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Sigma Planters Pty Ltd
Trusted by Building and Landscape Professionals Since 2008
Nicholas Jones has been a garden enthusiast since childhood, helping his grandfather in his North Balwyn garden (a Melbourne suburb). Although he pursued a career in business, he maintained his own garden and grew much of his own food.
To combine these passions, he studied horticulture in 2002 at Melbourne University’s Burnley School of Horticulture, a centre for urban horticulture teaching and research since 1891, is located within the beautiful, heritage-listed Burnley Gardens.
In 2003, Nicholas founded Gardenware, dedicated to sourcing high-quality garden tools and equipment worldwide. In 2008, he launched IOTA Australia under the banner of the UK-based IOTA Garden and Home.
While Nicholas now prefers shopping for fruits and vegetables at the Saturday market with his wife, children, and border collies rather than getting his hands dirty in the soil, he still draws on his extensive horticultural knowledge daily in sales calls with IOTA clients. His articles expand on these conversations, exploring client questions in detail, from the basics of planting in containers to drainage solutions and plant selection.
Here is the list of recent articles by Nicholas Jones:
Many of our clients face the challenge of introducing greenery into concrete-dominated urban areas due to the limitations of planting space. Large planters offer a practical and visually appealing solution. By simply placing them on existing surfaces, these versatile...
Landscaping is Experiencing a Revolution Commercial landscaping is experiencing a revolution largely due to the increasing use of lightweight concrete planters. These innovative planters blend functionality with aesthetic appeal which helps to transform public spaces...
As the technology surrounding fibreglass planters has improved and evolved, so too has the need for urban landscaping to adapt to this new environment. What was not possible before is now achievable with long-lasting, lightweight planters. Add to that a growing...
Introduction Are you looking to elevate the design of your garden or landscaping project? Look no further than IOTA Australia's range of high-quality pots and planters. Our durable pots and planters are recommended for commercial and high-end residential projects and...
Landscaping is an act of making improvements on a piece of land or property in order to improve the visual aesthetic. It is often used to improve an area while providing a practical function. Landscaping can be a very costly endeavor but spending a ton of money isn’t...
Spring coming to Australia is as good a reason as any to go outside and do some lawn and garden maintenance. Spring gardening is always a good time to enjoy the longer days and the warm breeze. Here are some landscaping tasks that you can do to keep your lawn looking...
We talked about mulch before and how important it is for maintaining your landscape. For a quick recap, mulching is the process of applying a layer of organic material to the soil. It helps to provide nutrients and preserve moisture. It also helps to protect your...
Redesigning your own garden is no easy task but it is an enjoyable one. Garden design is key to creating a great ambiance that you’ll love for the years to come. Hiring professionals to do the task is a great step to save time and avoid any costly errors. These...
Whenever one talks of landscaping, you might think of it as a means to improve a large area. That is not the idea however. Landscaping can be done even with limited space. Landscaping is an act of improving any small or large amount of space. Having a small space...
IOTA’s Florence lightweight concrete planters were used to enhance and decorate the plain white walls of the back of the building behind the train tracks of Rode+ CNTR. The planters were planted with vines which was not initially an option as the path was covered in...
Carbone Developments, in one of its recent projects, has installed nine lightweight concrete Rectangular Planters at Stafford Central at Stafford Road in QLD. The planters which you can find at 240 Stafford Road have been positioned at the front of a local café and...
Eight Manhattan charcoal trough planter boxes were situated at this parking lot in St. Josephs Tobruk Memorial School. Each planter measures 200 × 50 × 40 cm. The eight could cover at least a 16 meter walkway. In this case, you can see that the planters were able to...
Eight Moscow GRC Charcoal Cube planters have been used to add plants all over Flagstone Central Shopping Center. IOTA’s Moscow planters are finished with a rough sand texture for character. It is suited for contemporary designs and can be used for both residential and...
Five Milano Concrete Trough planters have been commissioned by Multi Span Australia in one of their projects at Berrinba, QLD. The Milano range of planters are made of fibreglass but comes with a concrete finish. This makes the planters lightweight, and also...
Can rocks be used in landscaping? Definitely. Landscaping rocks come in different shapes and sizes. They can add a special touch to your garden. With creative combinations, rocks can give you a classic look. Rocks provide a constant and permanent visual presence...
The walkway is one area that is often ignored when designing or renovating. We say never underestimate the appeal of pathways. A great pathway can define the different areas of your landscape while also connecting and unifying them. Having a great walkway leading to...
Improper plant spacing is a common mistake in a lot of gardens. Beginners usually fall victim to this. They design their landscape with a lot of plants clumped together. The end result, the plants don’t grow healthy since they compete with each other for resources....
Ever heard of the term "sustainable landscaping"? Sustainable landscaping involves creating a landscape that helps to sustain local wildlife and conserve energy and resources like water. It helps to keep the air clean and leaves as little carbon footprint as possible....
Autumn is just around the corner. and it can be one of the most enjoyable times to get in the garden. Temperatures gradually decrease and days are getting shorter. Autumn is a great time for getting some garden tasks done like pruning, fertilising, and planting...
How was your garden for the first quarter of 2021? Did you make any design changes? Planning on doing some renovations? If you don't know what’s in style, read on below. 2020 wasn’t a great year for everyone. On the bright side, this pandemic helped some of us...
We are still in the midst of summer and here we are talking about wrapping up your summer garden. Being prepared is always a great thing. A good end-of-season cleanup is a great first step for the new season. Remove Dead Plants, Diseased Plants, and Weeds Not all...
A garden landscape is a perfect place to unwind. A place where we mostly spend our free time to connect with our environment. If you’re looking for some great inspirations and ideas, you should consider visiting some of these gardens. Adelaide Botanic Garden One of...
As a landscaper, our landscaping tools are our best weapons. Making sure that they are in their best condition is our responsibility so they will serve us well and never let us down. There are different types of landscaping tools being used in the garden. We would...
Summer, summer, summer! It may not always be the hottest summer you have experienced but your garden may still struggle. How often should you water your garden? Is deep watering required for every plant? Here are some tips. Water plants early morning or late in the...
Mulching is applying a layer of organic material to soil to benefit a plant. When done correctly, mulching is very beneficial for the plants when. Mulching provides a lot of nutrients for plants among other benefits., helps preserve moisture, aids in drainage, protect...
As summer goes by, an increase in temperature is expected. If you are having doubts the plants in your landscape can survive the heat, here are some ways of cooling off your garden soil. Mulch Mulch is one of the easiest ways to manage soil temperature. It can cool...
There are specific flowering plants that only flower during the summer months. If you want your garden to look good all year round, you should plant several varieties of plants that bloom in different seasons. Here’s what we recommend planting during the hot summer...
As a gardener, what comes to mind when you hear the word “insects''? You’re probably thinking pests? However, not all insects are pests. Some insects are actually beneficial for your landscaped garden. Some are also harmless and don't even need to be removed. There...
Have you ever seen an herb garden theme for a landscape? In general, herbs are any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers that can be used for flavoring, food, medicine, aroma, or even perfume. Herbs are compact and small in size compared to other plants. Incorporating...
Planning for a theme for your Garden? Having a theme for a garden is a great avenue to express your creativity. When choosing a theme for your garden, the only limit is your imagination. Do your best to make your garden unique. One great example of a themed garden is...