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Oudolf Landscape at RHS Garden Wisley

The new Oudolf Landscape at RHS Wisley opened in May 2024. We joined its designer Piet Oudolf back in spring 2024 as planting commenced

On a sunny day back in mid-March 2024, a swarm of eager gardeners placed thousands of small pots on the freshly laid, snaking paths that lead visitors down to the Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley. Piet Oudolf was on site, planting plans in hand, concentrated frown on his face, meticulously checking and adjusting the layout before planting began.

The previous shelter belt that lined the walkway has gone, the old borders removed. Now a sinuous path weaves through the landscape, taking visitors on an immersive journey to experience Piet’s famous planting style featuring grids of naturalistic planting combinations, designed to excite and inspire.

Donors and gardeners planted around 36,000 plants over the course of a few days, ready for the grand opening of the Oudolf Landscape on 15 May 2024. The old linear borders, with their shrubs and seasonally focused planting, have made way for a sweeping matrix of perennials and grasses, as well as woody plants.

36,000 perennials were planted in the new beds of the radically transformed Oudolf Landscape
Piet explained that since RHS Wisley is an educational facility, he wanted to give those who come to see the Oudolf Landscape plenty to learn from, and give them ideas to take back to their own gardens, “Wisley is the perfect place to learn and I feel I can really push things here.”

RHS Wisley is the perfect place to learn and I feel I can really push things here

Piet Oudolf

Piet explained that the matrix planting is formed of one or two key varieties that dominate, amongst a number of others that complement them. It looks very spontaneous but is actually quite controlled. “Planting is the exciting part and I want to make it interesting for people, give them something to talk about. I feel excited every time I come and see how it looks, it’s a sort of euphoria.”

© Mark Ashbee
Piet Oudolf is well known for his matrix style of planting, seen here at his home garden in the Netherlands

Planting is the exciting part and I want to make it interesting for people, give them something to talk about. I feel excited every time I come and see how it looks, it’s a sort of euphoria

Piet Oudolf

The old borders were much more traditional, and Matt Pottage, the former Curator of RHS Wisley, explained that they led people straight from the top of the slope to the bottom, whereas the new island beds are somewhere for people to spend time, be inspired by the planting, and sit on one of the new benches. “I love that people treat Wisley as their own garden, sit and have a coffee and a chat.” Both Matt and Piet also feel that the new landscape connects the Rock Garden with the Arboretum, linking up more areas of the garden.

The new Oudolf Landscape is a wonderful place to explore and be inspired by the planting

I love that people treat RHS Wisley as their own garden, sit and have a coffee and a chat

Matt Pottage, former Curator of RHS Wisley

What you might be surprised to hear, but is no surprise to Piet, is just how good the landscpae already looks, and will just get better and better over the next year or two. “People should come. Come and see it, come and be excited.”

People should come. Come and see it, come and be excited

Piet Oudolf

About the author - Natalie Ashbee

Natalie grew up on an arable farm in North Cornwall. She was a Primary school teacher, then started a gardening business, moving into garden and planting design. She spent several years in Bristol, where she was a Horticulturist for garden tv programmes. She now lives and gardens in West Cornwall.

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When Matt met Piet

When Matt met Piet

Discover the new Oudolf Landscape at RHS Wisley

Discover the new Oudolf Landscape at RHS Wisley

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