Jo-Anne's Blog

The Landscape Design Blog is written by Jo-Anne Hilliar, a professionally trained Landscape Designer with more than 25 years of international experience.

Landscape Design Blog

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The difference between a garden and a landscape

For many years I have been asked the difference between a garden and a landscape.  My interpretations of each are as follows. 1. Gardening Creating gardens is generally about a personalised space that either needs upliftment, restoration or design of a new private garden / private

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Site Visits to Judge Landscape Projects

Having had a hiatus from site visits over the past two years with COVID-19 regulations, we were able to judge the impact regarding projects reserved for judging, during 2022. Judging season travels: As a regional judge myself in the projects being presented, motivating and turning around

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Waterwise planting strategies for water scarcity

More than ever now in South Africa we are experiencing huge water shortage problems and I really would encourage you in your garden setups to choose plants that are critically planted for little water usage.  Waterwise planting brings a completely different dimension to the landscape

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Landscape design training students

Benefits of landscape design training and skills development – internationally

These are the benefits of landscape design training and skills development - internationally. Also listed here are the consultative activities involved in the work of Landscape Design Consultants

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Running your business in present day economic times

Interrupting our general blogs on the landscaping industry we thought that at this COVID times with business decreasing that we would comment on the activities from a business perspective that we need to be aware of. Some of the most important activities and go to strategies as follows:

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What is landscape design in the context of creating commercial sites?

Landscape design for commercial sites needs to be practical from an aesthetic perspective, pleasing to the eye and the wow factor needs to be well recognised before the commercial aspects of the site become evident.  These are just some of the items that need to be considered as

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Excellence and formal hard landscaping

The Green Industry Nationally and Internationally going forward

Some of the situations to consider as follows as we continue to provide a service in our profession: 1. Deteriorating Governmental and Economic issues we need to consider as follows: 1.1 Where are we with the economies of the world and the consideration for our pricing methodology in

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Negotiating a landscape design contract during Covid 19

Covid 19 has thrown a completely new dimension to the landscape design industry.  Some points to bear in mind are as follows: Gardens do not stop growing – landscapes need to be looked after from a maintenance perspective. Often new design features and aspects are required in terms of

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Covid Protocols – Landscaping Industry

The Landscape Construction industry internationally and in South Africa is back at work but strictly under the governmental protocols set up internationally in every country around the world.  Although our industry, fortunately, is conducted generally externally, we are still subject

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Sustainable Landscaping Programme presented in Mauritius – September 2019

We have run our Sustainable Landscaping Programme in Mauritius for the leading professional landscape contracting and maintenance company in Mauritius and offering the latest in practising sustainable and endemic landscaping methods. Very exciting times ahead in terms of restoration and

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