LEARN From The Best at This Year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Access a range of educational experiences at this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Take advantage of the unique expertise and facilities including hands-on practices with skilled professionals.

Applied Demonstrations

Hands-on Workshops

Gardens For Small Spaces

Understand the Importance of Sustainability

Realise The Potential Opportunities In The Horticultural Industry

Landscape Advisory Centre

The Welcome Garden

Experience Sensory & Accessible Gardens

The Diggers Club

Victorian Schools Garden Program

Beyond Blue

Main Stage

Wedding Floral Showcase Designers Announced

Image: The White Tree | Florist: Green Darling Flowers

Brides and grooms-to-be will be enthralled by the designs at this year’s Wedding Floral Showcase. Bigger and better than ever, this year’s exhibit will give designers the chance to showcase the latest and greatest wedding floral design trends with some of the pieces also featuring on the Main Stage during the floral inspired fashion runway show on Saturday 28 March 2020.

The 7 florists & their teams showcasing their talent at this year’s Wedding Floral Showcase are:

• Green Darling Flowers
• Luna Moss Flowers
• Gathered Floral
• Florals by Pemberley of Malmsbury
• Flowers by Megan
• Blume Flower School
• It’s My World

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show will take place on the 25 – 29 March 2020 at the Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens

2020 Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Finalists Announced

With small space gardening now a fact of Australian life we are seeing the emergence of the Balcony Garden trend. Being without a traditional backyard no longer means we must be without a garden!

The Ryman Healthcare Balcony Gardens are set to profile small-space garden design at this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th March at the Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens.

The 2020 Finalists are:

• Inner City Nature
• Royal Fox Landscapes
• Tempest Landscapes
• Patricia Morrison LA
• Kep Horticulture
• Ben Hutchinson Landscapes

Ryman Healthcare ambassador and landscape design expert Matt Leacy will be presenting the winner of the Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Competition with their award.

EXPLORE: We’re Celebrating 25 Years With All Things New

We Have 10 NEW Ways to Explore the Show

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest horticultural festival, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, celebrates 25 years on the Victorian major events calendar from 25 to 29 March, and boy do we have a show for you.

What’s new in 2020…

We’re Bringing You The Best of the Best

In an exciting first, our crowd-favourite Show Gardens will be designed by an outstanding collective of Australia’s most awarded landscape designers, who have each previously won the coveted ‘Award of Excellence for Best in Show.’ Prepare to be wowed by the unbridled unique vision of each designer, they will exhibit a calibre of skill and creativity like never before!

Ryman Healthcare Balcony Gardens

To reflect the changing nature of the Australian backyard, this year’s Show will welcome the inaugural Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Competition, inspiring urban dwellers with limited square meters and a passion for gardening.

Enhanced Hands-On Workshops

Take part in a range of hands-on workshops, including all-new wearable floral workshops from Internationally acclaimed Floral Artist, Julia-Rose. Book in via our website today to take home your own table centrepiece, kokedama or wearable floral design.

Botanical Gin Garden

Is there any better way to spend your day strolling through the gardens than with an ice-cold Gin cocktail in hand? We’re transforming our entertainment area into a botanical oasis serving delicious Mountain Gin. Grab a friend or loved one and pop down!

2020 Show Layout

This year we are refreshing the Show layout & giving visitors a new way to explore & discover the Show Gardens, as well as a range of new features in new locations. The Show will be set up to best take advantage of the spectacular venue, the Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens.   Come along & experience this unmissable Show in a brand new format.

Wedding Floral Showcase

Brides and grooms-to-be will be enthralled by the designs at this year’s Wedding Floral Showcase. Bigger and better than ever, see the latest and greatest wedding floral design trends firsthand at the Show.

Horticulture Careers Hub

Hosting a range of higher education providers, the new Horticulture Careers Hub will inspire visitors and prospective students alike to join the thriving horticulture, landscape and design industries, helping navigate the process easily.

Art & Sculpture Precinct

See more than 300 artists representing their craft at the newly revamped Arts & Sculpture Precinct & in the Art Gallery. Meander through these creative spaces to see live artist demonstrations and even purchase original pieces to adorn your garden or home.

The Sustainability Space

Demonstrating the Show’s increased commitment to sustainability, the new Sustainability Space will play host to the Show’s sustainability partners, Bio Gro and Closed Loop, who will each highlight the importance of recycling and reusing.

The Unmissable After-Work Soiree, Gardens By Twilight, is Better Than Ever

The gates will open for a night to remember on Friday 27 March for the highly anticipated Gardens by Twilight. Enjoy an evening of gourmet food and drinks available from several outlets including pop-up wine bars, beer gardens and The Prosecco Van as you explore everything the Show has to offer in the fading sunlight. Triple J Unearthed artist, Harrison Storm, will headline this year’s live evening entertainment program with a captivating performance under the stars.

