Horticulture Connected Autumn Volume 1 Issue 4

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

August/September 2014

News, Analysis and Trends in Landscape and Amenity Horticulture

Céad míle fáilte

Industry welcomes International Garden Centre Congress

How to design and build a show stopper

Leading Irish designers share their insights into winning gold at Bloom

A Long story

Mark Long talks to Barry Lupton about the rise and fall of an historic Irish business

Growers & Importers of Landscape Nursery Stock Ireland’s Largest Cash and Carry Wholesale Nursery

PerennialsAlpines GrassesBamboos FernsTopiaryHedging Shrubs

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SpecimensTreesBulbs A strictly wholesale nursery allowing us to concentrate on specific trade requirements

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All Stock available to view year round with your clients if necessary

EDITOR’S LETTER

EDITOR Barry Lupton

A Crisis of Identity

A

s a nation we are experts at identifying and amplifying what makes us different from those around us. People from one street are different from people on the next street, villages are worlds apart and as for counties, sure we’re different species aren’t we?

With such a passion for differentiation, it’s no surprise that horticultural professionals struggle to recognise similarities. Growers, designers, contractors, arborists, florists, greenkeepers, gardeners, retailers, educators, public sector and private sector all occupy their own little spaces. And you know what?

It’s killing the industry. Our focus on areas of specialty weakens our ability to lobby effectively, it undermines attempts to change public perception and hobbles all attempts to galvanise cooperation and collective action. Yes, we undertook some different training and find ourselves working in different places with different demands, but we share the same roots. The sooner we stop highlighting differences and start focusing on what binds us the sooner

HORTICULTURE CONNECTED

News, Analysis and Trends In Landscape & Amenity Horticulture

Qualified, passionate and informed staff always available to assist you

Bamboos

Phone: (01) 281 1868 Fax: (01) 201 1770 sales@gardenworld.ie

Ballyphilip, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow (Exit 11 off the N11)

20 The Cutlers 33 to 34 Parliament St Dublin 2 Ireland +353 (0)87 921 2044 www.horticulture.ie

we can explore our potential.

In this issue Thomas Crummy details the foundation of a new organisation (The Irish Association of Landscape Industries) which will facilitate a number of sub-sectors to work more closely together. We also share news from the retail sector, which is galvanising under the umbrella of Retail Excellence Ireland. Also in retail, we extend a warm welcome to our international garden centre colleagues visiting as part of the International Congress. HC regular and retail expert, Liam Kelly, explores how Irish garden centres can utilise best practice from within and beyond the garden business. On the design front and following from Bloom 2014, we are delighted to share insight from a number of top designers on how next year’s hopefuls can up their game to the gold standard. Peter O’Toole reports on the construction of one of Ireland’s most prestigious open spaces, Mardyke Park, while HC regular, Colm Kenny, shines a spotlight on landscape contracts and why we all need to start using them.

On the subject of what binds us, I’m pleased to include a feature from

Editor: Barry Lupton editor@horticulture.ie News Editor & Advertising: Joseph Blair 087 921 2044 joseph@horticulture.ie Subscriptions: subscriptions@horticulture.ie Design & Layout: Tanya Gilsenan tanya@horticulture.ie Design Concept: Faye Keegan www.fayekeegandesign.com Editorial Assistant: Koraley Northen Publishers: HortiTrends www.HortiTrends.ie joseph@hortitrends.ie Cover image: Liat Schurmann, Mount Venus Nursery

one of Ireland’s most highly respected professionals, Terry O’Regan, on the implications of Ireland’s first National Landscape Strategy. Mike Neary opens the Bord Bia books, shedding light on how the organisation allocates its tight budget and addresses some reoccurring issues in plant specification. Renowned plantsman and owner of Annaveigh Plants, John Murphy, gets back to basics with an overview of tree ordering, terminology and processes. Recounting a cautionary tale in this issue’s interview is Mark Long, who shares his experiences of building and losing an innovative production business. On the science front, Michael Gaffney shares some of his latest findings.

In this issue we also devote several pages to capturing the exhibitor and attendee experience of the recent GLAS trade show.

This is your publication, if you have a story or news item you think should be shared please drop me a line. If you want to receive the magazine, then please pay a subscription or let us know you don’t want it and we’ll take you off the mailing list. ✽

See www.Horticulture.ie for more news

Photos by Koraley Northen & Joseph Blair Printers: Turners Printing.

Earl Street, Longford.

Distribution: Readership of 10,000 across Ireland North and South from businesses and professionals in the following Sectors: Landscape / Architects / Garden Retail / Florists / Nurseries / Greenkeepers / Sports Surfaces / Local Authority’s & Parks Departments / Machinery / Education

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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CONTENTS

Horticulture.ie

HortiTrends.ie - Daily and Breaking News. Events and Tenders

Contents

JobsInHorticulture.ie - Latest Amenity & Fresh Produce Jobs

NEWS

Connecting Horticulture

CONSTRUCTION

04 Horticulture News

PlantConnector.ie - Connecting Ornamental Plant Growers with Plant Retailers GardenGuide.ie - Consumer Website Promoting Horticulture Businesses

32 Landscape contracts: the small print

RETAIL

FreshProduceNews.ie - Latest News for Edible Horticulture in Ireland

Landscape cost estimating expert Colm Kenny explains the important role landscape contracts play in underpinning quality, equity and profits and why their use and misuse is harming the sector

09 On the Inside Looking Out See beyond gardening retail to best practices in other sectors by Liam Kelly

Social Media 4 Business Are you feeling like a Youtube or Twitter and not showing any Pinterest when it comes to Horticulture & Garden Retail Social Media? We don’t want to Wordpress you but you need to Facebook up to it now!

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Céad Míle Fáilte

LANDSCAPE

Rachel Doyle Congress Welcome

35 The cowboys meet their end

14

Let’s get Ireland Growing

ALCI Chairman Thomas Crummy outlines the formation and strategy of the new umbrella association for Irish andscape professionals

38

Making Mardyke…sometimes it all goes to plan

Sandra Doran explains how Irish garden retailers are uniting under the direction of Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) to deliver world class standards

At HortiTrends we have the expertise, passion and practical know-how, to connect and linkedin you with new audiences, sales opportunities and customers.

Connect with HortiTrends Social Media 4 Business & Content Services by

NURSERY

telephoning 087 921 2044 Facebook “f ” Logo

16 CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Tree Specification - the BasicS

John Murphy explores how to specify and order nursery

Peter O’Toole throws a behind-the-scenes spotlight on the construction of zone of Ireland’s most innovative new public spaces, Mardyke Gardens

stock in Ireland

INSIGHT

DESIGN 19 How to design and build a show stopper

Business Suphort Services

Design in Bloom with Jane McCorkell, Adrew Christopher Dunne, Fiann Ó Nualláin and Gérard Mullen

Branding Brochures Logos

Web design eCommerce Adwords

Social Media for Business

INprint

ONline

SOcial

40 How we allocate the budget Mike Neary, Manager of Horticulture at Bord Bia, explains how Bord Bia’s horticulture budget is allocated across various initiatives, events and programmes

42 Unheralded Arrival of a National IN PICTURES Landscape Strategy??

24 PHOTOS Terry O’Regan explores some implications of the national

Photos and comments from GLAS CityWest 2014 & landscape strategy

WAFA’s 11th World Flower Show, ‘A Floral Odyssey’

INTERVIEW

28 A long story Barry Lupton talks with Mark Long

RESEARCH 45 The Female of the Species Entomologist and IPM researcher, Dr Michael Gaffney puts the problematic vine weevil under the microscope and details just how research he is conducting at Teagasc Ashtown is making a positive impact

To find out more about our specialist marketing, business support & development services contact Joseph on 087 921 2044 or joseph@horticulture.ie

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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01 / NEWS

01 / NEWS

horticulture news IoH achieves Chartered status

In July 2014 the new Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) came into being. It replaced the Institute of Horticulture (IoH), which was established in 1984 with the aim of fostering a close relationship between all sectors of professional horticulture (advisory, research, amenity, commercial, education and training) throughout Great Britain and Ireland. A Charter will enhance the Institute’s ability to present our profession through increasing the profile, recognition and standing of professional horticulturists. As a Chartered body, the Institute’s ability to raise standards will be strengthened and the Institute will be better placed to represent and support horticulture as a profession and assist individual members in the practice of their profession.

Being Chartered is considered a status of professional competency, one which adds prestige and credibility to an individual. Being a Chartered Horticulturist or employing individuals with this accreditation will assist you in marketing your services, promoting your products and improving the status of your business. For those with formal academic qualifications in horticulture gaining individual chartership will validate your professional competence and add a new set of letters (C.Hort) after your name.

Also, applications for Chartership are open to those within the industry who do not have formal academic horticulture qualifications but have extensive professional knowledge and experience.

On becoming the Chartered Institute of Horticulture all existing IoH members will retain their current membership level but they will also have the benefits associated with membership of a Chartered body. However, the new CIH will have the ability to award individual Chartered status to members of the Institute. This status will recognise the achievement of a senior practitioner and this will support members by confirming their high level of professional expertise and competence.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and/or a Chartered Horticulturist, please contact Dr Owen Doyle FCIH Chairperson Ireland Branch: owen.doyle@uce.ie ✽

Hitachi Launches ‘Anti-fatigue’ PureFire chainsaw

Flannery’s Nurseries New to Ireland ‘Hibiscus’

Hitachi Power Tools has launched its latest chainsaw, the CS33EDP designed to tackle the big jobs with minimum effort and strain for the operator. Using kit all day long can take its toll, but the great advantage of this new machine is its anti-fatigue features. It has increased cutting speed, requires approximately 50% less pulling force to start than previous models and is extremely low in weight, coming in at just 3.7kg (excluding bar and chain). The chainsaw also houses a spring type anti-vibration system that reduces strain on the hands. A primer pump and an S-Start recoil system also means less effort is needed to start the engine. The new PureFire engine meets European standards for low emissions, meaning that it is also suitable for prolonged use. ✽

Hibiscus Syriacus - Purple Pillar ‘Gandini Santiago’ was presented at Glas and is just one of an expanding range of new plants for the nursery. The upright pillar tree has double purple-blue flowers which bloom from July to October. We are told that there was significant interest from garden centres at the Glas event, as it ticks all the boxes.

Winter hardy, suitable for full sun or part shade, makes it ideal for small gardens or perfect as a pot plant. Martina Wyse general manager at the nursery also tells us that “it also has great potential for online or mail order sales.” A rebranding of the Flannery’s company logo is also currently underway that is aimed at communicating their offering to their traditional client base alongside the expanding numbers of garden centre customers they now supply. ✽

Garden World Nurseries Introduces New Range of Specimen Plants The expanding nursery, which now has three production sites has just introduced a new range of specimen shrubs and perennials. They have been in production over the last four years and the team were kept very busy at Glas introducing the new selection to their customers. Also complementing their own range of 1 to 5L range of garden perennials, shrubs and alpines was a large selection of premium specimen trees and shrubs from their partner growers across mainland Europe. ✽

FLANNERY’S NURSERIES

Staplestown, Donadea, Naas, Co Kildare

Sanctuary Synthetics Launches New Website & ‘Fake Grassman’ Blog Mark O’ Loughlin of Sanctuary Synthetics has launched a newly redesigned website. The old layout and content has now been made more user and search engine friendly. Importantly for Mark though it will still retain a specialist section for their trade customers. He say’s “the old design served us very well enabling us to supply thousands of gardens over the years but in this age of social media, ubiquitous tablets and smartphones, we felt we needed a faster more interactive web offering to attract and impress our potential customers.”

Alongside the site re-development, he has another new web initiative aimed directly at landscapers, which is a blog called ‘The Fake Grasman’. Mark promises that it will be an interesting take on our industry. More at sanctuarysynthetics.ie and the thefakegrassman.ie ✽

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Young Nurseries Continue’s to Thrive Its been a busy time for the Nuala and Joe Young who have recently celebrated 25 years in business. Building on their success at this year’s ‘Amenity Horticulture Awards’, where they won best ‘Hardy Nursery Stock Grower’ along with being nominated for ‘Best Local Plant Supplier’ at the Bord Bia sponsored event, the specialist perennial growers showcased a broad range of summer flowering perennials at Glas including a niche range of colourful foliage plants for autumn, which Nuala say’s were well received at the show. ✽

Tel: 045 869 131 Email: flannurs@iol.ie www.flannerysnurseries.com

Wildflowers

www.

.ie

New to Market

4 LITRE TREES GARDEN CENTRE VALUE LINE Wide Variety & Well Established in This Easy to Carry Size

l 60 Wildflower Seed Mixtures in 4 Unique Ranges l Lowest Native Wildflower Prices in Europe

Sow Bluebell and Red Campion Seed Choose from Over 180 species withl your Daffodils this Autumn

Tully’s New ‘Gift That Grows’ Range is Selling an Experience, Not Just a Plant During frequent sales visits to plant retailers the Tully’s team noticed that a gap in the market existed for the ‘Gift That Grows’ range. Targeting peak gift times and aimed at female gift buyers in the 35-50 range, it has multiple uses including, the patio, window sill or planted in the garden.

