For those who have previously chosen bulbs from a seed catalogue or nipped along to the local garden centre to pick up some plants, it can be astonishing to discover all the time and effort that the team at Alaster Anderson put into selecting the very best specimens.

But it is no surprise when you consider how much detail and thought goes into creating our clients’ stunning gardens. They are an exquisite complement to beautiful homes, and they need plants that don’t just last, they get even better with time.

Key to this is sourcing good-quality plants, and it is why the team at Alaster Anderson put so much dedication into getting every plant right.

Wow factor

As I travel around London I find it fascinating to see other gardens. I often feel there has not been enough focus on selecting really great plants. It may be budget driven, or perhaps the time required for this crucial aspect of garden design has been underestimated.

But I see too many plants that do not have the wow factor they could do.

My message to architects, to designers and to homeowners is that choosing the plants for your garden is not like selecting a sofa, where you pick the style, colour and fabric and that’s it.

Looking incredible

Every plant is unique. In London we are often creating instant gardens that have to look incredible right from the start. Obviously they will evolve and get even better as the seasons change and they mature, but we need to begin with instant impact.

This requires investment of time and expertise to know the particular type of trees and planting to select for the space so that the garden looks stunning from day one. Although the selection will be different for each project, there are certain common themes –  the planting must be beautiful, it must be balanced, it must be structural and it must be well proportioned.

Often we plant in containers, which means capturing a moment in time. The colour must be wonderful and the foliage perfect on the day it is planted so that it is absolutely showstopping when our client sees it for the first time.

Very best specimens

We choose the very best specimens, hand selecting every single one ourselves. There may be 15 trees in a hedge and each individual specimen has been handpicked.

It is the same for herbaceous borders. We have selected the best-looking plants that are just coming into flower with gorgeous buds and foliage that look superb.

For hedging we choose bushy, dense, uniform specimens that look fabulous bunched together (with none that are too thin or woeful at the bottom).

The perception is that buying plants is simple – you just order them and have them delivered. This could not be further from the truth. We regularly visit nurseries to find the best plants and the suppliers we work with understand the quality we strive for.

Perform and flourish

It is about patience, discernment and expertise. It is about buying from reputable nurseries and making sure each specimen is rooted through, not pot-bound. They must be free of pests and damage.

All so that once planted, every plant will perform and flourish.

Our attention to detail in choosing high-quality plants and devoting the right preparation to every project are the reason we have such low failure rates – and the reason our clients love what we do.

You can reach us on 0207 305 7183 or email at enquire@alasteranderson.com