Prepare for the Unmissable Event of 2020
CLEAR YOUR CALENDARS.
In 2020 we’re celebrating 25 years by bringing you the best of the best.
Plans are underway for the Show’s silver anniversary to be its biggest ever, with more unmissable floral and garden features than ever before and an incredible lineup of some of the greatest landscape and floral designers in Australia and abroad. They will be pulling out all the stops to create the most fantastical and floral installations ever seen at the event.
EXPECT A SHOW UNLIKE ANY OTHER
The 2020 Show will feature the most accomplished and award-winning landscape and floral designers that have been involved over the past 25 years.
GARDENS BY TWILIGHT
Visitors can enjoy a night of gourmet food and drinks while exploring everything the Show has to offer in the fading sunlight at Gardens by Twilight. Enjoy musical entertainment amidst the evening blooms – the ideal place to meet friends after work.
SEE THE ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING COME ALIVE WITH FLOWERS
Teams of floral designers, florists and flower enthusiasts including a number of Gold award winning designers from years past will fill the interior of the building with dozens of stunning installations to inspire.
NEWLY REVAMPED ARTS & SCULPTURE PRECINCT
This Precinct and the Original Art Exhibition will play host to more than 300 artists representing their craft. You can meander through these creative spaces with artist demonstrations and even purchase original pieces to take home.
PERUSE THROUGH OVER 150 RETAILERS
For the DIY enthusiast, the Show will feature over 150 garden retail exhibitors selling the latest products in garden innovation, new and exotic breed plants and also feature a number of immersive workshops to flex green thumbs.
NEW RYMAN HEALTHCARE BALCONY GARDEN COMPETITION
Inspiring urban dwellers with limited square meters and a passion for gardening. Each installation will showcase a unique garden oasis, demonstrating what can be achieved in the smallest of spaces.
PERUSE THROUGH OVER 150 RETAILERS
For the DIY enthusiast, the Show will feature over 150 garden retail exhibitors selling the latest products in garden innovation, new and exotic breed plants and also feature a number of immersive workshops to flex green thumbs.
REGISTER FOR EARLY BIRD NOW
Early Bird Sales end 31 January 2020
Make Your Own Backyard Cricket Pitch
Howzat!!!
With the Summer of Cricket in full swing here in Australia we’re sharing some tips on how to make your very own backyard cricket pitch, thanks to Lawn Solutions.
TIP 1. Preparing a pitch is best done in spring or summer, as mowing your lawn really low when it’s not actively growing is not a good idea.
TIP 2. A pitch is best made on grass varieties like Couch or TifTuf for example, that have the ability to be mowed quite low and still recover. Varieties such as Kikuyu and Buffalo are also acceptable, but don’t mow Buffalo too low as it doesn’t have any rhizomes, which are root-like stems beneath the ground that produce grass shoots.
TIP 3. Location is very important. The best spot for a pitch is preferably in front of the garage, a fence or wall, so you can have an automatic wicketkeeper for one-on-one games. Also, keep in mind where four runs or six and out will be; where is it best to bowl from, etc.
Once you’ve picked a spot, mark the length of your pitch. If you have older kids, make the pitch as long as your yard allows. For younger kids you may want to make your pitch a bit shorter.
TIP 4. Next, drop the height of the blades on your mower. You need to mow the pitch into the existing lawn nice and short so you’ll get more bounce. Plus, it will look more like the pitches you see on TV, with nice contrast to the rest of the yard. Remember though, don’t mow down to dirt or you’ll have a sticky wicket: dead grass!
You may have to mow a few times, depending on how thick your grass is. Keep your catcher on to remove your clippings so there is nothing left on the surface.
Once you’ve removed your clippings, it’s time to set up stumps!
If you have wooden stumps and bails, knock ‘em into the ground. If you have metal stumps place them in position. If you want to get more creative, go for the good old council bin, Esky, stack of buckets or even tape a set of stumps onto the wall or fence.
After this, grab some marking paint and mark the crease at either end. Make the crease as long as the length of your bat plus its handle.
If you’ve got the room, you can mow a strip for the boundary.
Now you’re set to smash a six or send down a doosra.
