In celebration of the launch of Dan Pearson’s second Create Academy course ‘An Expert Guide to Planting Design’, we brought together Dan and award-winning garden writer and journalist Clare Foster for a very special live Q&A.
The conversation spanned a wide range of horticultural topics, from how not to become a slave to your garden to the best approach to self-seeding, the importance of exploring your local environment to how beautiful it is to be part of a mindful connection with your garden. A transcript of the discussion is here for you to enjoy.
Q&A:
Olenka Lawrenson, Head of Brand and Partnerships, Create Academy:
Hello everybody! Welcome, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are in the world. A very warm welcome. Thank you for joining us for this hour of insightful conversation. My name is Olenka Lawrenson, and I am the Head of Brand and Partnerships at Create Academy. I won't keep you long, as we have an exciting interview ahead. Now, I have the pleasure of introducing our main guest for the evening. You all know him well as an incredible garden designer and tutor. I hope you are enjoying his latest course, as well as his first course, which we had the pleasure of collaborating on. Without further ado, let's welcome Dan Pearson.
I don't find myself with any season that's not favoured. Even the winter is a wonderful place where there is time to reflect, to plan for change and evolution, compared to the frenzy of summer.
Clare Foster:
Thank you, Dan, for joining us today. Many of our audience members already know your work, but for those who don't, let me introduce you. Dan Pearson is a renowned garden designer, horticulturist, and author. His expertise has earned him the reputation of a gardening guru. I first had the pleasure of meeting Dan over 25 years ago when I worked at Gardens Illustrated, where he was on our editorial board. Since then, I have witnessed his meteoric rise in the field of garden design. Dan's TV series, such as "Garden Doctors" and "A Year at Home Farm," have captivated a wider audience, and his award-winning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show have showcased his talent. I have been fortunate to visit many of the gardens he has designed, including his own garden at Hillside in Somerset. What sets Dan apart is his ability to create unique and beautiful gardens that harmonise with nature. It is truly a pleasure to have you here with us, Dan.
Dan, your wealth of plant knowledge is truly impressive. Could you share with us how you have acquired such extensive expertise over the years? I know you started gardening at a young age and received specialised horticultural training at Kew. Do you believe that hands-on gardening is the best way to learn about plants? And what other resources would you recommend for those looking to expand their plant knowledge?
Dan Pearson:
Thank you for the kind introduction, Clare. It's a pleasure to be here. Gardening is indeed a wonderful way to learn about plants. There is nothing like getting your hands dirty and nurturing plants to truly understand their needs and behaviour. Through gardening, you learn from both your mistakes and your triumphs. The act of gardening is a constant dialogue between you and the plants you care for, and it teaches you valuable lessons. However, it is also important to remain curious and receptive to the world around you. Constantly observing and seeking new information is crucial. I recommend delving into books, as they provide in-depth knowledge and inspiration. Personally, I have curated a collection of books that cover a wide range of topics, from plant monographs to design and even architecture. The internet also offers immediate access to information, although it may not always go as deep as you would like. Social media platforms like Instagram can connect you with experts and specialists.
Clare Foster:
It's a big subject. So I think you've probably just answered Steven's question about the placing of plants and the preferred spacing of 30 centimetres between perennials. But within the grid, do you have specific shapes or patterns like waves, drifts, clumps, or scattering individual plants to achieve a naturalistic look?
Dan Pearson:
The 30-centimetre rule applies only to perennials, not woody plants. Evergreen plants like lavenders, for example, are laid out individually because they have a more prominent presence in space. The average spacing of 30 centimetres between perennials works well because it allows for plants that require less space to compensate for those that need more space. It all evens out in the end. In a given area of, let's say, 10 by 10 meters or even 5 by 5 meters, you might have larger plants that take up more space, while others only need the 30 centimetres as they fill out and touch each other. The 30-centimetre rule helps the planting mesh together quickly. Once the plants protect the soil and touch the ground, the soil is kept cool, moist, and weed growth is discouraged. It's important to respect and care for the soil as it is vital in the garden.
Clare Foster:
I see. So the 30 centimetre rule helps with the average spacing between plants. In terms of creating a naturalistic look, you mentioned the concept of mother plants and satellite plants in your course. Is that a conscious approach you use in your plantings?
Dan Pearson:
Yes, it is. Since I'm emulating nature in my plantings, I always think about how a natural plant community might move through space. Observing how plants naturally colonise an area, like how buttercups follow a damp stream down a hillside while other plants favour dry ground, helps me understand the rhythms and patterns in nature. The idea of mother plants and satellite plants comes from this observation. I imagine the mother plant throwing its progeny around it, creating larger groups of one plant that catch the eye. Then, smaller groups or satellite plants nearby suggest that the plant is colonising other areas where it finds favourable conditions. This creates a rhythm and flow in the planting. By playing with vertical elements, textures, colours, and seasonal variations, I can create a layered and harmonious planting design that changes throughout the year.
