Small Talk with Ciaran Burke of Johnstown Garden Centre

Ciaran Burke, head of Horticulture, Johnstown Garden Centre

Shauna Bernard sits down with this month’s Small Talk guest, Ciaran Burke, head of Horticulture at Johnstown Garden Centre, to discuss his journey, challenges, and hopes for the future of the industry

Horticulture

13 March 2025

In association with Tully Nurseries

At Growtrade, we’re running an interview series titled ‘Small Talk’, where we talk to various influential members of Ireland’s horticulture trade. This month’s conversation is with Ciaran Burke, head of Horticulture, Johnstown Garden Centre.

How did you get your start in horticulture?

As a teenager, I worked my weekends and school holidays in market gardening, picking tomatoes, planting vegetable plants from the back of a tractor, working long days. It was hard work but I loved it. I had planned to go into commercial horticulture, but my employer advised me to try for the course in Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanical Gardens.

I took his advice, and somehow got a place on the course, despite not having any knowledge of ornamentals, I could not identify a Hebe from a Hydrangea.

After college I worked in retail, working in Murphy & Wood Garden Centre for over eight years, there I really started to learn my plants and grew my horticultural knowledge.

I then spent a long time in horticultural education, running my own business, then a social enterprise, before making a return to garden centre retail when I joined Johnstown Garden Centre in 2019.

Now I am head of Horticulture in Johnstown Garden Centre, where I am responsible for everything to do with plant sales and all things horticultural.

What was one of the proudest moments in your career to date?

To be asked to take on my current role. Previous to my joining Johnstown Garden Centre, my life and career had reached a low point, I was looking for a new direction. I started working as a horticulturist in the shop, which was a big change for me, coming from an education environment and being self-employed.

I have been in my current role for three years, and I am loving it. I get to work with a great team of people, work with plants and meet customers.

I really get a kick from seeing a customer walk by with a trolley full of plants, plants that I have chosen for our plant sales area; to see someone so happy that they have discovered a new plant or found a plant that they had been looking for; or just the smile on peoples faces as they enjoy browsing through the plants.

Johnstown Garden Centre is 50 years old and I am proud to be playing an important role in the continued success of the business.

What was one of the greatest challenges you’ve faced in your career to date?

Taking on my current role was daunting; Johnstown Garden Centre has such a high reputation, and the plant area is on such a great scale. My predecessor, Jim Clarke, is so highly thought of in the industry and had continued to grow the business with his brother Sean when they took over the running of the garden centre from their father.

Jim’s decision to retire created the opportunity for me, but I would not have been able to do it without the help and support of the next generation of the Clarke family, Paul, Barry and Emma.

Give us an example of a recent success you had in your work.

The plant sales area has had a tumultuous few years, there has been not only changes to management and personnel, but the layout and some practices have changed. Being able to introduce change, while keeping a core team with over 50 years experience between them, and also bring in new members of staff to create a stable and happy team: ready to adapt to challenges, constantly seeking to improve customer experience and happy to come into work each day.

Also, the great feedback for some of our projects such as our Inspiration Gardens in the Garden Centre have given me great satisfaction.

What are the greatest challenges facing the industry today?

Staffing, Change, Time, and Space.

To attract and retain staff in a world of ever increasing costs and demands on their personal time is always a challenge. I think the garden centre environment is a great place to build and grow your horticultural knowledge, while providing a high level of customer service is very rewarding. In a busy retail environment you learn to think on the go, adapt to unpredictable situations, these are invaluable assets in any line of work.

It is hard to attract college graduates, there is perhaps a gap between the expectations of newly qualified graduates and the reality of starting a new job; in terms of knowledge, commitment, remuneration, and status. It is something we all have to work together on in closing the gaps.

Responding to a rapidly changing world, and being able to keep the activity of gardening relatable and attractive to people. A.I. and the virtual world, travel and other activities vie for people’s attention. We have to constantly remind people of the benefits of gardening, how it enhances their lives, and that getting your hands dirty is a rewarding thing. Smelling the flowers, harvesting tomatoes and feeding the birds are the simple things that bring joy to their lives.

Busy lives, work, family, football training for the kids, rugby matches, dancing lessons, long commutes; people have less time, we are battling for some of their valuable time.

Changes in home ownership patterns, increased renting, the increasing age of first time home owners, people having children later in life are going to create challenges. Persuading people to visit the garden centre in their free time, encouraging them to spend their money on their garden instead of other activities, that is the ephemeral challenge.

Garden sizes are getting smaller, more apartment living; as space for plants shrinks, what the customer can grow is changing, the amount of plants that they can accommodate. Not just plants, but garden furniture, barbecues and storage spaces too.

What are the greatest opportunities facing the industry today?

The flip side of the challenge is the opportunity. It means that what we sold ten years ago, maybe is not going to sell now. As time and space provide challenges to our industry, we have to accept that we have to adapt, just like plants!

New plant varieties, and how we train plants to grow, how we present them for sale and how we market them, the demand for plants is high, and people want that feel good factor of investing in their garden, having it looking good and feeling that it is good for the environment too, plants tick all the boxes.

Climate change; the long term effects of climate change will take time to be apparent, whether we get drier, wetter, colder or hotter, we don’t really know. The more immediate effects are going to be felt through legislation, and customer demands.

People need to be reassured that whatever gardening they do is good, that it helps the world. As the space available for gardens shrink, and there is room for less plants, there is greater opportunity for the customer to invest in higher value plants and products. Buy less, but spend more per item.

Keeping a strong voice, reminding the government of the importance of the horticultural sector, not just economically, but socially and for personal well-being will be vital, but willingness to change work practices, and develop products will be equally important. Changing the way we do things either by choice or being forced to change by law, drives innovation, just look at the amount of peat-free products that are being offered for sale compared to 10 years ago.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career ?

Study, get a qualification, then start learning. View a job not as just a wage, but an opportunity to learn. Working in a garden centre, for me, was so valuable, for learning plant names, how to look after them, the constant questioning by the public, responding to their demands and to keep smiling are core knowledge and skills that I use every day now.

What are your hopes for the future of Irish horticulture?

A thriving industry that grows a wide range of plants for domestic use and export, an industry that innovates to make the most of the great climate that we have for growing while at the same time making as little negative impact on the world as possible.

I hope that horticulture can play such a visible and prominent role that positively impacts people’s lives, that one day I won’t have to explain to a friend or someone I meet at a party, just what horticulture is.

Founded by John and Elsie Clarke in 1974, Johnstown Garden Centre has been a family-run business for over 40 years. Located just outside Naas, Co. Kildare, it’s now managed by their son Sean and his family. The Centre offers everything from garden plants to furniture, with a lovely café to relax in. Known for its friendly service and high-quality products, Johnstown Garden Centre is a favorite spot for gardeners and families alike.

Small Talk is produced in association with Tully Nurseries, one of Ireland’s wholesale nurseries supplying landscape contractors, garden centres, DIYs and supermarkets in Ireland and the UK. For more visit tullynurseries.ie.