Graham Ross

Graham Ross has educated, entertained and inspired Australia’s gardening community and aspiring green thumbs during a career that has spanned more than 40 years.

A horticulturist, plantsman, author, publisher and garden media presenter, Graham has worked in the horticultural industry for more than 55 years.

Graham has shared his passion for all things green and growing since he joined the multi-award-winning Better Homes and Gardens TV show when it was launched on the Seven Network in 1995. He has since appeared in more than 500 episodes of the show.

Graham combines his television schedule with a highly successful radio career. He, his wife Sandra and daughter Linda present Garden Clinic, a three-hour gardening program every Saturday and Sunday morning on Radio 2GB. In 2013 the show marked a record 33 years, making it one of the longest running, and highest rating programs, in Australian radio history. The popular program features an open advice line, practical gardening segments and advice, interviews and international reports. Graham’s seasonal gardening tips can also be heard on 60 radio stations across Australia.

The Ross Family also publishes the Garden Clinic Journal, a magazine for members of the Garden Clinic Club, Australia’s largest gardening club and their Ross Garden Tours is the world’s largest specialist garden tour operation.

Graham Ross began his career when he started working at his local nursery during his final school years. He went on to graduate from the Ryde School of Horticultural TAFE in 1964 with post graduate qualifications in Park Administration, Horticulture, Greenkeeping and Agronomy.

During his career he has worked as a landscaper, nurseryman and park superintendent before returning to Ryde TAFE in 1970 to teach horticulture. He was soon promoted to Senior Head Teacher of Horticulture then Head of the Division of Horticulture for the state of NSW, a position he held until 1980.

In the late 1970s Graham moved into the media. He began producing and presenting gardening programs for ABC television in 1978 and later started a regular gardening segment on the Seven Network’s 11AM programme in 1980 and as a Horticultural reporter on Seven National News. He was gardening editor for Sydney’s Daily Telegraph for four years and worked on the former Sun Newspaper in Sydney for 10 years.

Over the years Graham has been involved with several professional and industry associations including the Sydney, Royal Botanic Garden Trust, the Royal Horticultural Society of NSW, the NSW and Australian Nursery & Garden Industry Associations. He is currently patron of the NSW Rose Society and was also consultant to the Sydney International Garden Festival and many Sydney flower & garden show projects. He is President of the Horticultural Media Association (NSW).

In 1995, Sandra and Graham received Good Citizens Awards for Services to the Community through Radio.

Graham has received many awards from the Australian Nursery and Garden Industry as well the Gold Laurel and Hall of Fame awards from the Australian Horticultural Media Association.  In November 1999, Graham’s contributions to Australian horticulture were recognised when he and Sandra were presented with the NSW Nursery Industry Association’s Horticultural Media Award for Excellence. The award is presented annually and honours achievements for promoting gardening in the Australian media.

In 2000, the Australian Horticultural Media Association presented Graham with their inaugural Electronic Laurel in recognition of his horticultural radio and television career, in particular 2GB, Better Homes and Gardens and Groundforce television shows.

In 2011, The Royal Horticultural Society in London presented Graham with the Veitch Memorial Medal in recognition of his contribution to horticulture in Australia and around the world.  Graham is only the fourth Australian recipient of the VMM since Queen Victoria created the medal in 1870.

Graham has co-authored, with his family, The Weekend Gardener, Our World of Gardening, Gardens of the World and From The Ground Up. Graham is currently working on the second edition of their 1990 best seller, Our World of Gardening, and his much-awaited memoirs.

Graham Ross’s absolute passion for gardening and people is evident in every aspect of his life.