For nearly 15 years, Jason Hodges was the resident landscaping expert on Better Homes and Gardens, an Australian lifestyle programme that, with 12 Logies to its credit, can boast a record number of award wins. Even since his departure in late 2019, Hodges remains a firm favourite with the show’s legion of fans thanks to his mixture of passion, knowledge, and down-to-earth presenting style. Currently in the process of developing his own show, Hodges is also a very successful businessman. His landscaping business, Green Art Gardens, has the coveted gold medal at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show no fewer than four times.

Hodges’s interest in landscape gardening goes back to his childhood when he was inspired by his builder father. After leaving school, he studied Landscape, Horticulture, and Construction at college in New South Wales, ultimately going on to become a teacher of that very course. He then went on to found Green Art, which covers every aspect of outdoor design, from design to build and maintenance.

Describing himself as the “non-gardener’s gardener”, Hodges endearing, everyman approach helped when he became a regular part of the Better Homes and Gardens team in 2005. His success on the show has helped him to branch out, with regular appearances on Sydney Weekender, a magazine show about life in the city, and gardening features on local radio stations such as 2GO. With the outdoor world very much on the agenda at the moment, Hodges’s expertise for getting the most out of natural spaces will undoubtedly remain in demand for a long time to come.