Clare Foster:
So the patterns you create in the plantings are inspired by the movement and colonisation of plants in nature. It's about visualising the form, texture, and colours of the plants and how they work together. Could you elaborate more on this process?
Dan Pearson:
Certainly. When I lay out plants, I work with simple principles. I often use an even number but make it uneven by creating a group of three, which represents the mother plant, and then a breakout plant that represents the fourth. I carry two nine-centimetre plants in each hand, making it easy to count and create a rhythm. This rhythmic planting resembles creating a textile piece, building up a picture with plants as the building blocks. It's essential to know the plants well, either through research or spending time with them, as this helps visualise how they will form and interact in the garden. I consider the plants' forms, whether they are vertical or have a horizontal element, their textures, foliage colours, and how they will work together throughout the seasons. By planting in layers and considering the sequence of plants throughout the growing season, I create interest and change.
Clare Foster:
Dan, in one of your previous discussions, you mentioned the importance of creating a balanced ecology in a garden to avoid pest problems and reduce the need for chemicals. Can you elaborate on this concept?
Dan Pearson:
When you have a garden without a balanced ecology, you may experience an imbalance in the population of certain organisms. For example, if you predominantly grow one type of plant in an area, pests that target that particular plant will have a greater opportunity to thrive and cause damage. However, by building a diverse and ecologically rich garden, you can establish a natural balance where beneficial insects, like ladybirds, help control pests that might harm your plants. This balance reduces the reliance on chemical interventions, leading to a healthier garden and a better environment overall. Taking the time to appreciate the beauty of weeds and even cultivating them in certain areas can also be a fantastic educational experience.
Clare Foster:
It's fascinating how a well-designed garden can promote a harmonious relationship between different organisms. Moving on, when starting a garden design project, do you begin with an overall plan and then add in the details, or do you design each area individually and then find ways to integrate them?
Dan Pearson:
It's highly beneficial to have an overall plan or what I like to call a master plan. This plan serves as a roadmap, guiding the design process. Initially, it may exist only in your mind rather than on paper, as was the case with my own garden. However, it's important to spend time understanding space and its characteristics. Consider factors like light exposure, desired privacy, views, and moods of different areas within the garden. By identifying these elements, you can approach each section with intention and create a cohesive design.
Clare Foster:
That makes sense. A master plan provides a framework for the garden's development. As you implement the plan, how do you prepare a site for future planting, especially on a larger scale? Do you use permanent or temporary irrigation systems?
Dan Pearson:
The process of preparing a site can vary depending on its specific needs. In the case of projects like Little Dartmouth, where the garden was built on a previously occupied concrete pad, we had to remove the concrete and start from scratch. Regarding irrigation, temporary systems can be employed for the initial two to three years to help establish plants' root systems. However, the ultimate goal is to design gardens that are not reliant on artificial watering in the long term. It's crucial to consider the available resources and be mindful of water conservation. By nurturing the soil and choosing water-wise plants suitable for the local climate, we can reduce the need for irrigation and create more sustainable gardens.
Clare Foster:
Sustainable gardening practices are becoming increasingly important in the face of climate change. As a designer, do you have any foundational words or principles that guide and inspire your work?
Dan Pearson:
Absolutely. Two key words that resonate with me are "journey" and "balance." Gardens are ever-evolving and never static, representing a continuous journey. This journey involves constant adaptation and growth. Balance is essential, not only in terms of plant selection but also in the relationships between plants. By achieving a balanced planting scheme, where plants coexist harmoniously and support each other, we can create an ecosystem that thrives and attracts beneficial insects and pollinators. Balance extends beyond the garden's design and encompasses our aspirations, time investment, and resource management.
Clare Foster:
Yes, Journey and balance are powerful concepts that encapsulate the dynamic nature of gardens.
Well, unfortunately, our time has come to an end. Thank you, Dan. I must say, I could carry on talking to you for hours! But, alas, we have to bring this conversation to a close. So, thank you very much. I've truly enjoyed participating in both of your courses, and I know everyone here has been enjoying them as well. Once again, thank you very much.
Olenka Lawrenson:
This has been such a delightful hour we've spent together. I genuinely hope that everyone listening enjoyed it as much as I did. Thank you, Clare, for expertly guiding our conversation journey, and thank you, Dan, for taking us on a virtual journey around the world, from Japan to the south of France, and for encouraging us to expand our book collections. I always love that. It's great. Dan, there was something you said that really resonated with me. I loved your perspective on the importance of touching down more gently and cultivating a mindful connection with one's garden. It's truly beautiful. So, I thought I'd leave everyone with that. Once again, thank you both for your time.