Criteria for choosing plants for the ‘Gift that Grows’ range was that at its centre was a classy single plant uniquely different to what is normally available. They also carried out extensive testing and market research for the new range which was apparent by the interest that it generated at Glas. ✽

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

Contact us for all your native Trees & Hedging for the AEOS and REPS(Teagasc Approved) You are welcome to visit the nursery where you can select and collect your own or delivery available nation-wide.

Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-3.30pm (Closed Sundays & Bank Holiday weekends)

Irish Wildflower Seeds, Older than the oldest antiques, Brighter than the newest novelty Design By Nature Tel: 056 444 2526

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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01 / NEWS ITB Horticulture Open Day Announced Prospective students for horticulture courses at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown can also take the opportunity to tour the new facilities at their upcoming open day which takes place from 5 -7pm on Wednesday the 3rd of September. The new facility includes glasshouses, poly-tunnels, workshops, student welfare facilities as well as a range of outdoor practical work areas for fruit/ vegetable production and sports turf management. More info at itb.ie/studyatitb/horticulture ✽

GLDA COMPETITION WINNERS Winners of the free garden design competition organised by the Garden and Landscape Design at Bloom this year, were Mr Gertas and Mrs Jurgita Chmieliauskas, who are pictured here with their son, Max. The competition is one of a number of initiatives the association has developed to raise awareness of garden design in Ireland. For more information on this and other GLDA activities please visit www.glda.ie ✽

01 / NEWS Keeping up with the Landscape Institute The ILI continues to represent the leading landscape architecture practices in Ireland, and this year we are delighted to add a number of new members to our register: Doyle + O’Troithigh, Cathal O’Meara Landscape Architects, and REDscape Landscape & Urbanism. Have a look at their work on our website: www.irishlandscapeinstitute.com Summer 2014 saw the launch of Bloom Fringe – a new fringe festival running alongside Bloom in the Park, focusing on horticulture in the urban context. The ILI committee was delighted to partner with the Bloom Fringe team in promoting ILI events, developing the ILI network and supporting the festival.

Following the summer recess, the ILI’s events programme will restart in September 2014. This year there are some key topics on the radar for our ever popular lecture series: Residential Landscapes, Design for Climate Change, Design for Health and Restorative Environments and many more. A series of larger scale seminars is also planned to include Guidelines for Visual Impact Assessment, Landscape Character Assessment, and the newly published draft National Landscape Strategy. Our 2014/2015 programme is shaping up to be one of our biggest yet, to include both home-grown and internationally recognised speakers. We look forward to launching in September 2014, and we are now seeking interested businesses and suppliers to partner with ILI. We offer tailored packages ranging from lead sponsorship of the Institute to trade stands and presentations at our events, to ad space on our website and newsletters. ✽

Kells Bay Garden, the sub-tropical paradise owned and managed

by Billy Alexander, is to host a one day plant symposium on 6th September 2014 at 1pm delivered by renowed plantsmen, Seamus O’Brien and Roy Lancanster CBE. The day will include talks, garden tours, opportunity for questions and answers and a buffet lunch.

To purchase a ticket for this event please visit www.kellsgardens.ie or call Billy direct on 087 777 6666. ✽

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Professionals involved in the woodchipping industry will be delighted to learn that a solution now exists for the problems relating to noise pollution from the heavy duty machine.

Woodpecker Environmental the sole distributor of Schliesing, Jo Beau, Rabaud and Carlton machinery throughout Ireland have taken delivery of the first Schliesing 235MX Whispercut ® V-knife machine which boasts noise level reduction by up to 30% now 112d; Service life increase of the knives by up to 40% and feeding of the material more uniformed to the centre of the hopper Woodpecker Environmental now have a range of machines wood chippers, stump grinders and log splitters available to hire on day or long term rates.

Visit www.woodpeckerenv.ie ✽

T +353 7491 56036 E info@lcpackaging.ie

AGRI

Leading design college gets a new name and new campus Renowned plantsmen to deliver Southern Symposium

Woodpecker Environmental tackle noise issues with the Whispercut® V-Knife Woodchipper

Senior College Dun Laoghaire, the leading design college in Dublin, and first career step for many top-flight Landscape Architects, has a new name and new campus.

Having been based in the aging facilities of the Christian Brothers School in Dun Laoghaire, the design school has recently moved to the state-ofthe-art surrounds of its new Blackrock campus. The campus, which wraps around the old library building, includes stunning, purpose-built and light-filled studio rooms overlooking Dublin Bay, computer suites and a host of tailored design facilities. The college’s new name: Blackrock Further Education Institute.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

Located a stone’s throw from Blackrock Dart Station and accessible from a range of public transport links, the Institute is sure to prove extremely popular with people wishing to pursue a career in design or to update existing skills. The Institute offers a range of design programmes including its hugely popular Diploma in Landscape Design, which affords opportunity to secure a BSc in Landscape Architecture in three year. Other design courses offered include Interior, Jewellery, digital and stage design. To find out how you can take the first steps toward a career in design, visit www.bfei.ie, the design department facebook page at SCD Design Community or why not check out the facilties yourself at the open day being held on August 27th from 10am to 2pm. ✽

SupplierS of � � � � � � �

paper Bags Woven polypropylene Bags films & plastics Netting Tonne Bags Jute Ground Cover

www.lcpackaging.com

SupporTing your producTS

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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EVENTS / JOBS

02 / RETAIL

EventS Diary DON’T MISS!

✽ 10-15 AUGUST

International Garden Centre Congress

Welcome to Ireland and the 56th International garden centre Congress showcasing the best of our Irish garden centres, gardens and Irish hospitality.

Venue: Carton House Hotel, Maynooth, Co Kildare www.igccireland2014.com

✽ 21 AUGUST

Organisational Resilience

campus. To find out how you can take the first steps toward a career in design join us.

Venue: BFEI, Main Street, Blackrock, Co Dublin www.bfei.ie

✽ 02 SEPTEMBER

SALTEX 2014

The UK’s national event for grounds care, sports, amenities, estates and green space management.

Venue:Royal Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire UK http://2014.iog-saltex.com

DON’T MISS!

✽ 02-03

Future-oriented ways of organising ourselves, inspired by natural systems and Permaculture design.

Venue: Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Cloughjordan, Co. Offaly www.hortitrends.com/ horticulturetradeshowevents/ organisational-resilience

✽ 27 AUGUST

SEPTEMBER FOUR OAKS TRADE SHOW

The UK’s premier show for ornamental horticulture.

Venue: Farm Lane, Lower Withington,Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com

Blackrock Further Education Institute Open day

✽ 14-16 SEPTEMBER

Formely Senior College Dun Laoghaire, new name and a new ➤

The definitive Trade Show for the garden industry. ➤

Venue: NEC Birmingham, UK www.gleebirmingham.com

✽ 03 SEPTEMBER

ITB Open day 5-7pm

Fancy a blossoming career in horticulture?

Venue: Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Blanchardstown Road North, Dublin 15 www.itb.ie/NewsEvents

✽ 19 SEPTEMBER

Dublin PARK(ing) Day

Dublin PARK(ing) Day is an open source, global event which transforms on-street car parking spaces into public open spaces for one day.

Venue: Dublin City www.dublinparkingday.org

✽ 28 SEPT-01 October EUROPARC Annual Conference An exciting programme “Understanding the Value of Nature”.

Venue: The Malton, Killarney, Co. Kerry www.europarc.org/conferences/ overview/europarc-2014/registration ✽

GLEE Birmingham

Further details and more event news, visit www.hortitrends.ie

Garden retail expert, Liam Kelly explains how observing best practice from other retail sectors can be inspiring, motivating and ultimately profitable

JOBs NEWS CURRENTLY HIRING ✽ Garden Centre Manager

✽ Grower/Salesperson

Mullaghmore House Omagh

Bill Madden Nurseries

✽ Garden Centre Manager

✽ Landscape Operative

Kiernans Garden Centre, Cork

Eoin Ryan Landscape

✽ Landscape Professional

✽ Various Positions

Richard Shortall : Landscape Design

Andersplus

All the latest jobs on www.jobsInHorticulture.ie

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On the Inside Looking Out

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

P

erhaps more than any other retail sector, garden centres have changed dramatically over the last 20 years or so. Gone are the pallets sitting on concrete blocks, replaced by shiny aluminium benches or pressure treated timber. The hand written signs on plastic angled t-labels have been replaced by laser printed A4 point-of-sale signs in purpose-made holders, and covered plant sales areas are now the norm rather than the exception.

Garden centres now offer their customers a sleeker, slicker more salubrious experience, and although some have changed and evolved more than others, most have changed dramatically in the last two decades.

Until recently, most of this change was brought about by looking at what other garden centres both here and abroad were doing and how their best practice could be adapted and shoe-horned into one’s own existing set-up. Obviously there was - and there still is - a logic to this, as garden retailing is somewhat specialist in many ways so the abovementioned best practice was easy to put in place and relate to for many centres.

Of course we are making the assumption that these garden centres that appear to have all the answers really do! Garden centres are notoriously protective regarding their figures, profitability and turnover and when asked how things are

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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02 / RETAIL

02 / RETAIL going they will invariably answer with a ‘Grand…’ or ‘Not too bad at all’ comment. (This was brought home to me a number of years ago on a trip to see Christmas shops in garden centres outside Ireland. One large garden centre had a wonderful looking shop, eye-catching displays and reeked of professionalism. It was touted as the template that all centres should aspire to be… it closed down a few months after.) But without figures to back up claims how can you truly see what is best practice?

Thankfully a lot of this secrecy and paranoia is leaving the industry as many garden centres now see the need for full disclosure of figures amongst a group of likeminded individuals, so soon perhaps it will be easier to see if perceived best practice within garden centres is truly so. In other words the question ‘What have you done to make the garden centre more profitable?’ can be answered truthfully with figures to back up the reply.

So in many ways it is easier to look at some of the other retail sectors, and in particular those retailers that have a track record for profitability, to see what they do and what can be adapted to garden retailing. On one of my occasional forays into Dublin city centre a few weeks back, I came across the ‘Shoe Garden’ (retail research brings me to strange places) in Arnotts department store and it made me think that if they can use and adapt a very outdoor theme to create a fantastic shopping experience, then why are garden retailers not using equally creative themes or adapting other retailers’ ideas and strengths in their own businesses?

And to expand the concept further past just image and theme, which won’t always fit into our sector, what else can we learn from other sellers?

The simplest way to look at this is to pick a type of retailer and look at what

“Thankfully a lot of this secrecy and paranoia is leaving the industry as many garden centres now see the need for full disclosure”

they do well, then look at which department in your store these best practices can be applied to, while keeping in mind that some of their philosophy can be applied in an almost holistic way to the whole store.

Here are some examples of what I mean: Trying It On – Footwear and Clothing Retailers One of the key rituals in shoe shopping is trying them on for size, look and feel. It’s that ability to try before you buy, plus the way in which they are displayed that makes shoe shopping an enjoyable experience for many.

But how can we relate this to a garden centre? It requires some abstract thinking but the most obvious department I can think of is the pot and container area where you have many different colours and designs of pots displayed in racking. But do we encourage the customer to ‘try them on’ so to speak? What I mean by this is whether we make it easy for them to fit a plant with a pot? Although pots are often dragged on to plant displays the reverse is rarely true. I would argue that there should be an ever-changing ‘plants for pots’ display in the centre of the pot display and that customers should be encouraged to try out the pots with the plants, and even bring them home to see how they look with a promise that you’ll exchange them if they don’t suit. Advertise this ‘try on’, and exchange service in the new ‘Plant+Pot’ area.

This could be taken a stage further by adapting something clothes retailers use, which are those all too flattering mirrors.

Many garden retailers have used the ‘front door display’ idea of a merchandise door with two plants and two pots, but how about creating a mirror image of the customer’s front door by having four or five doors in common colours that revolve on a stand so that the customer can choose their door, and then match their choice of pots and plants to better effect? With a little thought you can also have different pull-down door surrounds in brick, dash, stone, etc. to complete this entrancemirroring effect.

Top Sellers – Book, Music and Online Retailers One of a customer’s main requirements in making a purchase is confidence in a product or plant, and nothing instils confidence more than knowing that many others have also purchased the item. Garden centres can play on this by showing off their top sellers both in plants and garden care products, just as many bookshops and other retailers do.

This can be as dynamic as an ever changing display of your top 10 selling plants for this month, or something as simple as flagging a plant feed as your top selling product. How many of your customers stare at the garden care shelving, dazed and confused by the array? Surely a sign saying ‘I’m the best

“How many of your customers stare at the garden care shelving, dazed and confused by the array?”

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

selling plant food in the store’ would help them commit to that purchase? The easiest product to sell more of is one that already sells well.

Those top 10 selling plants could be arranged on 10 square benches in the covered plant display area just after your main entrance ‘wow’ display. They could be cleverly signed with point-of-sale that gives that booky look to help the customers make that connection.

Remember that product confidence will always drive sales.

Knowledge plus Trust equals Loyalty – Pharmacies Knowledge is a key ingredient in the sales process and without this knowledge it would be impossible to sell with any confidence. But trust is also important and they work handin-hand in pharmacies to build loyalty, which is something that garden retailers can borrow and promote to their customers. Almost every garden centre – I hope – has this product knowledge in abundance but many are not so good at communicating it to their customers.

