Saturday 13 July and Sunday 14 July: the M25 will be closed between junction 10 and 11 in both directions, due to roadworks. The A3 is open, so access to RHS Garden Wisley is not affected. Please check routes before you travel. RHS Garden Wisley will be open and looking forward seeing you.

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Piet Oudolf borders at RHS Garden Wisley

The new Glasshouse Landscape borders at RHS Wisley are now complete. We joined Curator Matt Pottage and designer Piet Oudolf as planting commenced in spring 2024

On a sunny day in mid-March 2024, a swarm of eager gardeners placed thousands of small pots on the freshly laid, snaking paths that will 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 begins.

The previous shelter belt that lined the walkway has gone, the old borders removed, and a sinuous path will allow visitors to enjoy an immersive journey, vital to truly experience Piet’s famous planting style of naturalistic grids of 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 on 15 May 2024, and regular visitors had been eagerly watching the progress of the new landscape as it emerged. 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.

The old borders leading to the Glasshouse have been radically transformed by Piet Oudolf
Piet explained that since RHS Wisley is an educational facility, he wanted to give those who come to see it 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.”

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

Piet Oudolf

Piet explained that this matrix 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 explained that they led people straight from the top of the slope to the bottom, whereas these new island beds would be 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.

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

Matt Pottage, Curator

What people might be surprised about, is that Piet says the garden will already be looking good by the summer, and will just get better and better over the next year or two. The Glasshouse borders will be officially opened on 15 May 2024. “People should come. Come and see it, come and be excited.” Piet Oudolf

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

Immersive Oudolf landscape planned for RHS Wisley’s Glasshouse Borders

Immersive Oudolf landscape planned for RHS Wisley’s Glasshouse Borders

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