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I am a garden designer and specify plants, source, inspect and supply plants for my designs. (Oh yes, also plant them myself).
When I started out, to my shame, was coming up with the most stupid plants within a scheme which I didn't research properly. Obviously I couldn't source the plants unless I travelled to downtown China, Australia or South Africa!! Perhaps some of your garden designers are just out of college and new to the profession, just trying to make a mark by using obscure plants which look great in one of 'those books' and on google?
As time has gone by, I know exactly what stock items my wholesaler has and at what price. Work in a comfort zone of planting, I know what works together and where I can get it.
Not saying that I have relaxed into the squashy armchair of dull design!! In some of my gardens there is still a plant or two which unusual, uncommon and difficult to source. But before it is specified, I know where, when and how much!!
You nursery men and women are fantastic, swift to pick up on current trends of the tv, radio, magazines and designers.
Without you, people like me would be out of business.
Thanks
I've been delving deep into the LJN archives...back to the time when we had <300 members:-))
I thought this question from Nick is interesting and thought provoking and worth another look.I never just leave a planting plan with a client and let them get on with it. They always get me to source the plants, and more often that not ask me to plant their garden as well. So when I am working on my planting plans, I only select plants that I know I can get from the 3 or 4 nurseries that I regularly use and are suitable for the site's conditions. Sometimes they don't have what I need and I have to order it online specially, but that is pretty rare.
One of the reasons surely to hire a designer is not to just be left with a pretty coloured design and/or planting plan but a built garden which is then filled with lovely plants!?
a client asked me to get some plants/ shrubs to cover a new fence at some flats as she had no -idea whatsoever.
as it was not worth my time and i was busy i advised her to go to a specific nursary i know well.
'adrian hall' in sheen, london. after asking Brigitt Stevenson who kindly advised me 6 plants to use in that type of area/ soil. very kind she said as i text her late one friday evening (no charge)
upon returning to plant them - NOT ONE WAS AS ADVISED !! so after asking a reliable planswoman on the juice , going out of my way too , none were bought.
i phoned the garden center ( fulham palace) most expensive in the area. nearly all were in stock , so i can only presume she went on price or they fobbed her off ( i doubt it as on my call the guy was ultra helpfull).
one i planted was a spotted laurel (why do they sell them) . i could easily have chopped it down last week as a weed by mistake. the white 'broom' was nice ....
so both my time and Brigitts expertise wasted ........................ thanks anyway for the great advice :)
www.gardens4u.co.uk
robin
When I do a planting plan for a client, i'm advising on the right plants for their soil, situation, maintenance levels and budget.
i'm working on 19 years of experience as to what can be sourced from nurseries and garden centres, but there are always some that are not available at that time (because of seasonality) or because of a specific client wish. I.e a certain flower colour that makes that plant a more unusual variety.
However i'd never expect just one nursery to be able to supply the whole list, at one time. (and if I designed to what was in a nursery at one point in time, I probably wouldn't be giving the client the best plants for the situaion) Most of the listings I do need at least 3 or 4 suppliers
Gift plants from well meaning friends of clients are the devil's work.
Having chosen a client's plants according to site, soil, climate, aspect, season, colour, client's desires, size, budget, availability and whether I think it is a good plant, along comes customer's best buddy with a garden warming plant, such as a rhodo no-no on our limestone based soil.
Even when the client hates it too, it is unwise to allow it to disappear or die. "Never mind," says plant giver," I'll get you another!"
To avoid this, while construction is imminent, have client say to all friends,
" I wish I could afford a really decent specimen acer / cornus controversa variegata / cedar of Lebanon , but (sigh) the budget all went on the natural stone paving so we will have to plant with liners and 2 litre stock. Never mind (gulping bravely) they will establish much better. Shame I won't live to see the full glory (sniff) but one must plan for the future"
Surely even the thickest friends will take the hint and club together for your heart's desire, and if they don't, they are not true friends.
Katherine Crouch said:
Here's a great topic from our early days that's worthy of revival.
Nick said:
Was Nick right to get on his hobby horse
Oh honestly. Get your regular designers to consult you for availability BEFORE they draw the planting plan. Tell them to get a grip on their clients. I get all my plants from my local wholesaler who has extensive stock and also buys in to order. I tell my clients quite openly that I will put on a margin to pay for the expediting and delivery (80% on the net price). this makes a 2 litre perennial about £5.85 while the garden centre price round here is about £6.50. So I make a bob, the client saves a bob, they get it all delivered to the door and they can buy liners as well as larger plants.
Few garden centres will have more than half a dozen of any one variety which rather buggers up plans for large drifts, so clients sourced planted gardens may look messier than intended. If the client wants to place and plant the plants so be it. If they want to trail around garden centres and plant fairs for the odd treasure, who are we to deny them? To not supply the majority of the plants risks the designer losing control of the look of the garden.
I wish I had a quid for every time I've been happily running down a plant list and then have a WTF moment! A quick phone call or visit the local wholesaler and if I get another WTF, it's going to be no more time wasting, it's substitution time..........a nice Euonymous!
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