I’m not suggesting that your most knowledgeable staff go around in a lab coat but they do need to exude confidence by the bucket load and empathy for the customer who arrives in with a sick plant that needs to be diagnosed. These skills which can be learned, combined with their knowledge-driven ability to solve a particular problem, will promote customer loyalty as you become ‘The Garden Centre That Knows’.

Selling the Benefit – Health Food and Outdoor Activity Stores Health food shops – it’s all in the name, isn’t it? Those words communicate that this store stocks products that are good for me and my family. Before you even walk through the door the benefits of shopping here are implied and all those outdoor hiking, camping and cycling stores communicate the same message indirectly too.

Garden retailers rarely promote the benefits of gardening and this is probably because there is no direct, measurable sale that can be attributed to the concept of wellbeing. But surely by promoting gardening as a healthy pastime for the whole family then every garden related business would profit in some way?

This can be done on a single shop basis by clever use of those now commonplace lifestyle images and with by-lines that practically write themselves, using words such as grow, bloom, fresh, blossom, plant, scent, dig, rejuvenate, dormant, spring, sprout and so on. Even better, it could be used by the whole horticulture sector to get people outdoors and into their gardens. Such a campaign, especially if school focussed, would go more than a little way towards curbing the obesity and general health issues that seem to be constantly in the news. Why not play off of those issues to everyone’s advantage in more ways than one?

Caring and Cuddling – Pet Stores Kids are dragged almost magnetically towards pet shops. For some it’s the chance to cuddle a rabbit or pet a guinea pig, for others it’s the colour and exoticness of birds or fish and for some it’s the thrill of eyeballing that snake or tarantula. But whatever the reason, that draw is real and it’s something that will be

almost impossible to recreate in the gardening world.

There are things that can be tried to make your store more likeable by kids if you don’t have a pet department. One of the simplest and most effective draws is a petting zoo, either for a couple of weekends a year or perhaps even as a permanent fixture if you have the space and resources. These can really be a big attraction for kids, and where kids go parents have to follow.

Turning these visits into sales is down to your merchandising, stock and salesmanship but if there are potential customers coming to your store there is no excuse for not converting a proportion of them in to sales.

For those retailers who just want to look after plants and not livestock, there are still plants that attract kids. Carnivorous plants and cacti at pocket money prices will always appeal but tactile plants such as grasses and fluffy-leaved lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) can also be attractive to very young gardeners once they are supervised and taught how to care for them. The fragrance and taste of herbs and the scent of ornamental plants such as lavender are also things that can appeal to kids, although admittedly not to the same extent as a lop-eared, doe-eyed bunny.

As mentioned, those are just a few examples and ideas to get you going and doubtless there are many more. The key thing to remember is the importance of looking beyond your own sector for the best practice of others. Analyse, adapt and adopt these principles, then measure how well they work for you.

Many of these ideas might not apply to your business, but the very act of looking beyond the norm will bring you in to a bigger, brighter and perhaps better retail world.

To bring it back full circle to my opening paragraph, evolution and change are both good for businesses.

And evolution never stops. ✽

Liam Kelly was general manager of one of the largest garden centres in the country, where he was instrumental in transforming it into a large lifestyle store. He established Retail Services & Solutions in 2007 and has since worked with many garden centres, nurseries and hardware stores in Ireland. He has experienced every aspect of garden centre work from maintenance to sales, and purchasing to management. This combined with his problem solving ability, honesty and handson work ethic make him unique in his area. He can appreciate the nitty-gritty of the day-to-day running of a garden centre better than most, as he knows the products, mindset and ethos of the Irish garden retail sector.

Liam Kelly - Retail Services & Solutions, 118 Dolmen Gardens, Pollerton, Carlow. 086 822 1494 or 059 913 0176, lksolutions@eircom.net www.lksolutions.blogspot.com

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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02 / RETAIL A note of welcome from Rachel Doyle (President IGCA)

CÉad Mĺle FÁilte

From my heart, a huge welcome for everyone to the 56th International Garden Centre Congress A busy and exciting week lies ahead.

We are looking forward to showcasing the best of Irish garden centres, stately homes and historic gardens, Irish hospitality and of course to having some Irish fun.

Enjoy our welcome reception here in the historic Carton House Hotel in Kildare, built in 1739 and former home to the first Duke of Leinster. This is the perfect point from which to explore the destinations on our itinerary.

As we travel throughout the week I hope you will all take in the scenery and rolling fields that Ireland is famous for and bring home some great memories and stories from your time spent here with us.

We have visits to a number of award

winning garden centres on our schedule whose teams have been busy preparing for your visit. From small plant focused centres to larger home and lifestyle garden centres, we hope that you will get a great insight into the garden centre business here in Ireland.

There will be no shortage of food, drink, entertainment and fun during this busy week and we are looking forward to sharing the days ahead with our international friends.

Finally, I’d like to extend a sincere thanks to all our main sponsors: Westland Horticulture and Bord Bia and also to Leisuregrow, Bord na Mona, Roesle, Weber Kaemingk BV, Neurdorff, Rob Roberts, Taylors Bulbs, Eve Tigwell and Red Mills. Enjoy your visit.

Rachel Doyle – President IGCA Here’s Céad Míle Fáilte to friend and to rover. That’s a greeting that’s as Irish as Irish can be It means you are welcome, a thousand times over, wherever you come from, whosever you be. ✽

On behalf of Ireland’s extended horticultural family, Horticulture Connected is delighted to welcome garden retailers from around the world for the 2014 Garden Centre Congress

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reland is honored to have been chosen to host this gathering of garden centre owners from all over the world.

Work on organising this exciting event began as early as 2012 to ensure that it will go down in memory as one of the best Congresses ever.

The congress also coincides with the first Irish presidency of the International Garden Centre Association, of which Rachel Doyle took on the mantle in October last at the congress in Australia.

What is the International Garden Centre Congress?

It is an annual congress held for one week between August and October, each year in a different host country. This comprises of an International Garden Centre Association business meeting, which elects officials and administers the affairs of the Association, a concentrated business study tour and an excellent social programme.

From August 10th to 15th 2014, up to 250 garden centre owners from 18 countries will converge in Ireland to explore, learn from and enjoy what we have to offer in terms of garden centre experience, and see how we do things here. During this

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Specialist Perennial Growers time they will also enjoy a full programme of the best Ireland has to offer in terms of horticulture, food and hospitality and the Irish experience.

Selecting the garden centres to include on the itinerary was no small task, but we feel we have included a broad selection, from large home, garden and lifestyle centres to smaller plant focused centres, to showcase the best of what Ireland has to offer in terms of garden centre retailing.

While it is only possible to include up to nine garden centre visits on the week’s itinerary, garden centre owners/ managers have been invited to participate in the event, whether as delegates or by playing a role in either hosting/ welcoming / accompanying their peers from overseas over the five days. We have also encouraged our nurseries to participate in this opportunity to showcase the best of our horticultural products.

The opportunity for networking and benefiting from the experiences, both positive and negative, of other garden centres around the world, cannot be underestimated.

So don’t miss out, be part of it. You can get a flavour of what the congress entails by visiting the website at www.igccireland2014.com.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

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Specialist Perennial Growers Joe & Nuala Young, Young Nurseries Ltd. Ballinanima, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick.

tel: 063 91035 | fax: 063 91500 email: info@youngnurseries.com www.youngnurseries.com

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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02 / RETAIL

02 / RETAIL including upwards only rent, the introduction of postcodes and were key to the establishment of a government interdepartmental retail forum.

Together with Sean Murphy, Deputy CEO, REI, the REI Garden Group will lobby the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine on pertinent issues relating to the sector including VAT anomalies on certain products, illegal traders and controls surrounding the sale of pesticides.

In addition, REI are working to secure more manageable acquiring rates for our members, with our partners Barclaycard and PaymentPlus.

Together with the Garden Group committee chaired by Fergal Doyle (Arboretum) and including Carl Jones (Jones Garden Centre), Elaine Warren (Springmount), Micheal Devitt, (Newlands Garden Centre), Eoin Reid (Fernhill) and Mary Frances (Ardcarne), John O’Carroll (Dairygold), James Byrne (Glanbia) and Anne Higgins (Woodies DIY), REI will endeavor to bring the sector into the limelight and make gardening young, fun and trendy.

The group functions to support the entire garden centre sector through garden centre specific learning events, representation to important stakeholders in the industry including the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia and through reporting of garden centre sales trends and category performance trends. On the agenda for 2015 is a UK case study tour in conjunction with the HTA, a full day sector specific learning event, with keynote speakers and

garden content built into the largest conference of the year – the Retail Retreat in May. What is clear, is that there is a need for the sector to be marketed on a national level and specifically, on television.

Ireland needs a face of gardening, a champion of the sector who will make gardening sexy and drive footfall in our garden centres around the country. It is the role of the REI Garden Group to lobby to the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, to allocate a budget for this important initiative and to make it happen.

The REI Garden Group is delighted to join the Congress on 12 August with our members and look forward to an inspirational day out.

It is our intention to grow the Garden Group to include ever more garden centres. If you are interested in joining, please contact Sandra at sandra@retailexcellence.ie or by phoning 065 684 69274. ✽

Sandra Doran, Retail Excellence Ireland.

Offices: Ennis & Dublin, Ireland T: 00 353 65 6846927, F: 00 353 65 6892451, W: retailexcellence.ie, E: sandra@retailexcellence.ie

Ireland Growing Sandra Doran explains how Irish garden retailers are uniting under the direction of Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) to deliver world class standards

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EI was approached last year by some of their members in the industry, with a view to setting up a new garden group that would assist and grow the garden centre industry as a whole in Ireland.

With the liquidation of the GCAI, there was a definite need for REI to represent and be the voice of the industry. We recognised that we needed to include all garden centre operators as well as the multiples and co-ops and to transfer and impart REI knowledge and experience of retail in general, bringing garden centre retailers to the next level.

We were delighted to be involved with the first full day event which took place on 10 July in Jones Garden Centre and the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords. Garden centres from all over the country came together to discuss and explore ideas about how we can “Get Ireland Growing”.

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REI are passionate about retail and are looking forward to applying their knowledge and understanding of retail to the Garden Centre sector. REI are a not for profit organisation representing over 11,500 individual store members across all sectors including pharmacy, telecommunications, electronics, e-commerce, garden and food.

There are five pillars to what REI do, which include learning - though conferences, seminars and training programmes, representation at government level and with other relevant industry stakeholders, the REI Industry Awards (which take place every November), research and market intelligence and finally, we provide a free HR service to all members.

REI provide a service that supports the retail industry at government level and were instrumental last year with the retention of the 9% VAT rate. We lobbied hard on other issues

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

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August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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03 / NURSERY

03 / NURSERY

Tree Specification - the BasicS In the first of a series of articles, John Murphy, respected nurseryman and owner of Annaveigh Plants, addresses a growing knowledge deficit by getting back to the basics of tree and shrub specification

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s a nurseryman involved in the growing and sale of trees from whips to semimature specimens, I spend a lot of my time dealing with landscape bills of quantities. While many are well written and conform to recognised standards, others are less professional and leave many holes for unscrupulous people to exploit.

Examples include where trees are specified by height rather than girth. A 4.5m Betula pendula can be interpreted as anything from a badly grown 8-10cm to a well grown 18-20cm. Another example is where shrubs are specified without a pot size, so inevitably 1.5lt or P9 pots are used. But the biggest problem often lies with the architect or designer not being able to recognise what they are actually specifying. It’s very difficult for someone who is not a grower to see the difference between a x3 transplanted tree and and a x2 or between a 1+0 and a 1+1 transplant.

The European Nursery Stock Association (ENA) has a very comprehensive guide to the standards required for international trade and can be accessed through a link at the end of this article.

While we are required by our Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme to grow our trees to the standards set out by the ENA, many trees planted in Ireland are unfortunately well below these standards.

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implication for the cheaper product being supplied.

Moving onto trees we start with 6-8cm girth. The girth is measured - in all cases except olives - by measuring the circumference of the tree 1m from ground level if the tree is planted or 1m from the soil line if the tree is lifted. The root zone is never taken into account when measuring the girth of a tree. Girth increases in increments of 2cm from 6cm up to 20cm. After 20cm, increments of 5cm are used e.g. 20-25cm.

After 50cm the increments increase to 10cm e.g. 50-60cm.

All standard trees should have a straight stem with no bends and be free of side branches up to 1.5m for 6-8cm and 1.8m for 8-10cm trees. Smaller trees up to 12cm girth are normally twice transplanted and under normal growing circumstances have a good root system for this size. Trees above 12cm should be specified as 3 times transplanted (x3) as they perform better at transplanting and should have a bigger crown than 2 times transplanted trees. Planting 2 times transplanted trees above this size will normally lead to failures.

All 3 times transplanted trees should have a stem height of 2m with a balanced crown.

Understanding tree categories and measurements

1+0 - This is a one year seedling that has spent one year in a seedbed and has never been transplanted. Recognisable by the presence of a strong tap root and little fibre.