TIP 5. Once you call stumps for the day, give the pitch an aerate and a deep soak. If there’s excessive wear, you may need to lay off it for a few days for it to recover.
BONUS TIP. To add extra fun to your game, wrap some electrical tape around a tennis ball so that one half is completely covered in tape. This causes the ball to swing a lot in the air and really keeps the batsman guessing!
Happy batting and bowling!
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show returns to the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens for it’s 25th Anniversary Show on the 25 – 29 March 2020.
BOOK TICKETS NOW
The Most Beautiful Christmas Gift
Want to treat your friends & family to something special this Christmas? Why not purchase the ultimate floral gift package.
What better gift is there than an unforgettable day out with friends and family at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show?
Why not package your gift up with a Holland America High Tea – the perfect gift, just in time for Christmas.
Retire to an exclusive High Tea lounge area among the blooms for refreshment and a touch of luxury. Each day, our talented team of chefs will create a beautifully crafted menu, to be paired with a pot of tea, cup of freshly ground coffee or a glass of sparkling wine as you absorb the beauty of the Show in a peaceful secluded area.
Want something more hands on? We have interactive Floral Workshops taking place across the show where you will build your very own floral creation & take it home to show off to your friends & family!
*High Tea & Floral Workshop spaces are extremely limited and will sell out in advance so don’t miss out*
We’ve Got Christmas Covered
Can you hear those sleigh bells ringing? The festive season is upon us!
We’ve put together the ultimate Christmas Gift Guide to help you spoil your loved ones (or yourself) this Christmas.
SHOW TICKETS & A HIGH TEA SESSION
Treat your friends and family to a luxurious High Tea experience.
Attend the show in style by adding a Holland America High Tea experience to your 2020 show tickets!
Limited tickets available per session.
LAWN LOVERS GIFT PACK
Lawn Solutions Australia has the Ultimate Christmas Gift Pack for Lawn Lovers!
Gift Pack includes:
10kg LSA Premium Fertiliser
LSA Golf Balls 3 pack
LSA Stubby Holder
LSA Loving Your Lawn Book
LSA Gardening Gloves
50ml Sunscreen
LSA Cap
$89.99 + Shipping.
*Delivery cannot be guaranteed prior to Christmas. Best advised to order online before the 13th of December.
HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE
Set sail with this fantastic offer from Holland America
5-Dec-19 through to 29-Feb-20
Choose from 500+ sailings and receive:
Stateroom upgrades
Up to US$500 Onboard Spending Money
Reduced fares for kids
10% off select shore excursions
50% reduced deposit
Plus, book a suite and receive prepaid gratuities!
Book by 17 January, and also receive a US$50 Beverage Card per guest.
LET’S TALK BUBBLES
Save on a case of delicious Prosecco from the Prosecco Van
A Case of 6, normally sells at $150, our Xmas promotion is $120/case for the month of December.
Imported from Italy’s Veneto region, our Prosecco is well-structured, elegant and aromatic with notes of apple, pear and white peach. The dry fruity fragrance and delicate fine bubbles in this lively sparkling wine is the result of the handcrafted techniques used in the wine making process. We use TAP wines which deliver a premium wine that’s authentic, consistent, with environment-friendly packaging solution.
ZOOS VICTORIA
Give a year of joy! Gift a Zoo Membership.
From kids to grandparents and the animal lovers in between, a Zoo Membership is the Christmas present everyone will love.
A Zoo Membership provides:
Unlimited entry to Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo
Kids join free on adult memberships
Express entry 365 days a year
Free entry to five interstate zoos
Member discount and events
CHIMINEA & FIREPITS
Transform Your Outdoor Entertaining from Drab to Fab this Christmas!
A chiminea or Fire pit will add instant atmosphere, warmth & increase the usability of your outdoor area .
Our chimineas also have an optional BBQ /Pizza Oven attachment making them dual purpose heating and cooking .
THE PLANT RUNNER INDOOR POTTING KIT
The complete kit for plant lovers
The Plant Runner Potting Kit is the latest in our range of Indoor Plant Care Products. This 7L Kit includes:
A compostable potting tarp to help keep your surfaces clean while you pot up
A box of seaweed tablets to aid plant growth, nutrient uptake and condition the mix
Our bespoke Plant Runner Potting Mix.
