Small Talk with Oran Symes of Landscape Depot

Oran Symes, sales and purchasing manager, Landscape Depot

Oran Symes, sales and purchasing manager at Landscape Depot, shares his journey from nursery horticulture to leading commercial sales in landscape supplies, reflects on industry challenges and successes, and offers insight into the future of landscaping in Ireland

Horticulture

10 July 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 Oran Symes, sales and purchasing manager of Landscape Depot.

How did you first get involved in the horticulture and landscaping industries?

My background is in Nursery Horticulture. After studying Commercial Horticulture in Warrenstown College I set up Woodtown Nurseries with my late father where we specialised in the production of climbing plants for the Landscape and Garden Centre trade.

Due to a number of factors, not least the constraints on expansion due to the size of the site, I closed the Nursery in 2000. I went looking for a job and was appointed Head Gardener and later Estate Manager on a large private estate in Co Wicklow where I oversaw the maintenance and development of the formal gardens and grounds, the construction of staff accommodation offices and even a cricket pitch!

I left horticulture entirely in 2005 to pursue other business interests but returned to the sector in 2019 when I joined the team at Landscape Depot where in my role as Sales and Purchasing Manager, I look after the commercial sales department and also the purchasing of the wide range of materials we supply to landscapers and developers throughout Ireland. Apart from our Irish suppliers, we import from France, Belgium, Poland and Denmark.

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

At the time I joined Landscape Depot we had just begun importing Garden Edging. At that time, edging was a relatively new concept in Ireland. I could see enormous benefits to both the retail and landscape market. I took particular interest in the expansion of that particular product range and it gives me great pride today to see how far we have gone in the development of that product line.

To date we stock over 20,000 meters of garden and landscaping edging ( enough to go around The Phoenix Park twice! ) in a variety of materials with over 80 different formats to choose from. We now supply Landscape and Garden edging to landscapers, Parks Departments and Developers all over Ireland.

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

I think probably the biggest challenge of my career was during the COVID pandemic. COVID affected all our lives immensely but it made the day to day operation of a business like ours particularly challenging. Landscape Depot has always been known for its personable approach, this became difficult with social distancing and the many safety protocols we had to adapt.

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and that was definitely the case with COVID. I believe our experiences during those few years made us all appreciate so many things we took for granted for so long!

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

We recently supplied a range of landscaping products for the development of a small community park in Ferbane Co Offaly. I visited the park to see how the work was progressing and was delighted to see the transformation from what was once a small village green to now a wonderful bright and colourful space that will greatly benefit the local community for many years to come.

The combination of the right materials, clever design and top class workmanship is a prime example of how correct landscaping, even with a small project can make such a massive impact. Congratulations to all involved!

What are the greatest challenges facing the landscaping industry today?

Every industry has its challenges and particularly now with so much global unrest. There are many challenges facing our own industry top of which are: shortage of available labour, an issue that has been prevalent for quite some time; global issues which are impacting the cost and availability of materials; congestion of our road network which is consuming massive amounts of workable hours impacting profitability and sustainability for many landscapers and climate change where even at local level, landscapers are dealing with a greater array of issues presented by weather events.

What are the greatest opportunities facing the landscaping industry today?

With the constant demand for housing, the way we live, the type of living structure has evolved quite radically over the past few years. You will notice a reduction in the development of the typical housing estates of 3-bed semis, particularly in more congested areas, to more modular style accommodation such as terraces, duplexes and apartments.

We will see in the coming years less and less private gardens and more and more landscaped public spaces. This presents a considerable opportunity for the future of the Landscape industry in areas of Landscape Architecture, Landscaping itself and maintenance.

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

I would recommend they really try to understand the importance of Horticulture and Landscaping in society and the potential that goes with that. To learn that Landscaping is not just about aesthetics but to also understand that the greening of our planet is a necessity for our future and the future of the planet itself. Gain as much experience as possible. Travel to other cities around the world to see how other societies have long embraced the concept of Urban Greening and bring that knowledge and experience back to Ireland! Plants of all sizes will benefit our environment, learn to utilize every space for planting no matter how small, even walls.

Green Walls are becoming popular in urban landscaping, not only is the urban aesthetic greatly improved but there are benefits to air quality, they provide sound deadening and insulation within the buildings and they promote biodiversity. There are vast opportunities within the Landscaping sector, it is a great and wide ranging industry to be a part of. Knowledge is a powerful tool, learn all you can about the profession and most of all, enjoy it!

What are your hopes for the future of the landscaping industry in Ireland?

I hope the Landscape Industry will expand in the future. I recognise there are many challenges facing this expansion but I believe that the cultural and environmental changes that are presently evolving will give rise for a greater need for green spaces particularly in urban environments. This will not only create more demand for Landscape Services but will also create a greater awareness among society of the benefits of landscapes within our daily environments be that work or leisure, which can only help promote the sector even further.

Landscape Depot, Irish-owned since 1997, is your go-to expert for quality landscaping supplies. Serving both homeowners and professionals, we offer topsoil, compost, mulch, edging, decorative stones, turf, and more. Call 01 4512608 for product info.

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