1+1 -

A seedling that has been lined out for a further year in normally a four row bed with ample space to grow. Most transplants and hedging are from this category and should have a good lot of fibre on the root. These are normally referred to as whips or transplants.

Trees are measured in cm. by circumference 1m from soil leveL

1+2 - Seedlings grown for two years after transplanting. All beech hedging should only be used from this material. Most other transplants are adequate from 1+1.

Tree measurement starts at 6cm and increases by increments of 2cm up to 20cm. After that it increases by 5cm increments.

How to specify whips and trees Starting with whips, I would advise against using anything below 40cm, as these young trees tend to be weak and are best lined out in the nursery. Starting with 40-60cm, whips are then specified in 30cm increments: 60-90cm, 90-120cm, 120150cm and so on. All whips used in landscaping work should be 1+1 or heavier, this means a one year seedling (1+0) has been taken and lined out for a further year at a wider spacing than the seed bed. The root formation on the 1+1 is bushy and very fibrous while that on the younger 1+0 will be just a tap root. In windy, exposed locations I would advise that plants no bigger than 60-90 cm are used as without support larger plants will suffer badly from wind rock, no matter how well planted. If you wish to use a larger transplant then some form of support is advised.

The specification of larger transplants over 150cm can be difficult. It is best to look for a 1+2 or even a 2+2 as these are grown at a wide spacing and the plants are furnished to the ground. Specifying a 1+1 at 150cm + tends to end up with a very weak plant with little or no lower branches. Obviously there will be a cost

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

aBOVE: Liquidamber feathered 10-12cm trees

When using 20-25cm up to 3035cm, the trees need to specified as 4 times transplanted. This is often hard to find in Ireland as many of the bigger trees are only 3 times transplanted at best and tend to leaf out and sit for a considerable time before increasing in girth and crown size. Between 35 and 50cm trees should be 5 times transplanted at least and above 60cm all trees should be 6 times transplanted.

In our case if we are supplying very large specimens we tend to try and source x7-x8 times transplanted trees.

While doing this we tend to price ourselves out of projects but we will only get involved if the correct trees are used. Replacing these very large specimens and having disappointed clients is not worth the extra money made by skimping on the product in the first place.

When specifying trees it is important to include whether the trees should be standards or feathered trees.

Often it is presumed that Quercus,

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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03 / NURSERY

04 / DESIGN

PHOTO: KORALEY NORTHEN

Acer campestre x3 transplanted 14-16cm.

C Betula, Carpinus and Alnus are all to be supplied feathered once they appear on a specification. These trees are far easier to grow branched and the quality is normally inferior to the standard product. What often happens is they are delivered branched and cleaned up on site, and as a result they leave an unbalanced crown relative to the stem and unsightly pruning cuts on the stems.

If feathered trees are required, it is better to specify them by height with a minimum girth. For example, if a client requires 4m feathered Betula the minimum girth should be 12-14cm otherwise it is quite possible you will end up with whippy 8-10cm trees that have been grown too close together.

In the case of specimen feathered trees such as Quercus ‘Fastigiata Koster’ the same applies, height with a minimum girth. The difficulty here is the fullness of the trees and I would advise that photographs are received prior to delivery to ensure the right

quality is supplied.

To Rootball or not to Rootball A well grown bare root tree, one that is delivered with no soil on the roots, should be at least x3 transplanted if it is going to be used on a general landscape site. Many architects have started to specify smaller and smaller trees rootballed and I think this is as a result of a fear of failure. If a well grown x3 tree is used bareroot and adequately watered then there is no reason to rootball as it’s a waste of soil and transport. To rootball and transport a tree it costs an extra €20 for anything above 14-16cm.

Every season we are requested to price for rootballed trees that do not require rootballing. Examples would be Sorbus aucuparia and Acer platanoides types up to 16-18cm. If the trees are coming from a proper transplanting regime then almost all

“Many architects have started to specify smaller and smaller trees rootballed and I think this is as a result of a fear of failure ” 18

the main species with the exception of oak and Fagus will transplant perfectly barerooted up to 18cm. We are wasting soil and fossil fuels unnecessarily rootballing thousands of trees each year all because people are unaware of what a x3 or x4 times transplanted root system should look like.

I would urge everyone involved in specifications to visit tree nurseries and become familiar with what a x2, x3 or x 4 transplanted trees look like. All nurserymen would be delighted to show you around and give the information required. I would advise you visit a number of nurseries and see the difference in spacing, transplanting, pruning and general care. It will soon become apparent which nurseries are following the correct husbandry techniques and growing the trees to a proper standard. www.enaplants.eu/EXEN/assets/ ENAQualityStandardsFinal2010.pdf ✽

John Murphy is the owner and operator of Annaveigh Plants and is one of Ireland’s most experienced and respected nurserymen.

For more information visit www.annaveigh.com

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

reating a gold medal winning show garden requires many things: time, energy, skill, knowledge, experience, determination, creativity, commitment, a thick skin and an eye for detail. For the uninitiated, the process from initial idea to completed garden can be daunting and fraught with obstacles, pitfalls, setbacks and disappointments.

Even for the most experienced, the process can present a real challenge, but one they’re prepared to overcome.

The gardens at this year’s Bloom in the Park have come under some significant fire. While several were of a very high standard, others were criticised for poor design, weak planting, and from my own perspective, a number were simply too compromised by sponsors to be considered gardens at all.

While Irish garden design has some significant ground to make up, the sector has something almost unique to Ireland, and which was most evident during the Bloom garden build period. Irish garden design is familial in nature and underpinned with friendship, comradery and a genuine willingness to help, encourage and assist. Irish designers are always willing to lend a hand, advise, and is often the case, share plants, materials and expertise. To build on this culture and with a view to helping show garden applicants achieving gold in 2015, I asked three top designers and gold medal recipients to share their thoughts on how they go about creating show stopping gardens. BARRY LUPTON

How to design and build a show stopper

HORTICULTURECONNECTED talks to the experts

Jane McCorkell Plan, organise and don’t compromise.

Building a show garden is an emotional rollercoaster ride of the extreme variety. The thought of designing and planning for a show is enough to make me run to the hills screaming.

That is, until an opportunity to do a garden comes up. And there is the problem. Show life is exciting and frightening, exhilarating and exhausting, but most of all very beneficial to anyone who wants be a professional garden designer. There are a number of stages that comprise the process of creating a show garden.

The beginning or phase 1, when engaging and securing your client/sponsor can really push you out of your comfort zone. You could be working with a number of professionals all with their own opinions and providing you with plenty of marketing jargon, at all times thinking how they can brand. It’s easy to say yes to

Above: Great gardens are effortless, or at least they appear to be so. They draw you in, flood the senses, leading the eye and mind through an intended narrative. Great gardens create lasting memories. The effortlessness of Jane’s 2012 garden tells many stories, not least of which was the amount of work put in to create it.

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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talent, you must stand out’ 04 / DESIGN

04 / DESIGN

“The thought of designing and planning for a show is enough to make me run to the hills screaming” the many demands that a sponsor may put on you. But as a professional you must learn to say NO if the suggestion goes against the real purpose of the project. As a designer you must listen to the client/sponsor, get back to the basics of garden design and study their brief – translate this into a garden.

Remember, show gardens are a little bit of inspiration for the visitor and a whole lot of photographic opportunity for you as a designer. I try to get the client to see a show garden as an opportunity to give back something beautiful to their customers, a thank you if you like.

Once the design has been signed off by the client you are into the organisation and procurement phase.

There is only one captain on this project and the responsibility all comes back to you as the designer, therefore it’s ok to be a control freak. Once the day of the build starts all procurement must be in place. It is too late to be going shopping when you are in construction phase. I often feel that too many people underestimate the importance of plant material and how much of it you need to fill a garden. It is not something that should be left to the last minute or rushed. Engage and listen to the nursery grower when deciding on plants. Your plants should be getting ready for the show in the background for months in advance.

I would always have a construction schedule in place before we arrive on

site, continuously referring back to the schedule which probably drives the contractors crazy, but I don’t care. You never know what can happen on the journey, broken trees, broken arms and broken contractors.

Phase three is construction, everything is organised. Do not make changes unless you know that what is going in is wrong. It’s ok to ask your colleagues what they think, but remember too many opinions will only unnerve you. Make decisions and be happy with them. Don’t risk or compromise finish. This piece of work should represent just how important detail is to you. Stick to the work schedule, and be there! You need to be there to check that you are happy with paving patterns, proportions of the overall layout, position of trees etc…etc… etc… Remember it’s all your fault.

Phase four is completion, and probably the part I really hate. Medals – never easy. Regardless of what you have received please ask for feedback.

Part of the design process is taking constructive criticism. It’s not personal, take it on board and learn from it. Add it to the many things you will learn about yourself throughout the journey. ✽ Jane McCorkell is one of Ireland’s leading garden designers and recipient of numerous gold medals at Bloom. You can learn more about her landscape and garden work by visiting her website at www.janemccorkelllandscape.ie

PHOTO: KORALEY NORTHEN

The devil is in the details; Ignore them and your experience will be hell. Focus on them, as Andrew did at Bloom 2014, and you can create a little piece of gold medal heaven.

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

Andrew Christopher Dunne I am the client.

A show garden is a funny thing. Most of the gardens we build have a client who sets the brief and it is our job to do all we can to fulfil that brief. You might believe that a show garden is no different and perhaps this is where some designers run into trouble. At first glance it would appear that the sponsor is the client and they set the brief but the truth is somewhat more complex. With a show garden there are many clients; firstly your sponsor who has a message to portray or a brand to reinforce, then there are the judges who must be pleased in an altogether different way. Then there are the 100,000 punters who have paid their money to be entertained. But for me there is one client who I represent above all else and that is myself. Let’s not forget why we are there. It is to show what we can do to as many people as possible in the hope that it will result in a more projects for us and our businesses. More than that, Bloom is an opportunity to identify yourself and be recognised. Amongst a sea of talent, you must stand out.

If your garden is remembered for you sponsor’s brand and nothing else, although your sponsor may be pleased, what goodwill will that generate for you? As a designer you need to have a style that defines you.

Never compromise on that style no matter who is paying the bill. If we are good enough at our job, we will be able to translate the message of our sponsors extremely effectively and not compromise our own identity.

My garden was designed with a clear focus in mind: getting noticed for the right reasons. This is exactly what your sponsor wants too so you should work together to achieve

this. So how did I do that? Firstly I designed a simple garden that would photograph well. It was symmetrical on the diagonal and had a stunning swing at its centre which I knew would capture the attention of any passing photographer. If you create a garden that photographs well then it will look good to the viewing public too. Media attention is good for you, your sponsor and the event itself. To please the judges I kept the design simple, only three colours in the planting, a simple choice of materials and a well thought out brief. It was always my intention to do a simple garden but to do it well.

I cannot stress how important this is.

Keep it simple and do it well.

For our sponsors (Samaritans Ireland) I tried to ensure that every element of the garden related to their message and aided in telling their story. In this day and age we are bombarded by branding thousands of times a day, the result of which is that the minute we see a brand we switch off our brains. The beauty of a well thought out show garden is that we can engage so much more of the brain and as a result be a far more powerful marketing tool than mere branding alone. But this was never at the expense of the garden itself. The design of the garden must come first with the sponsor’s message a close second. For example in my garden, the water features became representations of the darkness that is present in all our lives, the swing suggested the cradling effect a friendly voice has to offer, the rusted steel wall panels became symbols of a busy mind in search of guidance.

These were all powerful images that will remain for a long time with those who heard their meaning but the truth is they were only a swing, a water feature and some wall hangings, and were all there because they formed an integral part of the design. Remember it is your garden, it represents you. It is the best piece of marketing you are likely to get so make it count. ✽ You can learn more about Andrew and his landscape and garden work by visiting his website at www.acdesigns.ie

Fiann Ó Nualláin Bloom is no normal gig

Myself and my partner Lisa try not to think about medals at all. Our focus is not strictly commercial horticulture and we’re not selling a landscape service. So we’re free to focus on what we want: engaging people with horticulture. For us, success is telling a good story through design and concept. Our show garden at the inaugural Bloom (2007) was created to share a message - to raise awareness of the role of outreach gardening programmes in getting early school leavers back into education. We were awarded a silver gilt (no golds that year for medium sized gardens) and also awarded the best in category. It wowed the crowds and got lots of press and media attention. We didn’t think as first timers we would get a medal, up against the big boys with big budgets and professional crews. We were operating with a few helpers and a credit card with a 3k limit! Starting with such a meagre budget necessitated us thinking laterally. Such thinking is a requirement for any first timer. No one knew who we were, so sponsorship was a challenge. To get around this we grew our own plants.

Unfortunately, the judges didn’t recognise that endeavour, telling us during feedback that it was the plants which marked us down from gold.

My advice on budget is have a contingency plan – no matter how you break it down between hard landscaping, plants, labour etc. something always goes over budget, and remember that even with a sponsor some items need to be paid for well in advance of receiving that sponsorship cheque. If money is tight or sponsorship falls though then just think what colour a rendered boundary wall might be

painted compared to the dream of real marble or polished copper facades.