The 25^th Anniversary Show is shaping up to be our biggest yet.

Top 4 Prosecco Cocktails To Enjoy This Valentines Day

Fact: a little bit of sparkling prosecco will make any drink that little more romantic. Whip up one of these delicious and simple cocktails when you’re wanting to impress that someone special…

Enjoy the perfect bubbly addition at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show thanks to the Prosecco Van.

We’ve Got 40% MORE Gardens at This Year’s Show

Kicking off Wednesday 25 March, the silver anniversary of the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is an occasion not to be missed, with more striking floral and garden features than ever before, and an incredible lineup of some of the greatest landscape and floral designers in Australia and abroad.

In an exciting first, the crowd-favourite Show Gardens will be designed by an outstanding collective of Australia’s most awarded landscape designers, who have each previously won the coveted ‘Award of Excellence for Best in Show.’ Representing the unbridled unique vision of each designer, the Show Garden precinct will exhibit a calibre of skill and creativity like never before. The award-winning designers returning in 2020 include: Phillip Withers, MINT Pool + Landscape Design, Dean Herald – Rolling Stone Landscapes, Vivid Design, Mark Browning Landscape Design, Warners Nurseries in collaboration with Robert Boyle, Koji Ninomiya (Japan), and Steve Day for Tree & Shrub Growers VIC.

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show Event Director, Marcus Gale, explained that the silver anniversary of the Show will feature the most accomplished and award-winning landscape and floral talent in event history.

“After 25 years the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show continues to attract the best floral and landscape design talent, locally and internationally, to create truly exceptional Show Gardens and Floral Feature displays. This year’s event will be unparalleled in terms of its scale and imagination. If ever there’s a year to come, this is it,” said Gale.

“To give a sense of scale, there will be an increase in the number of Garden displays by more than 40% which amounts to an additional 1,000sqm of various garden displays for the public to enjoy. From our new balcony and small space gardens, to boutique and achievable style gardens, right up to the jaw-dropping Show Gardens designed by our top, award-winning designers. In this special year, there’s something for everyone.”

Sustainable Gardening That Benefits Your Lawn

There are many sustainable gardening practices that can assist your lawn. From how you mow your lawn to how you harness and use water, the team from Lawn Solutions have provided a list of methods and actions to help you achieve your sustainability goals, with your lawn in mind.

Watering Wisely

Grey water can be used on your lawn by way of a bucket or a grey water system.

Grey water is the wastewater from washing machines, laundry tubs, baths, showers and wash basins. It doesn’t include wastewater from the toilet, dishwasher or kitchen sink.

Using grey water reduces pressure on waste systems and also saves on drinking water. If you want to use grey water, be sure to use suitable detergents (low in phosphorus and sodium) that won’t harm your plants and lawn. These types of detergents are readily available at your local supermarket.

Regulations on grey water use vary across the country and from council to council, so you need to check with the relevant authorities to find out what is legal and suitable for you.

Making Use of Clippings

During autumn you may be mowing your lawn more frequently and have too many grass clippings to leave on your lawn – there are other good uses for them.

Compost

Grass clippings are high in nitrogen. Combined with brown material, clippings break down quickly and provide a nutrient-rich compost that can be applied to your garden. Take a look at this post for more on general composting.

Mulch for Garden Beds

Grass clippings help your garden to retain moisture, block out weeds and add nutrients to your soil. The nitrogen and potassium within the clippings are also great for your plants.

Liquid Fertiliser

Place your grass clippings in a bucket of water and allow them to steep. Nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and amino acids will leach into the water. After a few days you can strain the liquid and apply it to your plants.

It is OK to leave your clippings on the lawn every now and then. Recycling your grass clippings on your lawn can supply 25% of its annual nitrogen requirements. Leaving too many clippings on the lawn can cause your grass to burn and lose colour, so make sure you’re only cutting a little off the leaf when you plan to leave it on the lawn.

Passing on Pesticides / Herbicides

If you follow the other suggestions listed above and below you may not need to use pesticides and herbicides at all. When the occasional weed pops up, simply remove it by hand.

The trick with weeds is to get onto them early. Many small weeds can be carefully removed by hand, but you need to get the roots out. A weeding trowel or long handled mechanical device can help with total removal.

Controlling Weeds With Moving Frequency / Height

Don’t mow too short as doing so invites weeds to establish in your lawn. Longer lawns combat blown in seed germination much better. They also require less water.

Another mowing tip is to mow regularly to keep your lawn lush and thick. This will help to choke out weeds.

