The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival takes place this week (2-7 July 2024), and members of the HTA and APL have once again impressed the crowds and judges with their immersive gardens and displays.  

HTA members have been picking up awards during the RHS event, with David Austin being awarded the Best Rose Exhibit. Three Silver Gilt medals were also awarded to Burncoose Nurseries, Blue Diamond Group and Peter Beales Roses, respectively. 

APL member Katerina Kantalis took the Gold Garden Medal for her ‘Mediterraneo Garden’, which draws from the vibrancy of Greece. Whereas Nic Howard from We Love Plants created the ‘Exodus Adventure Travels: The Sounds of Adventure Garden’ which won the Silver-Gilt medal and Best Construction (Show Garden). 

APL at Hampton Court Palace Garden festival

Designed by Phil Tremayne

Built by APL members Bushy Business

Support with planting by Cherry Carmen Garden Design and Bramley Apple Garden Design

Member Sponsors include Composite Prime, Bradstone, Garden House Design, Fullbrook Plants, Bury Hill Top Soil, Southdowns Landscapes (Turf Supply), Jeremy Hastings (Water Feature) – Non members sponsors were Form Plants, Landscape Plus

The garden was designed to give an open studio feel packed with inspiration of what an be achieved in a small space. It incorporated water features, decking, paving. Planting in raised areas and the studio area for consultations.

The garden also divided planting into two distinct areas. Planting for shade and damp boggy areas, transitioning into planting for Hot Arid conditions. The planting was chosen to allow us to take planting from BBCGWL “A Brace of Embraces” and re use. The APL used horticultural acumen and expertise to ensure plants still looked their best for Hampton Court. A very sustainable approach to show garden building.

David Strows also constructed an educational feature for the garden, a dolls house with rain clouds that demonstrates permeable construction. This has been a very good talking point at the garden and brings around a good level of engagement.

Why members could consider building show gardens?

Show garden building has for a long time been an ambition for many designers and landscapers alike.

For a designer, having a vision or point they wish to put across is built at a show is a great achievement, for the landscaper building the garden to perfection in a short amount of time is a challenge that really gets the adrenaline flowing.

Apart from those reasons, why should a landscape business consider building show gardens:

  • Firstly, you have to consider what you want your business to be, which direction you wish it to take. Show garden builders tend to be companies that want to work with designers. The show garden circuit is a great shop window for them to display their skills and ability to work under pressure. Some are design and build companies that are looking to promote their business to potential clients.
  • Secondly, a direct marketing scenario, building show gardens can also be a welcome break to the day to day work that goes on in the domestic landscape world. It is a good way to invigorate your team. Bonding them with each other and like minded businesses on the show circuit. A sort of busman’s holiday. It can aid retention of staff, as if you are a successful show garden building business, there is great kudos to be gained in working for that company.
  • Finally, if you get it right and are working on a project that has a good budget, it can also be a very important part of the businesses P and L.

A show garden has a very defined period. You know exactly when you are going to start and when you HAVE to finish. You know exactly what the costs are, so from day 1, you know whether you are going to be profitable or not. The fact that many shows now look for you to re build the garden after the show is another great opportunity to increase profit in the works.

Some show garden builders also take on a trade stand build on top of their show garden, again to increase profitability whilst they are on site.
So show garden builds, may start off as an aspiration, but can also become a very profitable part of the business model.

The APL has many businesses that are immersed in the show garden circuit. The community of APL being what it is ensure that if you are ever considering a show garden build and want some support and guidance, there is always someone on hand to give you advice.

 

Contact us for more information

Should you have any questions or queries please contact your local APL regional manager who will be happy to assist you and support you along your show garden journey. 

Please use the contact details below should you not have your APL regional managers contact details