Negative feedback on planting was a dilemma that some faced at Bloom this year. Personally I think some suppliers should share in the responsibility rather than just dismiss it as a schoolboy error on the part of designers. Having created show gardens at every Bloom since its inception I’m considered a veteran, but even this year I had 1lt pots arriving as ‘mature specimens’, and substitutions too and that’s after face to face consultations and frequent check backs. I am not sure that everybody in the industry understands what Bloom is, and how reputations are on the line.

Bloom is no normal gig, it is not a client with the patience to wait for plants to grow, or the tolerance to accept a box hedge in place of a lavender hedge. It’s a show, judged on a brief, open to the public for five days and then it’s over.

It has to look established and at peak perfection on day one. I know there are specialist growers but that too is a matter of budget/sponsorship. Bloom show gardens promote phenomenal plant sales of 1 and 2ltr specimens but for designers to keep that happening we need the availability of 10, 30 and even 50 litre plants. I would rather source here than in Holland or Italy. So for certain quarters of the sector is it time to up the game? And for new to Bloom designers, get a good grower or nursery on board.

A design brief for Bloom is put in about eight months before the show opens. And while you can make amendments later on, the more mishaps and changes you make, the less likely it is that the garden will compare with your initial submission.

This negatively impacts on medals. If you’re preparing a submission, you really need to be aware of that.

In terms of the brief it is best to think of a Unique Selling Point and stick with it, deliver it in four sentences, not four pages, and don’t promise what you may have to retract on judging day when it’s too late for excuses. If your intention is to deliver a green roof encrusted with alpine gems and bejewelled with Burren

“Negative feedback on planting was a dilemma that some faced at Bloom this year” August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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04 / DESIGN But inexperienced designers and ill-informed marketeers can lose sight of the value that strong design can deliver. And that’s the thing - how do we ensure continued sponsorship and support for Bloom show gardens without compromising?

One way to start is to nail down your USP and brief from the word ‘go’. A clear intention will get attention; from there it’s about managing expectation.

Thankfully Bloom has stayed true to an ethos of being egalitarian, of supporting and encouraging show gardens and engaging spaces by a diversity of talent and perspectives.

We came from a horticultural therapy background and were permitted to create gardens alongside top landscape architects and seasoned designers. Many of them had won awards previously. Long may there always be new faces and novice gardens at Bloom. Bloom needs that. ✽ You can learn more about Fiann and his work with gardens and plants by visiting both www.theholisticgardener.com and www.inspiringgardens.ie

Photo: KORALEY NORTHEN

Gerard Mullen

Bloom is a fantastic showcase for garden designers in Ireland.

I have been involved since its inception with a small garden in 2008. It has been fantastic to watch the event grow and develop over the years. Creating a show garden at Bloom is a unique experience and one which always leaves me looking forward to my next show garden. As a designer it offers

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Photo: KORALEY NORTHEN

Einstein said that imagination is more important than knowledge.

Leave the plagiarism for the weak minded and poorly skilled. The shot above is of Fiann’s first show garden foray at Bloom back in 2007. He’s been testing boundaries of knowledge and imagination ever since.

the opportunity to showcase your work on a national scale and meet with and work alongside peers and friends in the industry. Bloom’s show gardens are focussed on promoting garden design and new ideas in garden design, and should never lose this focus. While show gardens will always remain intrinsically linked to commercial sponsorship it is important to manage and maintain the balance between marketing and design integrity.

Creating a successful show garden requires an ability of the designer to adapt and apply their creative talents in a slightly different guise to their normal working day. The show garden space is very much a theatrical display – a stage set – which captures a moment in time of a living garden space.

So what are the key factors for success? Well, there are many and

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

there is no doubt that creating a show garden is a unique balancing act for designers combining a range of disciplines from planning, construction techniques, project management, budget and promotional marketing and so on. Personally I think that any designer contemplating undertaking a show garden project needs to start with attention to some basic but vital factors in the process.

Everyone likes a good story Successful show gardens always have a clear story in their delivery, a strong narrative threaded through the garden which reveals itself to the visitor. Such narratives make up the glue that bind garden elements together, achieving a balanced and successful space.

When approaching an exhibition

“The show garden space is very much a theatrical display, which captures a moment in time of a living garden space” project, I always aim to have a very clear visual image in my head for the garden, an identified personal story that I am excited to tell and importantly that I believe in. The inspiration driving these stories can range from wanting to communicate a concept in plant textures, combinations of materials or observed elements from our landscape.

It is these visuals that always drive my design process and the decision making process behind the garden.

As a designer it can take time to develop the skills to decipher your narrative, and more importantly disseminate this with clarity to the public via the show garden environment. A show garden that has a weak message will always fail to fully capture the imagination of the viewer.

Equally, a strong message poorly translated will not achieve impact.

Any designer attempting a show garden should take time to develop clarity on their story. Take sufficient time to think through the content thoroughly and ask difficult questions of your plans.

Evolve the brief, brainstorm concepts, and refine your thought process.

Continue to cut and paste ideas until you form a structured story. You should be able to summarise your garden theme in a few sentences. If not, you are overcomplicating your brief or simply not confident in telling your story.

Give time and focus to writing your brief All show gardens at Bloom require the designer to submit a written brief as part of the judging process. Writing a

KORALEY NORTHEN

natives in full flower, just say ‘green roof’ in case all you can get or afford is a roll-out of sedums. If your garden is a story (for a charity) or tells a story (urban biodiversity), then it’s easy to find the USP, and easy for the media to understand.

Sponsorship is the perennial challenge for designers and 2014 was no exception. Some designers got poor medals for what the judges effectively dismissed as trade stands, while others were branded, but less obviously. Is the latter good design or just a hands-off sponsor? I have designed gardens at Bloom for all manner of clients, addressing a huge range of topics. Some have been easy, others difficult. I have had sponsors who demanded a change in colour palette two days before judging which is incredibly challenging. Other sponsors enhance your experience at Bloom.

Sponsorship is not a charity donation to a designer. It is a marketing investment and a wonderful promotional opportunity. In marketing parlance, it affords potential for ‘a positive emotional message’ and a ‘face to the product’.

brief not only requires a designer to be clear on their story but also to be able to document this clearly in written format for the judges. A poorly written brief and lack of clarity on aims for the garden will inevitably result in the judges working harder to understand the garden and evaluate accordingly.

Self awareness of ones abilities is key.

Know your strengths and weaknesses.

You may be a great designer but if you struggle with descriptive writing then you need to outsource this task. A clear and well crafted brief sets out the aims in writing of your show garden before you even begin. It is a step that will help to cement your garden story and any grey areas will be exposed. A clear brief enables the judges to understand your concept and evaluate your implementation.

Writing a detailed design brief will help to develop your garden narrative into a fully formed story that will help drive the design process. A clear brief will always assist a project to run smoothly, and importantly it will continually inform the decision making processes as the project progresses.

Keep it simple Most designers tend to have a huge bank of ideas stored up, collected from daily observations and their design backgrounds. There is an endless world of possibilities available for incorporation into this once-off show garden creation. However, to achieve success it is vitally important to avoid the trap of pouring a plethora of ideas into one garden. This can be

especially difficult for the show garden newcomer. A key skill to develop is restraint. The confidence in one’s design abilities will help to maintain focus and keep it simple.

Develop your Planting scheme Personal observation of Bloom show gardens over the years continually exposes a weakness around planting schemes. A planting scheme must be part of your garden story and be threaded through your narrative at the design brief phase. Failure to account for such a key element will inevitably compromise a garden.

A clear image of your planting before beginning will always help inform your decisions and scheme. It seems that as the final days of planting approach designers inevitably drift, losing sight of their brief and being distracted by the bright lights of all those lovely blooms carpeting the nursery grounds. To this end unfortunately, every year, there are a few gardens that following weeks of hard graft and impeccable construction work devolve into a space that resembles what I imagine the collision of two nursery lorries on the M50 would look like. A confused explosion of plants that don’t belong.

Planting requires that key skill mentioned previously - restraint – the practiced ability to keep things clear and simple. My tip is to always have a copy of your design brief to hand and review it regularly as each construction phase progresses. If you have new ideas or changes during construction always defer to your original brief and review decisions accordingly. ✽

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

23

IN PICTURES

IN PICTURES

GLAS 2014

The mood at this year’s GLAS trade show was more upbeat than in recent years, with the majority of exhibitors reflecting positively on the past season

event, at the wrong time of year, and too high a cost. One senior industry figure commented that he felt obliged to exhibit, and that most people were there to either chat or sell. From Horticulture Connected’s perspective Glas provided a good opportunity to meet readers face to face and to gain a greater understanding of the issues facing the wider industry. ✽

M

any felt that sales had improved but cautioned that comparing year on year sales presents a skewed picture. In terms of the event itself, exhibitors shared the familiar range of comments ranging from those who felt it was a good investment, to others, who thought it was the wrong ➤ Noel Bennett, Stan Mitchell, Ciaran Croke (Dublin Grass Machinery)

TOP: John Cribbin (Summerhill Lawns) Winners of the ‘Best New Plant’ Award at GLAS 2014: Carol Marks of Bord Bia (right) presents the award to Wiet and Roy Rentes of Rentes Plants, for Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Dark Angel Purple’.

Pictured also are judges Anne Higgins, senior buyer at Woodies, and Gerry Daly, editor, The Irish Garden magazine.

Gerry O’Neill (O’Neills Flowers) & Tom Sheridan (Flannery’s Nurseries)

Paddy Gleeson, Padraig Tully, Anne Higgins, Niamh Tully (Tully Nurseries), Declan Ronayne

Weit Rentes (Rentes Plants)

Photos: KORALEY NORTHEN

Damien Martyn (rear) & Ken McManamon (Martyns Grass)

Joe & Nuala Young (Young Plants)

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

Tommy Cullen, Natalia Wolk Alex O’Sullivan (Gardenworld)

Chris Slane & his son Mark (Essener Equipment)

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

25

GLAS CITYWEST 2014

IN PICTURES

IN PICTURES

Continued

Photos: KORALEY NORTHEN

WAFA

11th World Flower Show, ‘A Floral Odyssey’ RDS 18 - 22 June 2014 lEFT: Best in Show WINNER Vinita Khemka (India) BELOW: World Flower Show RDS 9am

Gary Loughran (JF McKenna); Shaun Herdsman (Modiform); Stephen McKenna (JF McKenna)

Scott Garnett, Colman Warde, Shaun Cavanagh (Everris)

TOP: Liam Mulread & Jenna Beatty (Eirflowers).

BOTTOM: Sunny Doyle, Eden Charmant & Ailish Doyle (Eurogarden & Home)

Eva Ziggiotto (UCD) & Ross McMahon (NAD)

Padraig McDermott (Sow Easy Grow) & Tom Hickey (Watergain)

Rachel Freeman & Ciarnad Ryan (Institute of Technology Blanchardstown)

26

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

CLOCKWISE FROM Left: Carol Bone (WAFA Publicity Officer); Kaitlin Ormond & Laura Winters (Ormond Floral Services); Joanne Magee & Maria Kelly (Kelly Flowers); Rory Ormond (Ormond Floral Services); Margaret & Tim Mulchinock (Blackwater Floral Accessories)

Simon Holohan (ProGrass)

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

27

05 / INTERVIEW

05 / INTERVIEW

Barry Lupton Interviews MARK LONG

A StorY

to develop the original Rathgar site in the early 1990s. What was the focus of the business at that stage and how did you go about developing the site?

M. We looked at the products we

Living Flavours was one of Irish horticulture’s success stories. The product of hard work, determination, innovation and nerve, its rise from an initial idea to a top national brand embodied everything we wish to foster in our industry. A family concern with plants running through its blood, successive generations evolving, developing, growing, spotting new markets and testing new ground.

From a backyard market garden, it was grown to a 50 acre site with six under glass. A credit to the Long family. Now the gates are padlocked. Conveyors lie rusting, state of the art production beds warp, CCTV cameras watch over a decaying facility while abstracted bankers pick over the remnants in search gold. The story of Highfield Nurseries, Long Life plants and later, Living Flavours, is a difficult one and for no one more than the man at the helm, Mark Long. Now living and working in the UK, Mark has agreed to share his story and his views on the Irish industry.

were growing and the profits from each. We looked at ways of expanding and improving the customer base.

And we examined how we could improve on production through efficiencies and modernising.

B. By the early 2000s the business was really kicking off and you started to make much bigger plans. What was driving you then?

M. We were struggling to produce enough, and had to buy in products to supplement what we could grow. We had physically outgrown our existing site.

B. Can you tell me about the nature and scale of the development you undertook in Ashbourne?

M. We built six acres of glass, fully State-of-the-art facilties in the Wyestown Nursery

B. You come from three generations of commercial growers. Tell us a little about your father and grandfather and what they did?

M. My grandfather started a market

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The scale of Wyestown production was up there with the best in Europe

selling plants?

