LANDSCAPING SERVICES
BEHIND THE SCENES OF CHELSEA 2026 AT CREEPERS NURSERY
As preparations ramp up for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, we caught up with Michael Buck, Head of Horticulture at Creepers Nursery, to get an insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the lead up to one of the most prestigious events in the horticultural calendar.
What are you most excited about for Chelsea this year?“ As ever, it’ s seeing the designs and visions come to life on a global stage. The complexity of the builds and the technicalities involved in growing plants to such specific requirements is always exciting. And, of course, there’ s always a lot of interest in the trees that have been selected too.”
What have been some of the biggest challenges in preparing for this year’ s show?
“ As we head into the home straight, the weather has definitely been a challenge. We’ ve gone from 25 degrees to frost within weeks, which makes things unpredictable. The mild winter has also pushed growth on quite a distance, so a lot of what we do comes down to instinct.”
How does this year compare to previous years in terms of scale or complexity?“ This year we’ ve welcomed Carey Garden Design into our nursery for Chelsea. We usually cap at two contract grows, so bringing in a third has added another layer of complexity, particularly in terms of genera and requirements. The weather adds its own challenges too, but the designers we’ re working with are fantastic.”
How important is the relationship between grower and designer?“ A Chelsea grow can’ t happen, in my opinion, without a strong relationship between the designer and the nursery. Designers place a lot of trust in us to deliver their vision through plants. On the flip side, we need to be able to have honest and sometimes difficult conversations about what is and isn’ t possible.”
Are there any standout plant varieties you’ re particularly excited about supplying this year?“ I really enjoy growing Hordeum jubatum. It’ s a beautifully elegant grass with soft lilac hues that move in even the slightest breeze, adding another dimension to a garden.
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