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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:
Due to this pandemic, everything seems to be somehow stressful. Everybody’s been affected and needs to adjust. For us who enjoy gardening, our garden is a sanctuary for this moment. A perfect place to find inner peace and calmness but to do this, we need to make sure...
With the pandemic happening around the world, everyone is looking for a productive hobby and gardening is one of the most common things that come to mind. However, not everybody has the space to start a garden. Here comes indoor gardening. It may sound easy but indoor...
Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that connects buildings more closely to nature. This type of design incorporates nature towards the architecture to create a smooth connection between modern buildings and nature itself. There are studies that show that...
Summer is around the corner! Don't let the heat hinder your summer gardening activities! An expected increase in temperature will be felt by our gardens and to help your plants survive the harsh effects of this dry season, good preparation will be important. Be aware...
Hardscaping is the process of adding man-made (non-living elements) to your landscape. Some examples of hardscaping are bricks, paths, walls, concrete, etc. Hardscape elements can be used to define the use of space such as driveways and walkways that can lead visitors...
In any design work, landscape, drawing, or even in canvas, there are important elements that you should never forget. These elements, when ignored, can have devastating effects on the outcome of your project. Line The line creates the flow of the landscape. It...
Can plants and planters affect architecture? The simple answer is yes! A glimpse of nature in architecture catches the eye. Plants added to a modern home or commercial building adds a special appeal. It makes you feel at ease. It affects your mood as well as your...
Landscaping with trees isn't that easy. It needs great effort and planning. Mature trees bring shade and beauty into your landscape. However, tree roots can draw up all the water and its branches can prevent sunlight from reaching the soil, making it tough for other...
Weed growth can be an issue in every landscape. They show up out of nowhere. Where do they come from? How do you get rid of these unwelcome visitors? There are different types of weeds and identifying them is important if you want to get rid of them. Check out our...
Pruning is an essential gardening skill. Proper pruning can encourage healthy growth and flowering of plants. For most shrubs and trees, it helps to prune at the right time. Some are best pruned in winter; some right after flowering. Must-Have Pruning Tools Pruning...
As container gardening becomes an effective way to utilize your limited space, it doesn't mean that you are only limited to small flowering plants. Shrubs are also an option! Shrubs for Small spaces Small shrubs might look "too" small if not organized. Small shrubs...
Colours can affect the ambience of your landscape. You can add accents or highlights in your project by enhancing the colours of your area. Adding colour to your landscape project is one of the main things that should be considered. There are different ways you can...
Making mistakes on landscaping is part of the learning process. You learn not to repeat the same mistakes. It sets you on the right track so you can develop. Even professionals make different mistakes as they were also once beginners. That's just how humans learn but...
Have you ever seen a garden and told yourself "I want to stay here for a while and relax..."? Creating an alluring garden can be a great way to relieve stress. It may be a small garden, a patio, a balcony, or even a large garden. Spending time in nature is a great way...
We aren’t all prepared for what's happening in the world today. Most of us are now quarantined in our homes to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. You may not be in the front lines but you are contributing by preventing the spread of the virus by staying home....
Plants in a container or potted plants are a common way of incorporating plants in an area where there is limited space. It is also an effective means of adding plants in urban areas where the soil is limited. Container gardening adds versatility to large and small...
Adding plants to parking spaces is recommended. There are studies that show how shrubs, plants, and trees improve the appearance and reduce pollution in these areas. Increased greenery in cities has a positive impact on public health through the reduction of smoke,...
IOTA Australia provides a great range of high-quality of pots and planters that designers and landscapers love to work with. Our pots and planters require less maintenance since they are made of high-quality materials that are durable and weatherproof. But in the long...
Twenty Manhattan Charcoal Cube 1000 planters have been used in the parking lot in Rosny Park Shopping Centre in Tasmania. The charcoal colour of the cube planters provide a nice contrast to the concrete. It even matches the colours of some of the surrounding...
Swimming pools and resorts are places that are worth visiting if you are looking for some relaxation. Unwinding is a must for people who are battling stress in their daily lives. But now, most indoor pools need enhancements. Without trees or plants, the tropical-vibe...
Do you have a plain patio, terrace, or balcony? These areas are often used to receive guests or hold parties and adding a touch of green won’t hurt. After all, everybody loves to be greeted by nature. A terrace redesign challenge in a home in Drummoyne, NSW showcases...
Your home should be the place where you feel most calm and relaxed. The home should always be the place that you feel safe with your family. One of the best ways to promote calmness is with plants. The most common areas where you can add pots and planters are the...
What comes to mind when you hear talk of “Busy Places”? These are locations where a lot of different people are always present. Places like offices, town centres, and malls are great examples of these. It looks modernized in a way that makes the ambiance more serious...
Have you ever seen areas that become boring after renovation? They added a new steel railing, changed some of the concrete, or even changed the whole area but it still looks dull. Well, that happens A LOT. Renovation is usually done to enhance the usability of the...
If you’re looking at your yard as a blank canvas, then good for you. You see the potential in it for high-quality landscape design. However, seeing the potential and knowing what to include in your landscape plans are two different things. If you’re stuck for ideas...
IOTA's Manhattan Fiberglass Planters were chosen to spread some greenery in a car park at Buderim. Because the area was so large the designers opted for the largest of the range – the Trough 2000 to really stand out. Without the Manhattan Fiberglass Planters, the open...
Designers of a Car park at Bli Bli, Queensland chose our IOTA Moscow Planters. Moscow planters have a rough sand texture that perfectly fits with contemporary commercial spaces. In this car park, Moscow planters are lined up towards the wall to indicate borders and...
Gold Coast Deepwater Point Apartments needed a container solution for their poolside area and found IOTA’s Manhattan Cube 1000. These are great as poolside planters because of its size and material. The large Palms in their pool area was growing too big and started...
IOTA’s Moscow GRC planters were installed in this student area at St. Patrick’s College in Brisbane. The place is a popular destination among students. Benches and tables have also been situated where students can relax, have lunch, and socialise. The planters have...
IOTA’s Moscow range of GRC planters now highlight Springfield Lakes Shopping Center in Brisbane. The trough planters have been lined up to serve as a border for the shopping center’s outdoor walkway. At the same time, the planters will help to add green foliage to...