M. I used to grow lupins from seed from our garden and take cuttings and grow on plants and sell them to local neighbours. Good pocket money.

garden business in the 1920s, Oaklands Nurseries. It was a family business with his sons and daughters working there too. It grew a mix of veg and bedding plants and cut flowers. My father Joe starting working in the nursery when he was 12. He took over his share of the business in 1979 and created Highfield Nurseries as a wholesale nursery. My uncle ran the retail side of grandfather’s business. My father changed the business from a market garden to a more specialised nursery, growing bedding and potted plants and cut chrysanthemums blooms. The business expanded and my brother and I joined in 1990.

B. You spent some time working with Irish Nurseries in the early 1980s. How did commercial operating differ back then?

M. Irish Nurseries was the premier

B. Can you recall the first money you made from growing and

St Albans in the UK and studied commerical horticultre.

growers in Ireland at the time and had a lot of automation, like blackout screens and automatic irrigation systems. Our nursery was hand watering. It was an eye opener to see the new automation and growing techniques.

B. You had a lot of experience in growing before reaching your teens. Did you go on to study horticulture and if so, where?

M. I went to Oaklands College in

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

B. Why did you choose to go to the UK rather than study in Ireland?

M. I looked at the courses and facilities in Ireland and decided if I want to learn the new growing techniques I would have to go abroad. I looked at Holland, but there were no courses taught through English as there are now, so I chose the UK.

B. What did you do when you graduated college?

M. When I graduated I went to work for Double H Houseplants for 18 months. This is one of the UK’s top pot plants growers.

B. Having worked in the UK, how did you find returning to Ireland?

M. My father asked my brother and me to return home and help expand the business. It was like stepping back in time compared to growing in the UK.

B. As I understand it, you started

automated, and three acres of outdoor beds on a 50 acre site.

We had ebb and flood benching, pot spacing robots, sodium lights, double thermal screens, a large packing area, plus an office and canteen facilities. The aim was to reduce the costs of production and labour by being more efficient.

We reduced our labour force from 11 to eight, while increasing the production area from 8,000m2 to 28,000m2.

Compared to the old site, that enabled us to produce an extra 1.25 crops.

B. How did you secure funding for such a major development?

M. Through the normal measures, with bank loans backed up by business plans and securities.

B. When you got the facility up and running you decided to change the focus of what you were producing. What motivated this change and how did you go about making it happen? (This is obviously a big question…I suppose I’m looking at logistical aspect of translating an idea into a product in Lidl.

M. We noticed that the returns from

our existing products and customers were not going to make enough profit, so we looked at what other products we could grow year round which would generate more profit. We saw a gap in the market with the herbs and started producing them year round.

We decided to use our knowledge of pots plants and added value to increase revenue in the herb market.

We decided to brand our product under Living Flavour. This gave rise to a 34% increase in volume of sales.

It was expensive to do but worth the returns. But it is not the name you are selling; it is the value of the product to the customer and you have to work hard through social media, store demos and events like Bloom to meet your consumer. You take feedback from the public and amend your product to suit the consumer needs, but at all times keeping the retailers informed of what you are doing and why. This is how we made such a large increase in our sales volume.

B. You were doing amazing things before it started to go wrong. What were the first challenges you faced?

M. We were selling our Rathgar site in 2005, but ran into problems over a wayleave agreement. That held up the process, and the sale fell through when the crash came in 2008. The years from 2008 to 2010 were very hard for us.

B. How did you go about addressing them?

M. We were starting to talk to the banks about our position, and renegotiated our loans etc. At the same time, we were looking more closely at our products and customers, trying to ensure that every product and sale was making a profit.

B. When did you know you were facing serious trouble?

M. In October 2009 we did our yearly review with the banks and set our facilities with them. That December was one of the coldest on record and our overdraft facilities went up the chimney. In January I went back to the bank and asked for additional funding but they said no. This meant I had no

cash flow and could not order oil or pay staff. So we were forced to close overnight.

B. Having been a retail manager for years, I always assumed the larger multiples played a part in a business’s demise. Was this the case?

M. Dealing with the multiples is hard but fair. They have to look after their businesses like you have to look after yours. If you can not supply at the price they need you have to say no. This means you will always will have products being dropped, but you must make sure you can replace them with new ones. Multiples are like consumers; you always go for the bargin. So you have to be different from the competition and put yourself in a position where you solve multiples problems for them.

B. Tell me about the experience of dealing with the banks during this process?

M. I have always had good dealings with the banks. They have recently lost sight of the fact that our business is a money-up-front business. We have all the imputs at the beginning of the crop and then have to wait until it’s ready for sale. Depending on the crop, that could be three months to two years. When the closure happened the relationship stopped, despite the fact that we were still trying to work things out for staff, customer and them.

B. What happened in the immediate aftermath of the closure?

M. We got notification of the bank’s loan refusal on a Friday evening and then spent the weekend trying to find an investor to back us. We found a company which was willing to buy the business as a going concern but the bank rejected the offer. So on the Tuesday we had to tell all the staff their fate and let customers and suppliers know what was happening.

The multiples wanted to help us with up front payment etc to keep us going, but it was not enough. Some of the staff stayed with me working in the nursery for a month, suppling what we could to the multiples until we ran out of packaging. I

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

29

05 / INTERVIEW

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / April/May 2014

Snow blankets the Wyestown facility.

Successful cold winters impacted sales and compounded the challenges

B. So what will happen now?

M. The banks are going to sell all the

managed to find jobs for most of the staff over the following month.

assets belonging to my father in the next few months – the Rathgar site, the Wyestown site, and my sister’s house, which my father willed to her and was not given as security to the bank.

If I have learned one lesson, it’s to make sure you trade as a limited company and you have a bank that cannot come after the assets of family who are not even involved in the business.

The bank had security men on the site on the Tuesday evening so that nothing would be removed without their knowledge.

At the end of month I shut everything down and left. I am not sure if the bank acted correctly. They never appointed a receiver. The cost of security for the first year was €5,000 per week. They closed it down without any thought to the work structure of the building, even when they were told what could happen. They refused to rent out the nursery to keep it in working order, and they let stock die: €400,000 worth.

Now it has been empty for four years and will cost a lot of money to get it working again.

B. During the process, were any organisations or government bodies able to provide support?

M. I was intouch with the IFA and Board Bia. They helped as far as they could but there should be a way they can have a mediation service to help growers and farmers in this situation.

I felt lost not knowning which way to turn. I would like to thank my staff and grower friends and suppliers for their help over this period.

B. Have you been back to the facility since and if so, what’s left?

M. I have been back to the site a few times. It is not in great shape as the bank did not put anybody on site for seven months to look after it. As everything was shut down the summer temperatures with vents closed melted all the benching and some irrigation pipes. I dread to think what damage has been done to the machinary. They are supposed to have someone on site now.

B. You’ve secured a good job in the UK. Can you tell us a little about the job and how it plays out with your family still in Ireland?

M. I worked for two years at K J Curson Growers Ltd, managing their production of bedding and pot plants for the UK multiples. We had 22 acres of glass and polythene. We also grew 800 acre of pumpkins and 120 acres of courgettes.

I now work for Bell Brothers Nurseries. We grow bedding plants, pot plants, perennials, nursery stock and plug packs. The nursery has 28 acres of glass on eight sites plus some polythene. It keeps me busy.

Depending on the season, there are between 50 and 150 employees.

My family is still at home in Dublin. I try to get home about every 12 weeks but don’t always make it. I look on the positive side of it. I have a job, unlike many at home, I enjoy the work and I appreciate the time with my family.

I don’t see myself coming home any time soon, as there are very few opportunities for me in horticulture in Ireland.

There are quite a few positions available in the UK and a shortage of skilled people available. For me to come home to Ireland would involve a change of career.

But there are opportunities in other areas such as marketing, purchasing, logistics, sales etc.

It’s a big industry over here, supplying 60 million people. For example, last week we had a promotion for one of our customers and went through 1,800 trolleys.

B. With the experience behind you, what advice would you give to others considering innovative business expansion in Irish horticulture?

M. Control your market at home, but look to export. Start with small volumes and build up slowly. Establish grower groups between various sectors of the industry, like we do at Bells – one for bedding, one for nursery stock etc. And sell through one distribution centre, www.quintuspartnership.com There are plenty of gaps in the market and add-ons that you can bring to your business. Look outside the box.

B. Men like you are rarely kept down for long. What’s next?

M. I am keeping my head down, and keeping working. I can’t think too far ahead until all my dealings with the bank are finished, however long it takes. But you learn from your mistakes and move forward. Something usually shows its head and when it does I will take a look at it.

I would like to thank every one who suported my family and me through this and wish the best to everyone for the next growing season. May it be a good one. ✽

B. Do you think there are opportunities for skilled horticultural graduates from Ireland in the UK? M. Yes there have been fewer graduates coming out of college and this has led to a shortage.

There are very few growers in the UK with over five years’ experience around, and these people are highly sought after.

One the hugely successful lines in the Living Flavour range

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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06 / CONSTRUCT

Landscape contracts: Landscape estimating specialist Colm Kenny explains the important role landscape contracts play in underpinning quality, equity and profits and why their use and misuse is harming the sector

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uccessful landscape projects are those which are delivered to an agreed design, required quality standards and specification, safely and within the approved budget and timeframe. Effective project management seeks to ensure that these objectives are achieved and this is aided by the signing of a contract between the landscape contractor and the client.

The issue of contracts within the wider construction industry is topical at the moment with the introduction of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 by the government in the summer of last year. The Act aims to tackle the issue of non-payment to small contractors who have completed works as agreed. This has been a key issue that has burdened the landscape industry, and indeed the wider construction industry for many years. Time will tell if this Act will have any positive effect to ensure that landscape sub-contractors are paid what they are due on time.

Historically, landscape contractors have always had issues receiving payment for their work as landscaping is the last operation on site and therefore the landscape contractor is the last person to submit their invoice. Also if the main building works run over budget it is often the landscape budget that is cut in order to attempt to get the project back on track. This can also lead to the removal of certain elements of the landscape design, resulting in the reduction in the scope and value of works to be carried out by the landscape contractor.

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While the Act will hopefully assist with the cash flow of contractors through quicker payments, its success will be largely dependent on the presence and acceptance of a contract between all parties involved. A typical landscape contract will often comprise a number of different documents.

These can include the landscape drawings, associated specifications, a statement of the final accepted tender sum, a priced bill of quantities and the conditions of contract. While all of these documents have a role to play, the conditions of contract is an important document, not because it says what works the contractor has to carry out, but because it sets out the rules agreed between the landscape contractor and the client as to how and when the work is done, and what payment the contractor will receive and when. The conditions also deal with matters such as terminating the contract, dispute resolution and insurance.

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Obligations The formation of a contract involves acceptance of an offer, an intention to have a legally binding agreement, performance and payment. For landscape contractors operating in the private domestic sector contracts are mainly made by word of mouth or by conduct. However if a dispute arises prior to the project being finished, it is difficult to prove what was to be carried out by each side unless some form of record has been kept. The importance of written records cannot be overemphasised, as these

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06 / CONSTRUCT are usually the only evidence of what exactly had been agreed. Once these terms are incorporated, they reduce the likelihood of disputes which can, in turn, lead to legal action. In order to succeed in an action in contract, the burden of proof rests on the claimant to show that on the balance of probabilities, his or her case is valid. As it is more often than not the landscape contractor making a complaint against a client, it is very important that a record of the deal struck by the parties, the details of the work, and the rights and obligations of the parties are clearly expressed in writing.

As there is no specific contract in Ireland for landscape projects, the two principal groups of standard contracts under which landscape projects are carried out are the RIAI Standard Forms and the GCCC Public Works Contracts. The RIAI contracts are published by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland while the GCCC contracts are published by the Government Construction Contracts Committee. These contracts are used where the landscape contractor is the main contractor.

Unfortunately on the majority of large scale residential and commercial landscape projects, the landscape contractor is generally a domestic subcontractor, meaning that they are employed and paid by a main contractor to carry out the required landscape works as part of the overall project. In order to ensure that the landscaper is fully aware of his responsibilities, there is typically a subcontractor agreement between the landscape contractor and the main contractor. This agreement is usually drawn up by the main contractor and sets out the scope of the works to be completed and the expectations regarding that work. It is common for main contractors to amend the standard contracts to suit themselves.

They take out the clauses that do not suit them and replace them with their own preferred clauses. Breaches of this agreement may lead to legal action with financial consequences.

Forms of contract

07 / LANDSCAPE produces a suite of standard forms of contract and associated documents for commercial and domestic landscape projects. Know as the JCLI Contracts, these cover four different areas of landscape works and have proved to be a success from both the contractor’s and the client’s point of view. They are also of huge benefit to the landscape architect or garden designer as the conditions of contract deal with all areas of the works, from the project beginning right through to the final account. The areas they cover are traditional landscape works, landscape maintenance works, landscape works, landscape works with contractor’s design and works carried by contractors when directly employed by the homeowner. These contracts are very detailed and set out the conditions very clearly.

Another popular contract in the UK is the JCT Minor works contract.

This is a very simple yet effective document and is regularly used on

Growth through contracts In order to grow and mature, the Irish landscape industry needs to have a specific contract to deal with both landscape construction and maintenance projects. Having such a document would need to be accepted and implemented, not just by the contractors and designers working directly within the landscape industry but also by other professions such as architects, engineers and quantity surveyors. If such a document were to become the norm, many of the problems within the industry such as not building to specification and lack of certification would be eliminated, creating a healthier and more positive environment across the entire industry for every profession involved in it.

