Specialising in high-end residential homes and pool surrounds, McClure initially started out working for his family’s landscaping business, McClure’s Landscapes. There for many years, it wasn’t until his father decided to pivot from the landscaping industry to focus on school maintenance that McClure came to a crossroads in his life. Deciding to take a break for the winter and spend time in Mount Hotham, McClure found clarity and endeavoured to continue his landscaping venture. “It allowed me to transfer the great skills and knowledge I gained while working with McClure’s Landscapes, but also the opportunity to add my own creative design solutions,” McClure said.

Upping Your Value

Depending on the layout of one’s home, the landscape may very well be the first thing people see before entering the property. Whether you arrive through a gate or walk up the driveway to the front door, you are greeted by the space that separates the home from the sidewalk. McClure asserts that the landscaping is one of the most valuable elements to a property and contributes majorly to its value. “A welcoming entrance can give your house great street appeal,” he says, and adds, “Outdoor spaces can be transformative and can create a tone for the place you call home. Quality landscaping can create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor, expanding the number of useable spaces through planning and design.” It is recommended, however, that the greenery and landscaping of your property is approached with a certain level of thoughtfulness and consideration. 

“Having the right blend of hard and soft scapes is important,” advises McClure. In the past, he has worked on projects where elements such as the decks, retaining walls and paving presented like a concrete jungle. “It’s not until the soft touch of plants and greenery is added that the area comes to life and feels more homely and seamless,” he says, and adds, “Greenery can offer a feature and can soften any harsh scapes. It can also offer a calming and cooling element.”

Nothing Greater Than Green
Melbourne, as a relatively cold and wet city, can lend itself well to green landscapes – particularly in the suburban areas where there is more room for plant life to flourish. Incorporation of greenery into your outdoor space can also drastically elevate your home’s aesthetic presence. “The effect that greenery has on a landscape project is highly influential to the outcome of the project,” says McClure, and adds, “Greenery and colour that comes with the use of planting helps bring the job together and can have a calming and cooling effect on the body as well as adding depth to any landscape project. The use of carefully placed feature trees along with garden lighting will add an extra element to the garden once the sun goes down.” With eco-design becoming a main staple in many homeowners’ domestic aesthetic, greenery is more in demand than ever before. Trees and hedges are often used in the front yard to create privacy, transforming the harshness of industrial materials to be one with nature. When you sit down to decide what plants you want for your garden, McClure recommends choosing your plants decisively and what plants thrive in different conditions. “Knowing the path of the sun will help assist in this area. I would always suggest plants for the future, not the now.