Meet The Team: Brandon & Tom
Our Meet the Team series continues with Brandon & Tom — the Cultivate landscaping duo who are happiest outdoors, getting stuck in and figuring out how to solve whatever the day throws at them.
From fencing and digging to planting and the all-important final week of a project, they’re a big part of bringing our gardens to life. We caught up with them to find out what got them into landscaping, their favourite parts of the job, their least favourite tasks (hardcore, apparently!), and where they see themselves in the future.
What made you choose landscaping as a career?
Brandon: I like working outdoors, working with my hands and being around nature. I enjoy building gardens and seeing them come together.
Tom: Landscaping chose me!
What do you enjoy most about working outdoors?
Brandon: I’m definitely more of a hands-on person — I wouldn’t be suited to sitting behind a desk all day. I like being able to see a problem, think about it and work out how to fix it. And I don’t mind working in the heat either!
Tom: The sun tan in summer
What’s your favourite part of the job?
Brandon: Aside from the boss?! ;)
But seriously, it’s seeing a garden completed. I especially like the final week when the planting goes in and everything starts to come together. You get to see the result of all the hard work.
Tom: Working with the team for sure.
Who tells the worst jokes – Ben, Tom or Brandon?
Brandon: Probably a combination of myself and Ben. We’re both pretty bad!
Tom: Ben, by far!
What’s your favourite landscaping task — and is there one you’d happily leave to someone else?!
Brandon: Fencing is probably my favourite. I love a bit of fencing.
The one I’d happily leave to someone else is digging out hardcore. I could definitely do without that!
Tom: I love slabbing but anything that involves a skip ramp, count me out!
Do you have a favourite plant, tree or flower? And why?
Brandon: My favourite tree is Betula pendula, or silver birch. It was one of the first trees I learnt the Latin name for, so it just stuck with me. I also think it’s a pretty cool tree.
Tom: I love an Acer. I’m still learning a lot of plants but this is definitely a favourite of mine for it’s leaf shape and seasonal interest.
What have you learnt since starting out that you wish you’d known at the beginning?
Brandon: Pacing yourself is the name of the game. You don’t want to kill yourself in one day and then come in the next day with exactly the same amount of work to do, but without the same amount of energy.
It’s a jog, not a sprint.
Tom: I’ve learnt a huge amount and in particular how to plant and what to consider when doing so.
What advice would you give to someone your age thinking about getting into the industry?
Brandon: It’s hard work, so you need to be fit and able. And you need to have an open mind and be willing to learn.
Tom: Stock up on warm clothing.
What’s the one tool you couldn’t live without?
Brandon: The square-nosed shovel. It’s probably the one I use most.
Tom: My pointy shovel.
When you’re not landscaping, where would we find you?
Brandon: Either sat on my sofa playing Xbox or down at the pub with friends.
Tom: Most likely at the driving range or in my bed!
Tea or coffee?
Brandon: Tea, definitely.
Tom: Coffee.
Favourite Cultivate garden you’ve worked on? And why?
Brandon: A garden on Ross Street. I liked it because it had a more rustic design, with lots of earthy, natural tones. That’s much more my preferred style.
Tom: Our Hartington Garden; a very impressive design and build we were involved in from start to finish.
What do you hope to be doing in the landscaping industry five or ten years from now?
Brandon: Hopefully, one day, I’ll have my own landscaping company and somehow incorporate tree surgery into it. Who doesn’t love being up a tree?!
Tom: Being really good at what I do and also having my own business one day.
Thank you guys, Cultivate wouldn’t be the same without you, now back to work!
