In this episode of Garden Origin, host Phoebe dives deep into the inspiring journey of Kat Sharland, a prominent figure in sustainable horticulture and garden design. The conversation explores Kat's early inspirations, her challenges in building a career, and her commitment to sustainability in garden design. Listeners will gain insights into the balance of family life and a demanding career, as well as practical advice for aspiring garden designers.
The WRAGS Scheme connects learners with industry professionals for hands-on experience.
Kat Sharland's journey into horticulture was inspired by her artistic family background.
There is an undeniable magic in the hand-drawn sketch that no pixel-perfect rendering can replicate. It’s not in the precision, but in the palpable humanity of it—the faint graphite smudges, the slight tremor of a creative thought made manifest, the whispered implication of a process still in passionate flux. A digital design feels like a finished verdict, polished and distant.
A hand-drawn design, however, feels like an invitation.
It whispers collaboration, asking the client to lean in and see not just what is, but what could be. It carries the artist’s fingerprint, both literal and metaphorical, forging an immediate, emotional bridge that makes the client a co-author in the story of its creation, rather than a mere spectator of its conclusion.
Her path into horticulture isn't a rejection of her artistic roots, but a vivid reinterpretation of them.
We dive into how she traded two dimensions for three, applying stringent principles of colour theory, composition, and texture that she learned at her family easel directly to the garden bed.
For Kat, a successful planting isn't just botany; it's a living installation—a dynamic, breathing sculpture that challenges the traditional boundaries between cultivation and creation, making her one of the most uniquely visual designers working in the green space today.
Kat reveals how embracing diverse agricultural wisdom transformed her horticultural style into an ever-evolving ecosystem, rich with unexpected stories from around the globe.
You need to become a keen observer of your own patch of earth. We're talking about sunlight patterns – where does the sun hit and for how long throughout the day and across the seasons? We'll explore soil types, of course, but also wind exposure, drainage, and even the subtle influences of surrounding structures. Because as Kat puts it so eloquently, your garden is a living, breathing ecosystem, and working with its unique conditions,
This devotion transforms effort into artistry, and the resulting beauty breeds an infectious personal pride. It is, for Alex, the silent, satisfying reward of knowing that he did not just complete a task, but that he left behind a legacy of flourishing beauty, a meticulous arrangement that honors both nature’s chaos and human design.
Garden Inspiration
Design Techniques
Sustainable Practice
To design living spaces that genuinely flourish, future garden designers must cultivate an essential ‘dirt sensibility’ that formal education often overlooks. Blueprints and digital renderings cannot capture the resistance of compacted clay, the exact drainage requirements of a mature perennial, or the nuanced timing of seasonal shift. Hands-on experience—the act of kneeling, digging, pruning, and failing—instills an intuitive understanding of the raw materials, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical wisdom. This mastery ensures that the resulting landscapes are not merely aesthetically pleasing concepts but functional, sustainable ecosystems built with profound respect for the living medium they contain.
K A T
S H A R L A N D
'For Women
In Horticulture'
Steering her horticultural enterprise while nurturing her family is a delicate and often demanding dance.
The relentless cycle of seasons, the physical grit required, and the ever-present demands of growing a successful business mean early mornings often bleed into late evenings, often under the whims of the weather.
Yet, the deep satisfaction of watching life flourish under her care, of transforming barren soil into vibrant landscapes, far outweighs the sacrifice.
More profoundly, Kat takes immense pride in the living legacy she is cultivating for her son and daughter.
Through her example, she offers them a tangible platform, demonstrating the rewards of passion, perseverance, and a deep connection to the natural world.
She envisions them not just inheriting a thriving business, but understanding the value of honest labor, the satisfaction of creating beauty, and the powerful lesson that with dedication, anything can grow