Inside Planters Horticulture

Love That Design recently stepped into Planters’ vibrant Dubai showroom. Surrounded by chic pots and well-manicured vegetation, experts at the venue spoke about their differentiating edge, the best time to approach a landscaping company and more…

Enter the Planters’ premise, and your senses begin to tingle. The fresh scent of plants mix with the sight of a myriad types of green. Sunlight dots the industrial space in Al Quoz, and the mind asks a daunting question, ‘What does it take to imbibe such a cool and earthy ambience in spaces?’ 

Well, a magician never tells. Instead, they leave us baffled. Similarly, at Planters, we learned that it’s not as straightforward as sowing the seeds and reaping the results. Plants have always been architects’ and designers’ favoured way to infuse life thanks to their inherent ability to never look out of place. But has anyone ever cultivated an Elysian garden without getting their hands dirty?

From left: Benjamin Gonzalez, Sales, Marketing & Design Director; Hira Shahid, Marketing Specialist; Muhammad Ali, Exterior Maintenance Manager

Especially in arid climatic zones like the Middle East, it is challenging to make the right choices. Combine that with the recent arrest of concepts like biophilia, and you have a burgeoning need for an expert collaborator. 

“What sets Planters apart is, we have a hands-on approach”, reveals Benjamin Gonzalez, the Sales, Marketing & Design Director at Planters. “We work very closely with our clients to understand their vision and deliver bespoke solutions that have real intentionality behind them.” 

Why Planters?

A Four-Decade-Long Legacy: An Unparalleled Creative Impact

Founded by David McBryde, the company stands as a leading landscaping force in the Middle East. Although their initial emphasis in 1979 centred on indoor landscape solutions, they have since evolved to specialise in curating and maintaining distinctive, functional interior and exterior landscapes. With a rapidly expanding portfolio, Planters is uniquely positioned to assist architects, designers, contractors, corporate end users and consumers in comprehensive management from design to execution.

Boasting more than four decades of experience, the company has consistently elevated its efficiency and out-of-the-box thinking through numerous hotels, offices and F&B projects. 

Planters offers a wide range of services encompassing landscape design and installation, live and artificial plant solutions, green walls, and maintenance of both new and existing sites. “Furthermore, these solutions are entirely customisable, adding flexibility and versatility to their application,” Benjamin adds excitedly.

Bushra by buddha-bar

“What sets Planters apart is, we have a hands-on approach. We work very closely with our clients to understand their vision and deliver bespoke solutions that have real intentionality behind them. Furthermore, these solutions are entirely customisable, adding flexibility and versatility to their application.“

– Benjamin Gonzalez, Sales, Marketing & Design Director, Planters

Planters revives the Signature Expo 2020 Green Wall

Not all heroes wear capes, some carry blueprints

In a notable instance, Muhammad Ali, the Exterior Maintenance Manager at Planters, reminisces about the Expo 2020 Green Wall—a triumph born from design challenges. Located at the heart of Expo City, the project’s initial architect-designed vision aimed at a distinctive vertical wall feature. “There was a specified product for the green vertical wall, but it was not flexible enough to fit into the complexity of the structure. So we suggested a solution of nine different customised modules,” he narrates.

Green wall at Expo City

While executing the project within a tight timeframe was a task in itself, the true challenge emerged during the event’s inauguration. The event extended from dawn to midnight, resulting in a narrow work window. Concurrently, various maintenance providers for other features were active in the same area, leading to a congested environment. Nevertheless, the team of technicians, supervisors, and architects linked with the project persevered. Ultimately, it was recognised as one of the notable features at Expo 2020. Muhammad attributes this success as evidence of the company’s dedication, as the original design intent remained uncompromised.

“We consider multiple factors such as the design intent, the macro and micro climate and indoor-outdoor integration to come up with a solution that incorporates a lot of indigenous plants that adapt to the local environment with minimal water requirement,” he avers.

Green wall at Expo City & Tamoka Restaurant, Dubai

“We consider multiple factors such as the design intent, the macro and micro climate and indoor-outdoor integration to come up with a solution that incorporates a lot of indigenous plants that adapt to the local environment with minimal water requirement.“

– Muhammad Ali, the Exterior Maintenance Manager at Planters

Eliminating Hurdles & Preventing Pitfalls

Why involving Planters from the outset can be cost-effective

It happens more than they would like to admit—receiving an invite to troubleshoot a feature already undergoing construction. While most problems can be fixed, they can also be avoided. It fares not just for the Planters team, but also the clients.

Muhammad is a strong advocate of foresight and thorough analysis. To elucidate his emphasis on early involvement in a landscape project, he explains the potential complications that may arise from a plant replacement. “Different categories of plants need different volumes of water. So the irrigation system should be programmed in such a manner that the plants are irrigated based on their actual water demand. Now what happens with a plant replacement at this stage is the new plant may not be in line with the programmed system, and one would have to rework both, which would cost more,” he infers. 

At the installation phase, Planters can provide unbridled input on design feasibility, recommend plants based on climate, or even suggest improvements. 

“The idea of having a landscape consultant involved is to leverage our years of expertise to offer you a completely tailored solution for your needs.” 

– Hira Shahid, Marketing Specialist, Planters

On the Horizon: Planters’ Media Endeavours and Industry Involvement

What’s next on Planters’ plate?

Hira Shahid, the Marketing Specialist at Planters, excitedly shares the company’s growing digital footprint and plans for the showroom. “Our goal is to not only talk about our projects, the extensive range of services we offer and their transformative potential but also highlight the benefits of incorporating biophilia in any space,” she reveals.

Hira goes on to acknowledge that while individuals often integrate natural elements into their built environment, they are unable to sustain them. This is where their educational content on social media assumes significance. The company proactively engages in networking, participating in key industry events, and hosting discussions at its Dubai showroom to address critical topics.

The team enhances client interactions with meticulously curated content circling case studies, comparison guides, product highlights, and client testimonials. “The idea of having a landscape consultant involved is to leverage our years of expertise to offer you a completely tailored solution for your needs,” she reassures.