Benjamin Franklin coined the proverb

“It is common for main contractors to amend the standard contracts to suit themselves” small projects. Having used this contract in the past I have found it to be very straightforward for both the client and the contractor. Both in the UK and north of the border, a number of landscape practices use another contract called New Engineering Contract (NEC3) for landscape construction projects.

Although it originates in the civil engineering sphere it can be adapted to different situations for use with landscape contracts. It is beginning to become popular with local authorities in the UK; landscape elements of projects are becoming more linked to light civil engineering

‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. This holds especially true when it comes to your business.

Anything that hinders your delivery of the best possible service adversely affects your business. Disputes with clients, be they homeowners or main contractors, are perhaps the worst hindrances. While contractors are historically frightened of paperwork and bureaucracy, they should not fear entering into a well-balanced and fair contract. Using properly prepared and equitably written contracts can protect you from client disputes, which will make your business more gratifying and more profitable. ✽

Colm Kenny, B Agr Sc (Land. Hort), MSc. Quantity Surveying. Colm is a landscape estimating specialist. He provides cost and implementation advice to landscape industry professionals, technical advisors, contractors and facility management companies.

He can be contacted on 087 288 5016 or by email info@landscapeqs.ie

In the UK, the Landscape Institute

34

works as landscape contractors become more sophisticated and diverse in the operations they carry out and the services they provide.

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

The cowboys meet their end ALCI Chairman Thomas Crummy outlines the formation and strategy of the new umbrella association for Irish landscape professionals

T

he Irish Association of Landscape Industries (IALI) is an association formed as an umbrella group for the main professional bodies involved with horticulture, which include: The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association, the Irish Landscape Institute the Garden and Landscape Designers Association, and the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland.

The context There is a deep rooted problem in our industry which has become more

apparent to us all since the economic downturn because it is having dire consequences for upstanding members of our industry. Simply put, there is little or no control on standards of delivery, particularly on public landscaping schemes such as schools and roads etc.

In essence, the public purse has been robbed by underhanded, sub-standard and below specification delivery of landscaping schemes right across our country for years.

The schools building program is one example. The expertise of landscape architects is employed to draw up professional landscaping schemes with

detailed specifications on materials, implementation and finishes. The contract is then awarded to a main contractor by the relevant government department in good faith that they will deliver what has been specified. It is at this point that the problems start to emerge. Surprising as it might seem, more often than not, the services of the landscape architect are terminated and they have no further input into the project.

It is a sad fact of life that the landscaping scheme is not looked on with respect by some building contractors and is simply an area where they can slash and burn when

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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it comes to delivery of specification and saving money. Why? Because the implementation of landscape projects is not policed and there is a lack of detailed understanding orplant knowledge among engineers or architects who may be signing off on this work.

It is our opinion that the services of the landscape architects should be retained right through to completion and also to the end of maintenance.

We are convinced this is the most thorough method of policing and ensuring the taxpayer gets what they have signed up and paid for.

As chairperson of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland and also a contractor who is suffering the consequences of this, I could no longer stand idly by witnessing the demise of our industry and hearing stories from our members about losing contracts to contractors who were not delivering to specification. The ALCI wrote a letter to the Minister of the Department of Education, clearly outlining our findings and we offered to audit some sites and compile our findings and report back to him. We simply received an acknowledgement letter to advise us that our letter was brought to the attention of the Minister for Education.

We also copied our letter to Tony Williams, President of the Irish Landscape Institute. Tony wrote a very detailed letter outlining the importance of the landscaping schemes and attached a copy of the letter previously sent to him from ALCI. The Minister wrote back in a very positive manner and said his doors were open to us and that he would welcome any such report we could put together for him.

About this time Barry Lupton was doing an article in this magazine about specifications and lack of policing within the industry. After receiving comments and views from various associations and contributors, he came up with the idea of creating an association which could represent us all, as it was apparent that we would be stronger if we presented our case as a combined group. A few emails and phone calls later, Barry called a meeting, which was held in Bord Bia HQ and attended by a number of

Some of the issues raised included the following:

1

Policing of landscape installations and maintenance contracts is rare or non-existent, resulting in a range of problems;

2 3

Lack of regulation of unscrupulous contractors;

Lack of single industry led landscape document to protect both client and contractor;

4

Nurseries providing insufficient variety and sizes of plants, resulting in more imported substitutes;

5

Unqualified and / or unaccredited landscape designers who charge unrealistically for design and install poorly designed projects devalue and undermine the garden and landscape design as a profession;

6

Poor plant knowledge and familiarity with nurseries and plant availability;

7

No certification requirements placed on the landscape designer, contractor or nursery supplier on any element of the landscape works to say they are to specification;

Taking action We wrote to various government departments in July and will write again following the cabinet reshuffle.

We have shortlisted a number of projects for auditing on the basis of giving a broad spectrum result, ie. there will be a school project, a road project and some other public project.

These sites will be visited by us and comparisons drawn between what was specified and what was delivered.

These reports will be handed into the relevant departments. Failing positive feedback this information will then be communicated openly via appropriate media to ensure action is taken.

If you are reading this article, perhaps you are an engineer with a County Council, or a Clerk of Works for the HSE or other body for example, and you feel you have possibly been shortchanged in the delivery of your landscape package please contact us immediately. We want to hear from you. We will add your project to the list and it may become one we choose to audit. It is time to pull the plug on this disgraceful attitude and get back to the days where you feared authority and only get paid when it is delivered to the specified standards.

Our address is IALI, 2 Martello Terrace, Sandycove, Co Dublin. Or email barrylupton@online.ie ✽

8

The need to audit random projects, report findings and hold people responsible to account.

industry representatives including: Colm Kenny (Landscape Quantities Specialist); John Murphy (Annaveigh Plants); Matt Lohan (Woodstock Trees & Shrubs) representing the nurseries; Patricia Tyrrell and Gary Foran (GLDA), Tony Williams (ILI); Peter O’Toole (ALCI & Peter O’Brien Landscaping Ltd) and myself, representing the ALCI. Terry O’Regan (BHL Landscapes) and Val Farrell (B&V Nurseries and representing the IHNSA) were unable to attend but are part of the new group. Barry was elected as acting chairperson.

Thomas Crummy is Chairman of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland and owner of Thomas J Crummy Landscaping, one of Ireland’s leading landscape contracting companies and winner of the Bord Bia Landscape Business of the Year 2012/2013. www.thomasjcrummy.com

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07 / LANDSCAPE

07 / LANDSCAPE

LEFT: The O’Brien’s team working implementing the last of the planting RIGHT: Nangle & Neisen secured the contract to store and maintain the key plants from the riginal Chelsea garden created by Diarmuid Gavinand rarely caught on camera, is Koraley Northen. Captured at Bloom 2013.

Peter O’Toole throws a behind-the-scenes spotlight on the construction of one of Ireland’s most innovative new public spaces, Mardyke Gardens

W

ouldn’t it be great if every landscape project we took on went according to plan? The plan being the direction we hope every new project which we price, win and execute will take. How often have we reached that point in a project when we wish we could turn the clock back and save a lot of time, sanity and money by not pricing or starting it in the first place? There has to be a good business opportunity in the niche market of the

38

sale of landscape crystal balls.

That said, I’m going to keep this article positive (having found it often too easy, over the last few years, to write about negative issues and topics of survival and failure). I’m going to discuss a recent landscape project which went well for all concerned. The project was the Mardyke Gardens (a redevelopment of part of Fitzerald’s Park in Cork), which is generally well known because of its media attraction due to the fact that some of the major elements of the scheme were part of

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

Diarmuid Gavin’s Sky Garden entry for the Chelsea Flower Show in 2012.

Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (landscape architects) designed the scheme for Cork County Council.

Speaking from the landscape contractors point of view, I’m going to reflect on this project and explain why, I think, this can be used as an example of a landscape contract which followed simple and realistic steps from start to finish.

Firstly, in order to get the opportunity to tender for the contract, we had to prequalify. This is a procedure which

period where there is much discussion and controversy over works (and especially the planting element) being carried out below specification, this relationship instils confidence which spreads throughout a project. With the Mardyke Gardens project where there was such a large quantity and wide range of material, the main contractor had initial concerns and uncertainty about this element, and given the attention which the project had been drawing from the media and public this was perfectly understandable. However, the trust between all parties was established from the very beginning and maintained throughout the project. From a common sense point of view, it stands to reason that this positive relationship has a huge impact on the financial aspect of the project when it comes to pricing additional works and agreeing accounts.

Apart from regular contact between all parties involved, we attended monthly meetings on site to assess the programme and adjust same if required. As can be expected but not desired, we lost valuable time in the middle of the planting season due to wet weather creating unworkable conditions, but again it was reassuring for us that the design and project management teams fully accepted this and allowed best practice to prevail.

Far too often, projects which would appear to have all the ingredients of being completed successfully both from an aesthetic as well as a financial point of view, fall short of expectations. The reasons for this become irrelevant and difficult to correct if it leads to a situation where there is financial loss and/or damaged reputation. We must remember that, as landscape contractors, we are specialist subcontractors and we do possess a lot of specialist skills and knowledge (even if others don’t always appreciate it) and once we don’t abuse this the rewards will be obvious and worthwhile. ✽

Peter O’Toole Dip. Hort.

(Kew) is the President of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland, a director of Peter O’Brien and Sons (Landscaping) Ltd and a leading commentator on Ireland’s landscape contracting sector. He can be contacted at 01-845 2555 and peter@obrienlandscaping.com

KORALEY NORTHEN

Making Mardyke… sometimes it all goes to plan

can be laborious at times and exists for most tenders in the public domain. It ensures that the client, Cork County Council in this case, is selecting from suitable specialist contractors and satisfies issues such as health and safety records, similar works experience and has the ability and resources to complete the project. This element addressed, the landscape tender was priced for the various main contractors who in turn would have prequalified to spearhead the project.

Cumnor Construction Ltd was the successful contractor and by their own admission, hadn’t carried out other contracts which had such a high proportion soft landscaping relative to the overall project. Because of this, they were keen to get a full understanding of the scope of works from an early stage.

Having been successful in winning the contract from Cumnor in September 2013, a meeting was set up with their project management team, the landscape architects and ourselves (Peter O’Brien & Sons (Landscaping) Ltd) to establish a programme for the works, which were to be completed in May 2104. We were invited to contribute in compiling the main programme of works and guide on timing of planting and co-ordination around difficult construction elements on the project.

A big challenge for our company was the fact that the project was in Cork City and we are based in Dublin, and we had estimated that there would be about eight to ten weeks work for us over the period of the main contract. I am of the opinion that working away from the comfort of the normal workbase forces you to be better organised and put more valuable resources into advance planning.

We used a combination of our own experienced staff for project management, machine operations and planting, and supplemented this with locally sourced labour through a recruitment agency.

The plants for the project came from two sources. Nangle & Niesen had stored and maintained most of the original plants from the Chelsea garden including a large quantity of Buxus and Taxus spheres (up to 1.8m diameter) and semi mature Carpinus and Betula and about 1,000 plants in pots ranging from 5ltr to 30ltr. Annaveigh Plants supplied all the new material specified which included ‘Box Head’ Tilia, semimature trees and a huge amount and range of herbaceous plants, shrubs and grasses. All key plants were inspected on the nursery prior to delivery to site and in sufficient time in advance of this delivery, comma added to allow for possible changes which might happen. It is always so important to have an honest relationship between the landscaper, the nursery supplier and the landscape architect/designer. In a

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08 / INSIGHT

How we allocate the budgeT

08 / INSIGHT

Mike Neary, Manager of Horticulture at Bord Bia, explains how Bord Bia’s horticulture budget is allocated across various initiatives, events and programmes

B

ord Bia’s role is to assist the development of the horticulture industry and to promote and market its products and services at home and abroad. Horticulture is an important sector with an annual output valued at €400 million and which has a scope that covers a wide range of crops and activities. This includes both food and amenity crops.

Additional linked activities include the further preparation of fresh produce while on the amenity side, landscape design and construction and garden centre retailing are key elements. Bord Bia engages and works with all of these sectors, sometimes collectively and often individually.

While horticulture has its own identity (and department) in Bord Bia the benefit of being part of a larger organisation which works across all the food and drink sectors provides a significant resource that horticulture accesses and uses to deliver better and more effective programmes and activities to the Industry. Bloom is a case in point where the expertise and resources of all Bord Bia departments are engaged to deliver a show that is growing every year.

The gross annual budget for horticulture programmes and activities in Bord Bia is approximately €6.7 million.

This funding comes from a number of sources including government, matching European Union funds for certain promotional activities, voluntary industry contributions for joint promotional activity and fees for Bord Bia services.

While one third of this spend goes towards making Bloom happen each year, Bord Bia’s net investment is just approximately 14% of the total cost with the balance of the

A further third of the budget is spread across a range of other programmes and activities that can be summarised as follows:

40

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

●

Consumer promotion – 50%

●

Industry development – 18%

●

Individual business development – 12%

●

Market information – 10%

●

Quality programmes - 10%

“The gross annual budget for horticulture programmes and activities in Bord Bia is approximately €6.7 million” cost met by the revenue generated by the event itself. This modest investment for an event the size of Bloom provides a high profile promotional showcase for Irish horticulture.

