In this episode I speak with Martin Semken from Semken Landscaping, a construction and maintenance business based in Melbourne which Martin started 35 years ago.
Semken Landscaping were the first Australian construction company to build a Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show and have also been involved in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show every year since inception, so we discuss both shows in this chat.
Martin discusses the value of garden maintenance and why more landscapers should be offering it.
I got goosebumps when Martin was talking about the amount of care he has for his apprentices when they start, and how he likes to meet with their parents prior to them starting so that they have an understanding of who their child is working for, what to expect, and so that they can contact him if needed. It's obvious that Martin treats his employees like family, not just the half dozen who literally are family!
You can follow along with Martin's work on Instagram @smekenlandscaping
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep81 - Instagram Live Q and A #2
In this episode I answer questions submitted via Instagram in an Instagram Live recording.
This is something that I'll be hoping to do weekly, recorded on Sunday night at 8.30pm EST and released as a podcast on the Thursday of the following week, in addition to the regular guest, released on the Monday as normal.
Some of the questions answered in this episode are :
What is your process for leading clients into getting their project drawn up with a design?
What do landscapers do?
Any words of advice on starting your own business and how to bring on your first employee?
ARE YOU TIRED?
Do you get anxious about upcoming work, ie did I cost it right, timings, allowances etc?
What is the single best piece of business advice you've been given?
Which end do you start at when eating a dimmy?
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep80 - Peter Donegan - Peter Donegan Garden Design
In this episode I speak with Peter Donegan from Peter Donegan Garden Design. Peter is a Landscape Designer based in Ireland and will be designing a garden at the 2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, so we discuss how that came about.
Peter started his passion for gardens and design at a very young age, 5 or 6, and still has the same passion for it 40 years later.
He comes across as a very knowledgeable individual, and shares plenty throughout the chat, such as the importance of designers, landscapers and other trades all knowing their role when working together on a project, to ensure it runs smoothly.
Peter also tells a story about a friend of his who started a music festival and invited him to come along, and his first questions was "Who's going?" to which his friend replied "If you're offered a ticket on a rocket ship, you don't ask who's going, you just get on the rocket ship", and this is a philosophy Peter lives by, saying yes to opportunities that come along, while also acknowledging that if you've got responsibilities like a mortgage, sometimes you have to say no!
I mention a great talk that Peter does on Biodiversity which can be found here.
You can see Peter's 'controversial' MIFGS Q and A here.
And you can follow Peter on Instagram @peterdonegan or on his website doneganlandscaping.com
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep79 - Phil Withers - Phillip Withers Landscape Design
In this episode, this final for the year, I speak with Phil Withers from Phillip Withers Landscape Design. Phil runs a landscape design and horticulture company based in Melbourne and has done for around 10 years.
Phil talks about how he started in the industry studying design but also working in construction and maintenance to get a better idea of what everything actually is that he was designing.
He talks about how great Garden Shows are and shares when he'll be doing a garden show next, as well as talking about a book he's looking to publish.
We also touch on Phil's respect for the land he builds gardens on and he shares why this is and how design can be done better.
You can follow Phil on Instagram @phillip_withers
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep78 - Myles Baldwin - Myles Baldwin Design
In this episode I speak with Myles Baldwin from Myles Baldwin Design. Myles heads a team of 16 landscape architects from a studio in Redfern in Sydney, and is one of the most sought-after designers in Australia.
Myles talks about the great start he had in the industry, completing an apprenticeship at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, followed by studying at Ryde Tafe prior working on a project at Bronte House before starting out on his own.
He talks about why he downsized the services he offered from design, construction and maintenance to just design as it is now.
He also mentions the way he presents his designs to his clients, in a way that helps convey the design message as well as saving time in revisions.
You can follow along with Myles' work on Instagram @mylesbaldwin
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep77 - Weston Zimmerman - Synked Up
In this episode I speak with Weston Zimmerman from Synked Up. Weston was the creator of Synked Up, which is a complete landscape management software that he developed during his 16 years as a landscaper.
Knowing your numbers, and understanding the true cost of doing business is the key message Weston is trying to get landscapers to understand, and in this chat he mentions the benefit of knowing your numbers, as well as the two things people always get wrong when trying to work out the amount they should charge.
Weston was awarded the Aquascape Artist of the year when he was landscaping, and through that was able to work on a pond for Shaq, so we discuss that in this episode also.
You can follow along with Weston on Instagram @synkedUP
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep76 - Instagram Live Q and A
In this episode I recorded an Instagram Live where I answered questions from followers of our Instagram accounts as well as one who were watching live.
There were some great questions including asking about our 2023 MIFGS garden, have I thought about life after landscaping, when's the last time I washed the tools after a concrete pour and about 12-15 others.
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
The Landscaping Podcast Ep75 - Matt Harding - Outdoor Oasis Landscapes
In this episode I speak with Matt Harding from Outdoor Oasis Landscapes, a design and construction company based on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
Matt only started the business a few years ago at the start of Covid, but is already working on some really nice projects and it's clear through the chat that he's got and idea on where he wants to get to, and what he needs to do to get there.
We discuss the benefit of only posting the type of work you want to do to social media, so that you get more of that type of work. And Matt also mentions why he likes to occasionally work for other designers, doing different and interesting work.
It's clear Matt enjoys what he does, so much that when I asked what his favourite part was, he couldn't just pick one thing, because he likes everything about landscaping.
You can follow along with Matt on Instagram @outdooroasis_landscapes
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 or on our website
instylegardens.com.au/the-landscaping-podcast