MK NORDIKA RAIN COAT
High quality, stylish Scandinavian rainwear
Danish Ilse Jacobsen 3/4 length softshell, hooded raincoat is stylish, warm and offers 100% protection from the rain. Very Scandinavian chic. The Shell has a unique cylinder print and is bonded with super soft fleece, adding unique comfort and warmth.
Price: $395 incl shipping
URBALIVE WORM FARM
The war on waste never looked so good!
The stylish Urbalive worm farm has a tight fitting lid, stacker trays where the worms transform food scraps into compost, and a tank base for the liquid worm juice. Suitable for small households or apartments, the Urbalive can be used indoors or outside under cover.
Get it for $280 (without worms) + delivery OR $320 (with 1,000 worms) + delivery
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show will be held on the 25 – 29 March 2020, at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens.
To book your tickets head to our ticketing platform here
Oh, have we got a show for you!
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show presented by Lawn Solutions Australia, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest floral & garden event, returns 25 – 29 March 2020 for its 25th anniversary.
For our silver Anniversary we will be celebrating the “Best of the Best” landscape & floral designers who have taken out the event’s top awards in previous years. 2020 attendees can expect a Show unlike any they’ve seen before. Each show garden will be a representation of the designer’s unbridled, unique vision.
More than 100,000 visitors are expected to join us once again to celebrate the five day Show, held in the sprawling grounds of Carlton Gardens and within the historic Royal Exhibition Building. Visitors can expect a showcase of more than 900 exhibitors including a strong lineup of accomplished & award-winning landscape & floral designers creating unique, unimaginable installations.
The Show continues to attract the best floral and landscape design talent, locally & internationally, to create truly exceptional Show Gardens and Floral Feature displays. It has established itself as the event to foster young designers, displaying their creative talents and providing a platform for professional development for many training institutions and universities.
The heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building is a sight in itself but will be taken to the next level, housing 1,000’s of freshly cut & styled blooms filling the air with gorgeous scents across the five days. Floral designers, florists & flower enthusiasts will create some of the most stunning floral installations under its roof, a sight you won’t want to miss.
Over 150 retail exhibitors will come together to form exciting retail precincts, inside & outside at the Show. Both innovative & new release products, as well as the traditional favourites, are available to peruse & purchase, covering off on all categories from exotic plants to garden tools, lawn care solutions to ornamental swings…there really is something for everyone.
The newly revamped Arts & Sculpture Precinct & the Gallery Precinct Art Exhibition plays host to more than 300 artists representing their craft. Visitors can meander through these creative spaces & even purchase original pieces to take home.
It’s a Show for the whole family with a range of entertaining & engaging activities for kids of all ages. From face painting, plant potting, creative painting & more, the little ones won’t have time to get bored plus kids under 14 are free to enter the show!
The gates will open for an evening to remember on Friday 27 March, for the highly anticipated Gardens by Twilight. Visitors can enjoy a night of delicious gourmet food & drinks whilst exploring everything on offer in a whole new light and ambiance. An enhanced entertainment program, fires to warm by, drinks to enjoy, all under the stars & amongst the designs!
In 2020 we will also be welcoming Ryman Healthcare to the MIFGS family & in partnership we are proud to be launching a new competition, the Ryman Healthcare Balcony Garden Competition. This competition will showcase garden designs with a unique take on mini landscapes, adding yet another creative twist to this world-class event.
And to top it all off there will be plenty more to keep visitors busy with competitions, workshops, interactive spaces, demonstrations, expert advice, catering experiences & much more.
More designers and special features of the 2020 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show presented by Lawn Solutions Australia will be released closer to the event.
BOOK TICKETS NOW
Dates: Wednesday 25 – Sunday 29 March 2020
Times: Open 9am – 5pm daily
Gardens by Twilight – Friday March 27 until 9pm
Venue: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Carlton
Early Bird tickets are now on sale!
Early Bird tickets are now on sale for the 25th Anniversary of the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show presented by Lawn Solutions Australia, 25-29 March 2020.