Going Electric

Speaking of mowing, you can try a battery-powered mower. Electric mowers are now available that run on batteries that last a reasonable amount of time. These days there are battery powered mowers that cut well too. These types of mowers are generally cheaper than petrol models and easier to maintain.

Selecting a drought-tolerant lawn

If you’re looking to install a new lawn, look for a variety that can hold up well in drought conditions, like TifTuf. TifTuf can establish roots in just seven days. This is up to 75% faster than other grass types, which means Tiftuf can be established with a lot less water.

Letting your lawn go dormant

Grass is extremely resilient. Most common lawn types in Australia can survive extended periods of drought. They will lose colour, become brown and dry, with little to no leaf growth, but they will generally sit dormant until it rains.

In summer when temperatures are high, grasses will enter a state of dormancy where they shut down tissue growth to preserve moisture. You can usually tell if a lawn is still alive by looking at the crown at the base of the leaves. If the crown is white to off white, it is likely that it’s still alive. A dead lawn will be dry, brown and brittle across the entire plant – the leaves, the roots and the crown.

Improving your soil

To maximise moisture retention in your soil, you may need to add some soil amendments. For a review on this topic, go here.

Practicing sustainable gardening regarding lawns may include choosing the appropriate variety of lawn, changing lawn care habits and/or adopting waterwise systems. Recycling resources such as grass clippings and food scraps can play a part too. For more information on a drought tolerant variety of lawn, check out this post.

WIN a Valentines Day Package

We are giving one lucky person the chance to WIN a double pass to the show on any day of your choice – the perfect date spot.

You will also receive a stunning bouquet of red roses from Pinkie Promise for your loved one.

Is that not enough? We will also give you two bottles of Prosecco thanks to the Prosecco Van.

You can enter below between the 1st February and 12^th February by telling us in 25 words or less, the most romantic story you have with your loved one.

The winner will be drawn on the 13^thFebruary and can collect their package in Melbourne, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Always drink responsibly. 

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

Potting Up: the When, the Why and the How

Thanks to the incredible team from The Plant Runner, we’ve got the down-low on potting up.

Potting up is necessary to allow your plant to be all they can be. Usually it’s pretty obvious when it’s time to put up as your plant will be sending some obvious signs. Look out for roots coming out the bottom or top of the pot, or stick your finger down a couple of centimetres and see the roots have hit the pot wall and are now running along it. If so, it’s Potting Time.

Before you start we’ve got a few tips to make sure the process is as stress and mess free as possible.

• Have a tarp or sheet laid out to work on. This will keep the mess concentrated and make the clean up easy as.
• Have everything you need within reach. It’s the worst when you’re halfway through repotting and you’ve got to get up and try to open doors or drawers with your dirt-covered hands.
• Choose the right size pot for your plant. Make sure the plant has plenty of space to grow but keep the pot size in proportion from a design perspective. Most plants won’t like to go up too many pot sizes in one move – this can encourage root rot as the excess soil will hold more water but your plant might not be capable of taking it all up!
• Think about where you’re placing the finished product – if you’re going large it might be wise to pot up close to the intended final spot to save on unnecessary heavy lifting
• Always use a quality potting mix! Don’t skimp here, you want to give your plant the best chance of success in its new home.
• We like to create own potting medium made with peat moss, perlite and a good potting mix at a ratio of 1:1:1, and a few teaspoons of slow release fertiliser

All good? Let’s get into it. You will (probably) need: 

Heads up – a lot of indoor plant pots are sold as ‘Sleeves’, meaning they don’t have a drainage hole. Our tip for this is pot up your plant into a plastic pot that will fit the Sleeve you’ve picked out for it, put some small stones or pebbles in the bottom of the Sleeve for your potted up plant to sit on, and slide it in! (The stones mean your plant won’t be sitting in excess water and you can lift the plant out every now-and-then to drain it. Easy)

The team from The Plant Runner will be bringing their range of indoor plant products, including their newest product – their Indoor Potting Kit, to the Melbourne International Flower Garden Show.

10 Million Cups Saved from Aussie Landfill

Sustainability Sponsor Closed Loop has just celebrated a major milestone with its flagship coffee cup recycling program, Simply Cups.  More than 10 million cups have now been diverted from Australian landfill – just under 3 years since the program’s launch. 

Simply Cups is a great example of the circular economy in action.  Cups are upcycled into a range of innovative new products, which will be available for purchase at the Closed Loop marquee in the Sustainability Space.

Coffee-loving visitors to this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show are encouraged to use one of the many Simply Cups collection points that will be installed all around the garden this year. 

Find out more here.

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show will be held at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens on the 25th to the 29th of March 2020. Purchase your tickets here.