The outcomes are impressive eg, 106,000 visitors, media coverage (valued at €2.2 million in 2014), €5 million spent at the event and €90 million of gardening spend inspired by the media coverage generated by Bloom.

Consumer promotion activity covers campaigns from Its Garden Time activity in the amenity sector, to jointly supporting industry promotional activities such as National Strawberry Week, National Potato Day, the promotion of mushrooms on the UK and Ireland markets and the Incredible Edibles growing initiative in schools. Industry development support is wide ranging and includes supporting events such as the GLAS show, National Plant Fairs to providing sponsorship support to a large number of events and associations to assist them in providing a very important service to their members.

Individual business support is delivered through our Market Assistance, Amenity Export, Supplier Development and Innovation Programmes.

The balance of the horticulture budget is allocated to Bord Bia by the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine to support the roll-out of the Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme to all national schools in the country.

Obesity is a major problem globally and Ireland is no different. The bottom line is, our children are not eating enough fruit and vegetables. The Food Dudes Programme, which includes the delivery of fruit and vegetable portions to children in participating school, changes their behaviour, resulting in the increased consumption of fresh produce at school and in the home. Fifty per cent of the cost of the fruit and vegetables delivered into the schools is supported by funding from the EU School Fruit Scheme. To date in Ireland over 475,000 pupils and 3,000 schools have participated in this critical programme. This has obvious significant benefits for the health of the nation and the fresh produce industry both now and in the future.

The range of programmes and activities that Bord Bia is involved in with the horticulture industry is reflective of its diverse elements. The aim is to deliver this support where the best outcomes for the industry can be achieved. ✽

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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08 / INSIGHT

08 / INSIGHT

Unheralded Arrival of a National Landscape Strategy?

“My reservations relate to the overemphasis on Landscape Character Assessment” In the midst of the Kenny and Burton ‘Come Dancing’ performance of the cabinet shuffle and the furore over the ‘Farthing Brook’ on-off farce, an important event went unheralded on 1 July 2014 when the cabinet approved the launch of a draft National Landscape Strategy.

Terry O’Regan reports

A

s one cog in the slowly grinding gears of the landscape sector, should you care about this milestone? More importantly should you rouse yourself to get involved in some way?

We have heard much about the economic landscape and the political landscape but ‘landscape’ as an unattached word relating to place, space and greenery all too rarely figures in documents emanating from government departments; I would therefore suggest that you might at least download the strategy document and accompanying press release from the then Minister Jimmy Deenihan www.ahg.gov.ie – see July Press Releases.

You may not find specific references to the landscape industry as such, but nor will you see specific references

42

to the many other sectors who are all stakeholders and players in the management of the great resource that is our landscape – that is the nature of such wide-ranging strategy documents.

But dig or drill into the document and you will realise that this strategy just might give rise to a long-overdue strategy for the integrated planning, management and maintenance of parks, green spaces and the wider public realm and the green dimension of the commercial, institutional and industrial sectors and where the skills and resources of the landscape industry will find gainful sustainable employment.

I have been involved with the seven year process that has led to this document. I am not entirely happy with the final document even though some of my contributions appear

HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

there word for word. But it is a huge advance on some of the earlier dysfunctional versions.

It reasonably closely follows the structure of the European Landscape Convention – probably one of the best constructed and integrated conventions to emerge from Strasbourg covering context, definitions, scope, aims, legislation, policies, strategies and procedures, public participation, cross-sectoral policy integration, awarenessraising, training and education, identification and assessment, shared experience and best practices, setting landscape quality objectives, implementation, European co-operation, European landscape award and more besides.

My reservations relate to the overemphasis on Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) in the Irish strategy document which in my opinion is a limited tool in the realisation of the far-reaching aims of the ELC. Bearing in mind that LCA has already been haphazardly implemented in an uncoordinated manner at municipal level in Ireland, there is a very real danger that LCA will be a convenient cul-de-sac of distraction – wasteful places much desired by lazy academics and public servants.

Believe it or not LCA only relates to one subsection (C) of four subsections under Article 6 of the convention and at that

it is not the only methodology that might aspire to deliver the intent of subsection C. I am currently doing my best to get the over-inflated and overpromoted LCA back into perspective in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe - it has had a head start but might be running out of steam as it is rather like a racehorse on a treadmill.

So I suggest that you ignore the over-emphasis on LCA in the strategy document and imagine what might be achieved if everyone was to take up the challenge at the end of the first page of Minister Deenihan’s foreword: ‘We must start to plan holistically for its [our landscape’s] sustainable future’ If you grasp the potential of this strategy (provided it does not just gather dust on the department shelves) then send a submission to the new Minister of AHG Heather Humphreys before 8 August 2014 (*see footnote below), urging her to move the strategy forward within the framework of all measures set out in the document and not to get bogged down in LCA. Doing your bit as an active citizen is not an easy role to play in Ireland. You may well feel you are wasting your time, but consider the following – over the past 20 years I have lobbied many politicians of all hues on the issue of landscape policy. In 1996 I met Jimmy Deenihan in his home in North Kerry and he listened to my pitch. He took what I had to say on board. Over the intervening years in opposition and in government he has fought the good fight for landscape right up to that fateful cabinet meeting on 1 July 2014. And he did not forget that meeting outside Listowel in 1996 – he rang me the following morning on his way to a meeting in London to tell me the good news. What goes around sometimes does come around! ✽ *Public comment or observations can be sent to Built Heritage & Architectural Protection, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Custom House, Dublin 1 or nls@ahg.gov.ie by 8th August 2014.

Terry O’Regan, B Agr Sc Hort (hons), FILI, MIoH, founder of Landscape Alliance Ireland, has served the landscape industry in Ireland for some 45 years and advanced the intent and aims of the European Landscape Convention for some 20 years; he now divides his time between providing landscape consultancy services in Munster and working as a Council of Europe international landscape & heritage expert in Kosovo. He continues to promote and refine his ‘jargon-free’ landscape circle methodology and is currently leading a pilot study on its use at local and regional administrative levels in Kosovo. The LAI website will shortly be re-launched as www.lai-ireland.com, contact Terry at

terryjoregan@gmail.com or 021 487 1460.

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

43

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09 /RESEARCH

The Female of the Species

Entomologist and IPM researcher, Dr Michael Gaffney puts the problematic vine weevil under the microscope and details just how research he is conducting at Teagasc Ashtown is making a positive impact

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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / August/September 2014

O

ptimum black vine weevil control is a continuing problem in Irish nurseries. All growers are familiar with the characteristic feeding notches on the edge of leaves or characteristic wilting of plants whose root systems have been eaten by larvae. In the last decade the majority of soft fruit production and an increasing proportion of nursery stock has migrated from outdoors to under some form of protection, which has meant that the once predictable life stage timings of this insect are becoming less predictable. Ten years ago, we would have expected adults to emerge in May and June, spend between 8 to 10 weeks feeding heavily as their ovaries mature and then commence egg laying from the end of July till the end of September, with egg laying decreasing and adult mortality increasing as temperatures begin to fall. Each

adult is female and capable of laying over 1,000 self-fertilised eggs. Changes towards using peat and coir based growing media instead of soil has meant that a greater proportion of the eggs laid will survive to adulthood, and research conducted at Teagasc would indicate that between a 40 and 75% more larvae die from natural causes in soil than in a peat growing media. Today it is quite common to be able to locate all stages of the vine weevil lifecycle (egg, larvae, pupae and adult) in a protected nursery, and finding egg laying adults in December and January is now not uncommon.

As growing technologies and the vine weevil itself change and adapt, then so too must control strategies change.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the cornerstone of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides directive, which came into being in January this year. This means that growers must use multiple

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

45

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09 / RESEARCH (cultural, biological and chemical) approaches to pest and disease control.

In terms of vine weevil control, there are many approaches that can dramatically decrease vine weevil problems in a nursery. The dumping of old growing media and grow bags should be done as far away as possible from the nursery.

An adult weevil can walk up to 200m in a night, so once an adult emerges from discarded growing media it can find its way back into the nursery particularly as, although they are very polyphagous, they have also been shown to have strong preference for plant species such as Strawberry, Euonymus and Taxus and will choose these species over other available and closer plants.

Monitoring for vine weevil can be useful in establishing if you have a large population of adults. This can be done by turning a golf umbrella upside down and brushing or shaking a plant and observing what falls into the umbrella.

This can be difficult in strawberry crops, so painting pieces of wood white and placing them flat in the crop will provide a day refuge for adults which can be checked during the day. Vine weevil are attracted to the colour white and this increases the effectiveness of the monitoring.

Ongoing research in Teagasc is assessing the effectiveness of new and existing biocontrol agents for control of vine weevil larvae. To date we have found that control using entomopthogenic (insect killing) nematodes (EPNs) to be very effective, with control rates of over 85%, which was equal to and in many cases superior to control offered by both imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos based insecticides, which were previously used to control vine weevil larvae. While some of the EPN products are labelled as cold tolerant our work would indicate that average day temperature should still be considered when deciding on application timings, as a September application (average temperature of 14.1oC seven days post application) increased efficacy 21% over an October application (average temperature of 9.3oC seven days post application). Therefore , while effective, the use of EPNs is dependent on proper timings and application. To help combat the issues with timings, products based on entomopthogenic fungi (EPFs), particulary Metarhizium

species are now available. The benefit of using a product like this which can be incorporated at activity, as the control agent is always present. Our experiments showed control of larvae between 60 and 75%, with control at the higher end coming from experiments conducted under glass and plastic. Interestingly, a three year experiment on outdoor potted Euonymus showed 60% control of larvae 24 months after incorporation, displaying a good level of effective persistence.

Nursery scale experiments using both products together gave very high levels

When azadirachtin concentration was increased to 100 ppm egg laying ceased.

There was no increase in vine weevil adult mortality in the treated groups compared to the untreated groups, indicating that the chemical was not killing the adults, only affecting their reproduction. Therefore if no eggs are laid then the plant is protected from larval damage. In many crops, such as stawberry the damage caused by adult vine weevil feeding is not important, however for growers of ornamentals where such damage is important this

“Vine weevil control has largely been focused on the control of the larvae” of larval control (+95%). However such a strategy may not be cost effective for a lot of crops. A combination of half rate application of both products gave over 85% control of larvae and may be an option for growers whose crop would benefit from having season long vine weevil larval control.

Vine weevil control has largely been focused on the control of the larvae.

However if you could limit the number of eggs laid, then you can limit the damage caused by the larvae. Azadirachtin is a chemical extracted from the neem tree kernel, which has recently been registered in the European Union. This naturally occurring chemical has been part of insect resistance management strategies in cotton and tobacco crops in the US and has also been used against Colorado potato beetle in Germany.

Euonymus foliage in Kinsealy was treated with azadirachtin at different concentrations and fed to adult vine weevils who were about to commence egg laying. At very low concentrations of application of azadirachtin (50 ppm), egg laying fell to about 10 to 15% of that of the untreated adults.

may not be an appropriate strategy as adults will continue to feed on treated foliage. Literature would indicate that azadirachtin applied at these low rates would have little to no environmental impact and is an example of the new strategies for pest and disease management, which legislation such as the SUD looks to foster and promote.

The application of IPM strategies for all pest and disease issues in all crops will be a huge undertaking for growers, advisors, researchers and everyone else involved in growing crops. In the mid-1990s 30% of all insecticides applied on British nurseries were done so to control vine weevil and within 10 years this had been largely replaced by entomopthogenic nematodes. This is a good example of how, if growers are given effective tools, they will adopt new practices very quickly and very successfully. The Sustainable Use of Pesticides directive is an opportunity for Irish growers to highlight the range of IPM friendly approaches already widely used in Ireland and is a challenge for the research and advisory community to continue to provide them with these tools. ✽

Dr Michael Gaffney is an entomology and IPM researcher working in the Horticulture Department in Teagasc, having previously worked at the University of Wales, Swansea and UCD. He leads a diverse research group focusing on crop protection and crop quality issues. He can be contacted at Michael.Gaffney@Teagasc.ie

August/September 2014 / www.horticulture.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED

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HORTICULTURE.ie Hitachi Models

Model Number

Sales Start

Tanaka Models

Model Number

The subscription price for the remainder of 2014 from €18

Sales Start

CG22EAS

Jan 2010

TCG22EAS

Feb 2010

CG22EAD

Dec 2009

TCG22EAD

Apr 2010

CG22EAB

Dec 2009

TCG22EAB

Apr 2010

CG24EASP

Jun 2010

TCG24EASP

Dec 2011

CG27EASP

Jun 2010

TCG27EASP

Dec 2011

CS27EPAP

Apr 2013

TCS27EPAP

Jul 2013

CH27EPAP

Feb 2013

TCH27EPAP

Apr 2013

CG25EUS

Sep 2009

Contact: Joseph Blair 00 353 (0)87 921 2044 l joseph@horticulture.ie

CG40EAS

Nov 2009

www.HortiTrends.ie

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