A very important component within planting design, and one that is often overlooked, is the role of production nurseries. It is obvious that planting design would be impossible without the highly refined skillset that production nurseries bring to the greenlife industry, namely the ability to grow quality plants in commercial quantities.
The ability of designers and landscape architects to liaise with clients, interpret a brief and design a landscape is crucial. As is the ability of a landscape contractor to interpret this documentation and turn this vision into reality via practical skills. It then stands to reason that a third important group within the planting design process are the ones who actually grow the plants, our production nurseries.
Producing a quality plant is one thing, however knowing what species to grow, what is ‘trending’, and in what quantities, is never an exact science for growers. The channels of communication across the greenlife industry, namely between designers and landscape architects, landscape contractors and production nurseries, have not always been as open as they should be. Sure, on projects where there is a quick turnaround it may often be a case of the planting design being based on what stock is available. In the vast majority of civic projects however, you are dealing with much longer lead times. These longer lead times should be seen as an opportunity for this information to be used to better inform the industry and advise production nurseries what needs to be grown, and when.
- Do you need a particular feature tree species grown into 1000 litre bags? Of course this is possible, but the grower will need sufficient lead time in order for this to occur.
- Are you designing with a particular species that may have poor germination rates? Can the seed only be harvested at certain times of year? Again, this is not a problem so long as the grower knows this information up front.
- Do you require a certain species in large quantities that may not typically be grown in those quantities? Again it is possible for production nurseries to meet this demand, they just need the information as early as possible.
Not only during procurement, but at every stage of your design process, keep in mind the important role of production nurseries in planting design.