By STEFANIA CEFOLA
THE Pines Landscape and Garden Supplies has recently appointed an expert horticulturalist to join its team out at the Cambridge site.
Rowan Zilm has only been working at The Pines for a month, but the passionate horticulturalist has a solid 10 years of specialty experience in the plant industry up his sleeve.
Newly-appointed horticulturalist Rowan Zilm of The Pines said the wide range of popular decorative rocks and gravels are always in high demand.
“Basically, I was taken on board about a month ago as a permanent employee to help develop the business through introducing more sales initiatives,” Rowan said.
“When I first started the job I was approached by business owner Noel Quinn with the idea to set up a nursery at the site,” he said.
“Given that I have been in the industry for so long, Carol and Noel thought it would be a fantastic business opportunity for me to develop, so I embraced it head-on.”
The bulk of Rowan’s role at the nursery is concentrated towards developing the nursery, although he is also heavily involved in operating the gravel loading trucks, cars and equipment.
The Pines Landscape and Garden Supplies has a full range of products in stock including firewood, green waste, manures, decorative rocks, gravels, lime and loams, as well as a wide selection of straws, bag products and sandstones.
The business has also recently begun supplying the popular Adbri range of bricks and pavers, and its premium veggie mix.
“The premium veggie mix and our garden conditioner are the most popular product we stock at the moment,” Rowan said. “Fertilisers, cow and chicken manures are also high in demand.
“These days, with the rise in the phenomenon of do-it-yourself projects and organic food, people are definitely focusing on growing their own fruits and vegetables,” he said.
“While my speciality is in native Australian plants, the nursery strongly emphasises edible plants, and the process of hedging, screening and acclimatising ‘tough’ plants to Tasmania’s variable climate.
Rowan said the nursery emphasises the importance of recycling water to use for the production of vegetables and plants.
While the horticulturist enjoys lending his expertise to help develop the nursery, he said he is most satisfied by the customer service aspect of his role.
“I have a good five to six years experience in the retail sector, so I really understand the importance of fulfilling customer’s needs.
“Guiding customers through the process of starting up a veggie patch or garden, and having them come back to me months down the track with their progress makes me feel like I am making a real difference.
“At the end of the day, my goal is to not only make our clients happy, but to get them really excited about their gardens – like I am.”
The Pines Landscape and Garden Supplies is at 131 Pittwater Road, Cambridge.
Delivering to all areas, Pines is open seven days. For more information, contact the friendly staff on phone 6248 4994.