Join us for our BIGGEST SHOW EVER as we bring you the ‘Best of the Best’ award winning Australian & International designers who will amaze you with their stunning show gardens & incredible floral creations.
Over 150 retail exhibitors will come together to form exciting retail precincts, inside & outside the show. Both innovative & new release products, as well as the traditional favourites are available to peruse & purchase, covering off on all categories from exotic plants to garden tools, lawn care solutions to ornamental swings…. there really is something for everyone.
The gates will stay open late on Friday 27 March for the evening event of the year ‘Gardens by Twilight‘. Visitors can enjoy a night of delicious gourmet food & drinks whilst exploring everything on offer in a whole new light and ambiance. An enchanted entertainment program, fire pits, live music, prosecco bar & more, all under the stars.
BOOK TICKETS NOW
Dates: Wednesday 25 – Sunday 29 March 2020
Times: Open 9am – 5pm daily
Gardens by Twilight – Friday March 27 until 9pm
Venue: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Carlton
Top 10 Gardening tips for an Australian Spring
Here are 10 Great Tips to Get Your Garden Looking Amazing this Spring!
Spring is a great time to be alive for home gardeners in Australia. The chill is gone from the mornings, and the cosy afternoons are getting snugger and longer. Flowers are bursting and you can whiff spring in the breeze wherever you go. If you have been lying dormant through the winter season, now is the right time to get out and into your garden.
This is a wonderful time to begin your garden, establish new garden sheds, plant just about anything, fix up neglected areas, renovate your yard, and give your lawn its once-a-year pasturage of fertiliser. So here are some of the garden preparation tips that Australians can implement to prepare their home gardens.
Fertilise Your Garden
This is a wonderful time to fertilise your lawn. The grass crowns will collect the fertiliser, augmenting the chances for growth. Australian soils are fundamentally high in salt, nutrient poor and weak. This implies that while several species appreciate fertiliser, it is excellent to use moderately. Like all lawns, soil preparation is indispensable. So before planting, you must dig the ground well, and where there is clay, you must add some gypsum. Although your soil need not be extremely rich, but tropical samples require organic matter. Also, you must use manures and mulch instead of inorganic chemical fertilisers.
Garden Update
Apply a moderate-release complete garden feed to all grass areas. You can use a metal rake to eliminate any build-up of dead growth. If your garden is looking reseed and sparse, dig in some water and organic matter, along with a soil wetting agent. Also, make sure you keep everyone off areas that are being revamped until the new grass is growing healthily.
Top Up Organic Mulch
A prompt way to spruce up your lawn, save water and cut weeds at the same time during spring is with a load of mulch. Eliminate encroaching grass throughout lawn beds, and spread organic mulch all over exposed soil.
Sow Seed
Spring is the best time to plant cuttings or sow seed. You can grow best from seeds during this season and for maintenance, you do not require much work and can benefit from the sporadic prune post flowering.
Soak Your Evergreens
As the sun shines brightly on your evergreens in the spring, they ask the roots for water. And in the absence of water, the vegetation turns brown. That is why, it is imperative to soak your conifers in this season. Just like Ken Brown (gardening guru) says, ‘the cold does not harm the conifers, the sun harms them when they cannot supplant water’.
Plant Perennials
September is a good time to plant perennials. They have about 45 days to establish themselves in the ground during the spring season. This is the best time of the year to plant them, and also you will get them at the best price.
Plant Just About Anything
Yes, spring season is a rewarding time to plant annuals, shrubs and trees. You can extend your lawn to accommodate new and fresh plantings. Clear away weeds, dig in some organic matter and prepare for new horticulture.
Get The Right Tools
Some of the tools like ground hose guide, handy snippers, pole pruners, hedge shears, etc. can really be useful for your spring lawn preparations. These tools are specially formulated to provide extra power while cutting, protect your plantings, prune and style your garden, cut heavy foliage, small branches and woody stems. All the products ensure high durability, long lasting sharpness, corrosion resistance and clean cutting.
