Head Gardener Lachlan Rae On Working With A World-Renowned Plant Collection

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Lachlan Rae is an experienced Gardener who has spent almost 15 years working in the horticultural industry.

Having cut his teeth with an RBGE Diploma in Plantsmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Lachlan has since appeared as a judge on More4’s Garden of the Year – sandwiched between his work as a Head Gardener and Horticultural Consultant.

We talk with Lachlan to discover more about his career and explore some of his practical learnings to-date.

Imagery featured in this interview was provided with permission by Lachlan Rae.

Where Did Your Journey With Gardening Begin?

“I was 17 when I left school and I wasn’t sure what to do at all,” Lachlan shares.

“I worked in a butcher shop for a little while and realised that wasn’t the right direction for me. I was then pushed towards a land-based college that was local.

“They offered forestry farming, horticulture and equine studies – all of those sorts of land-based educational opportunities. On a whim, I chose horticulture and absolutely loved it.

“I’ve been working in the horticultural industry ever since!”

What Are Some Of Your Favourite Experiences From During This Time?

“A number of prominent places, people and establishments come to mind, but there’s no one thing that has completely influenced my career,” he says. “I think observing and being in different horticultural contexts has helped me to continually develop.

“I spent a couple of years at the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh after doing a couple of seasonal positions as a groundsman. Working and studying within a collection of plants which is world-renowned was pretty special.

“The gardens I’ve worked in since have been mainly country estate gardens and I’ve worked up to Head Gardener level. Having a broad depth of different experiences across a range of gardens ranging from Scotland to Brighton has been really important.

“All of my experiences accumulatively have helped to curate my own tastes in a garden.”

What Are The Biggest Lessons Horticulture Has Taught You?

“Definitely patience at times!” he jokes. “In many instances, you don’t get the end result.

“Also, valuing outdoor spaces and the context in which I work is something that horticulture has taught me.

“Horticulture has taught me to see the importance of the plant world and put change at the forefront of my work. I’m trying to align myself so that the way I garden is not impacting on the environment.”

What Does A Typical ‘Working Day’ Look Like For You?

“It’s pretty varied and I deliberately do it that way. I made the decision about 1.5 years ago to start working for myself, which is nice because it means I can decide what I’m doing and keep it interesting.

“That was one of the difficulties I faced when working in one garden, as seasonally, the variation wasn’t always there. Often, people think the summer season is amazing, but it’s actually quite boring because all you do is mow lawns, cut edges and do all the fiddly jobs to keep the garden looking nice.

“I’m not tied to one garden anymore, so I still do this, but at a lesser capacity. I now advise garden owners on how to manage and style their gardens, both short and long-term, to get the best out of the resources available to them.

“I also do some plant and design work and maintenance on larger gardens.”

What Are Some Of The Challenges Of A Career In Horticulture?

“Finance is an obvious one,” Lachlan explains. “It’s no surprise that working in practical horticulture is expensive.

“Also, if you look into the realities of what is expected of myself and other Horticulturists who are working at a high level, the balance of the practical combined with the expected knowledge of plants and soil, as well as doing it creatively, is so challenging.

“Promoting the skill that is involved with professional horticulture is a goal of mine.”

What Is Your Best Gardening Tip?

“The best tip I could give to any gardener is to continue to try and learn about plants, including their identification, their upkeep and their habits,” he shares.

“Knowing as much as you can about plants and learning about their taxonomy will, in turn, enable you to use them to the best of your ability in a garden.”

What Does Gardening Mean To You?

“Gardening is my life, which isn’t by deliberate manufacture!

“It pretty much dictates everything I do. It’s how I make my living, which is a huge part of it, but it also seeps into every other part of my life.

“I get home after work and I will put my kids to bed then go and look around the garden. First thing in the morning, I’m out there having my coffee. I’ve very fortunate that I take absolute pleasure in my job.”

What’s Next For You?

“Much of my work is private, so I have to be fairly sensitive to that. I do share small snippets of my work online.

“I’m looking forward to pursuing more avenues in the future. I am hoping to continue to develop my business and am always open to new work.

“It’s all about continuing to make sure that I enjoy doing what I’m doing.”