Shannon Decker

President of The Landscape Association, Shannon Decker is the Director of Now & Zen Landscapes, an award-winning Blue Mountains-based business. Passionate about sustainability, education, and mentoring the next generation of landscapers, he took time out to chat to Landscape Contractor at the recent TLA Landscape Expo.

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“I started as a 14-year-old,” said the affable Decker. “I was a tradesman by the time I was 18, a very early school leaver, and I fell in love with the landscaping industry.”

Shannon's Now & Zen Landscapes has been operating for around 26 years, specialising in home and garden design, landscaping, natural pool building and garden maintenance.

“We have a builder's license,” said Shannon. “We're also building small homes, architectural granny flats, studio flats and doing renovations. We do pools, drystone and all kinds of similar work.”

Landscape Contractor had listened to Shannon explain to a captivated room how the ups and downs of the landscaping industry had been a challenge for many decades, but how, with some flexibility and determination, it offered a great lifestyle and a rewarding career.

Changing times

Shannon told of some industry changes during his years of involvement.

“I started out doing landscaping and horticulture,” he said.

“The TAFE course back then was quite extensive. It included landscape construction, plant identification, botany, soil science, business studies...it was a great course.

“TAFE is still the recommended deliverer for the Certificate 3 in Landscape Construction qualification, but the course seems to have shrunk over the years. There used to be a big crossover between construction and horticulture, and it was quite harmonious because we were taught both. The delivery now seems to have become divided between construction hardscapes and softscapes.”