Look Out For Pests
In northern regions of Australia, termites perform harmful activities where soil is moist and warm. Most species attack garden timber, so it is recommended to keep lawn tools with hardwood stakes and wooden handles off the ground.
Good lawn preparation in spring season is critical for your lawn to survive the dwindling impacts of the Australian weather. While many central and southern areas bake dry, several other regions are replenished by drenching storms. However, you need to divide effort and time between keeping your lawns in good shape and also enjoying them during the spring season.
Check out our top 5 tips on how to prepare your garden lawn for Spring.
Editorial contribution from Hoselink.
5 Top Tips to Prepare Your Lawn for Spring
Spring is just around the corner! Your lawn has been resting through the colder months and will slowly be starting to increase tissue growth.
Here’s our 5 tips for getting your lawn spring ready
Cleaning up and raking away debris
Now is the time to clear away any leaves, branches and other debris that may have accumulated on your lawn during winter. Almost like a spring clean of your home, you want to move any objects that have been stationary for a while (trampolines for example) and allow your lawn to breathe.
Get your mower ready
Chances are that like your lawn, your mower has been sitting dormant for a few months. Do yourself and your mower a favour and treat it to a little attention before pulling the starter cord repetitively ‘til you’re both out of puff. A bit of basic maintenance can go a long way here and changing fuel, oil and the spark-plug can help keep your machine running smoothly for years. If you baulk at the thought of home-mechanics then there are many mower shops around that will, for a small fee, have your mower tuned and ready to go; but get in early in the season before they get over-run with work. Sharp blades are another important piece of mower maintenance. A new set of blades, or if you’re a dab-hand with the grinder, a touch-up can do wonders.
Test your soil
Sometimes you may find your lawn is not performing very well or not responding to fertiliser and this could be to do with the soils pH. Now is the time to test your pH levels, so you can take the required action during Spring.
Check for compaction
To see how your soil is holding up and whether compaction is a problem, grab a long screwdriver and plunge it into the ground in a few places to see how far it will penetrate (minding any irrigation or electrical cabling). You should be able to easily push it in for up to 100 to 150mm (4-6 inches) without too much resistance and if not, it would serve your lawn well to look at aeration to remedy the problem.
One of the healthiest things you can do for a spring lawn is to aerate. Aeration helps increase the amount of air, water and nutrients getting to the soil, which strengthens grass roots and help create a healthier lawn.
Plan your spring lawn care schedule
Having tested your soils pH and for compaction, you can now look at what lawn care activities you will need to undertake during spring and create a plan of action.
Bonus tip
It is a great time to install a new lawn, getting it established before the heat of summer comes. This will save you money on water!
For turf suppliers in your area click here.
Check out the Lawn Solutions Australia lawn care page for more helpful tips and advice here.
Editorial supplied by our presenting partner Lawn Solutions Australia.
2020 dates announced
The Southern Hemisphere’s largest floral & garden event will return 25-29 March 2020 for its 25th anniversary with next year’s theme unveiled as “the best of the best.”
Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show Event Director, Marcus Gale explained that the silver anniversary of the Show is all about celebrating the exemplary designers who have taken out the event’s top awards in previous years.
“Award-winning designers from previous years that will be returning include: Phil Withers, Vivid Design, Mark Browning, Dean Herald, Koji Ninomyia, Steve Day, Jim Fogarty and more” said Gale.
“2020 attendees can expect a Show unlike any they’ve seen before. Each show garden will be a representation of the designer’s unbridled, unique vision.”
More designers and special features of the 2020 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show presented by Lawn Solutions Australia will be released closer to the event.
Tickets for the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show now on sale:
BOOK TICKETS NOW
Dates: Wednesday 25 – Sunday 29 March 2020
Times: Open 9am – 5pm daily
Gardens by Twilight – Friday March 27 until 9pm
Venue: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Carlton
Win a Mother’s Day bouquet
To celebrate Mother’s Day, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show are giving you the chance to win a beautiful bouquet from the Melbourne Flower School.
The winner will have their bouquet delivered on Saturday 11th May just in time for Mother’s Day.
For your chance to WIN just enter your details below and let us know in 25 words or less why your Mother deserves this gorgeous prize.
View terms & conditions.