.
A high-traffic community sports field needs durability and rapid recovery. An elite training facility requires consistency, surface stability, and predictable ball response. A racetrack must balance drainage, resilience and footing under intense pressure. Even a family backyard has its own performance brief, shaped by lifestyle, shade, pets, children, and maintenance expectations.
For StrathAyr, the starting point is always the same: how will the surface be used, and what does it need to withstand?
That fit-for-purpose approach helps reduce risk, improve establishment success, and protect the long-term value of the landscape asset.
StrathAyr’s portfolio includes varieties such as Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, RTF Tall Fescue, TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda, and Eureka Premium Kikuyu, each selected and grown with specific performance outcomes in mind, from wear tolerance and recovery to water efficiency, year-round presentation, and seasonal resilience.
Of course, the turf itself is only part of the story. Soil preparation, drainage, installation methods, and maintenance capacity all play a role in how well a surface establishes and performs over time.
StrathAyr supports clients through this process with technical advice that considers not only the turf variety, but the broader conditions needed for longterm success.
For sporting clubs and councils, the autumn and winter months can offer an important planning window. Cooler conditions can support establishment and root development, while early decision-making allows asset owners to align turf selection with playing schedules, renovation programs and available maintenance resources.
StrathAyr also welcomes customers and clients to its farm, offering a closer look at turf production, growing methods and innovation in action. It’s a chance to see varieties in the ground, talk through site challenges, and spend a day with people who really know their turf.
In high-traffic sporting and commercial environments, performance is not a bonus. It is the brief. By combining proven turf varieties, technical expertise and reliable supply, StrathAyr continues to support projects where durability, recovery, longevity and season-long surface integrity matter.
To find out more about StrathAyr’s turf solutions, visit their website: strathayr.com
