The Front Garden
The Front Garden is the podcast for landscaping and green industry professionals looking for practical ideas, honest conversations, and fresh perspectives from across the sector. Produced by Landscaping Victoria and hosted by Adam Hompas, it shares real stories and useful insights to help listeners grow their careers, businesses, and industry knowledge.
The Front Garden
Recipe for Landscaping Success: Why Great Gardens Start Below the Surface with Rob Mihailescu | The Front Garden Ep130
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
TL;DR: Former chef turned horticulturist Rob Mihailescu shares how he built The Cutting Hedge into a trusted name by putting soil science and sustainability first. From swales to soil prep, this episode dishes up insights on creating gardens that thrive.
In this episode…
From the precision of fine dining to the science of soil health, Rob Mihailescu’s career shift from chef to horticulturist is anything but ordinary. Rob shares with our host, Adam Hompas, how his business, The Cutting Hedge, mixes design, horticultural knowledge, and sustainable practice to create gardens that thrive long into the future.
This episode serves up:
- Why soil preparation is the foundation of every successful garden
- The role of microclimates in plant success
- How swales and erosion control create resilient landscapes
- The importance of collaboration between landscapers, builders, and horticulturists
- Rob’s philosophy on staying small, staying humble, and staying true to your craft
Whether you’re a landscaper, gardener, or homeowner dreaming of a thriving outdoor space, this episode dishes out practical wisdom and inspiration.
💡 LV Members: Don’t forget you have access to exclusive resources, events, and tools to strengthen your landscaping career or business. From contracts and training to mentoring and industry nights, your membership is designed to support your success.
🔔 Follow The Front Garden so you don’t miss any future episodes.
👁️🗨️ About Rob Mihailescu
- Website: www.thecuttinghedge.com.au
- Book a Consult
- Facebook: The Cutting Hedge Landscaping
- Instagram: @the_cutting_hedge_landscaping
- LinkedIn: Robert Mihailescu
⏰ Key Content
2:30 – From fine dining chef to horticulturist
9:00 – Why microclimates matter more than plant trends
15:40 – Soil preparation: the true foundation of landscaping
22:10 – Swales, erosion control, and natural approaches
31:50 – Collaboration vs. competition with other trades
38:00 – Rob’s philosophy: staying small and soil-focused
Got a suggestion for an episode of The Front Garden? Send us a text message!
Manufactured right here in Australia using Australian BlueScope steel, SHAPESCAPER products are built tough for DIY projects, professional landscaping, and heavy-duty commercial installations. Explore SHAPESCAPER steel planters and garden edging today, and shape your outdoor space with confidence.
Find out more by visiting shapescaper.com.au
The Front Garden podcast is proudly presented by Landscaping Victoria, and is brought to you by ShapeScaper, the Australian made modular steel garden edging and planter system, trusted by landscape professionals nation wide.
Find your nearest stockist at shapescaper.com.au
