Wimbledon is best known for its world-class tennis, strawberries and cream, and impeccable dress code – but there’s another side to the All England Lawn Tennis Club that’s just as awe-inspiring. Ahead of the Championships, we were granted exclusive access to explore the gardens and grounds, and speak to the unsung heroes behind the lush displays and pristine lawns.
Watch our behind-the-scenes tour below, and discover five fascinating things we learnt from Wimbledon’s gardeners.
1. There are 54 million grass plants on Centre Court alone
You read that right. The world’s most famous lawn tennis court is more than just a patch of lawn. Head of Courts and Horticulture Neil Stubley walked us through the science behind getting the lawn courts absolutely perfect.
“We use 100 per cent dwarf perennial ryegrass,” Neil explains. “It’s vertical-growing, so you get less thatch buildup and fibre. We sow it at 85 grams per square metre – and with 902 square metres of turf, you’re looking at around 54 million individual plants if every seed germinates.”
During the Championships, the court is mown to just 8mm and kept on a strict watering schedule, walking the line between lush and drought-stressed. “We’re kind of keeping the plant at wilting point for over three weeks,” Neil says. “It’s a very fine balance between being alive and being dead.”
2. You can fake a Wimbledon lawn stripe at home – with a broom!
Inspired by the legendary lawn courts and want to replicate the look at home? Neil has a tip for achieving those iconic stripes without specialist kit.
“If you’ve got a barbecue coming up and you want to impress your friends, cut the grass in the morning when the dew’s on the ground. Then get a broom, and walk up and down,” he says. “You’ll put the shades in, and get that Wimbledon effect.”
If you want to boost your lawn even further, Neil recommends using a mower with a back roller for a professional stripe and feeding your lawn regularly with granular fertiliser every 6-8 weeks. But for the casual gardener? Just a broom and some dewy grass will do the trick.
3. The living wall needs watering four times a day
Wimbledon’s lush planting reaches new heights – literally – thanks to the dramatic living wall that wraps around No.1 Court.
“It’s a soilless system,” Head Gardener Martyn Falconer explains, “so it always needs to be on the damp side.” The wall is irrigated with a nutrient-rich solution four times a day in short two-minute bursts. Containing more than 14,000 plants – including heucheras, hebes, liriopes, and euonymus – it’s designed for year-round interest and a pollinator boost during the tournament.
4. Wimbledon’s plants live on after the Championships
What happens to all the stunning floral displays once the final match is played? They don’t go to waste. In fact, many of the plants find new homes in the local community.
“At the end of the Championships,” explains Hattie Park, Sustainability Manager, “a lot of plants are donated to local organisations via the Wimbledon Foundation. It’s our charity which benefits lots of local charities in the Merton and Wandsworth areas.”
“Organisations come in anything from a mini to a van and take away the plants,” she adds, “so they go to hospitals, hospices, charities.” It’s a thoughtful way to extend the life – and impact – of the displays beyond the grounds.
5. It’s easy to get the Wimbledon look with these three plants
Wimbledon may be world-famous for its pristine lawn courts, but its floral displays are just as show-stopping. If you’re feeling inspired to bring a little of that SW19 magic into your own garden, Head Gardener Martyn Falconer shared his three go-to Wimbledon plants:
- Hydrangeas: “If you want to get the Wimbledon look at home, I would say the hydrangea,” Martyn suggests. “Although it takes quite a bit of water, you get a lot of flower and you get a lot for your buck.” These dramatic blooms thrive in moisture-retentive soil and make a real statement in borders or large containers.
- Petunias: A classic choice for bedding schemes and baskets, petunias are key to Wimbledon’s colourful charm. “You can use that as a bedding plant, in boxes, in your hanging baskets,” says Martyn, “and it flowers all summer.” Choose from a range of shades, or copy the tournament’s signature palette of green and purple flowers and stick to mauve, lilac and pastels.
- Salvia ‘Ostfriesland’: “This is a lovely purple flower – very Wimbledon,” Martyn says of this reliable perennial. “Deadhead and you’ll just get flowers all summer.” With its bold spikes and pollinator appeal, Salvia ‘Ostfriesland’ adds structure and vibrant colour to any planting scheme.
Together, these three plants offer an easy way to recreate Wimbledon’s timeless English garden style – whether you’re lining a path, planting up containers, or simply setting the stage for your next summer gathering.
Discover more secrets from the gardeners at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and watch the full video now:
