I’m Wimbledon’s Head Gardener… How to copy my Centre Court colours with 8 iconic plants & prices start from £1.99
WIMBLEDON starts on Monday – and whether you’re watching on TV or lucky enough to get tickets – you’ll know the purple, white and green floral arrangements around the grounds are absolutely gorgeous.
Not only that, there’s 250m of living wall for fans on Murray Mount, Centre Court’s iconic ivy and even a bronze tree with a womble hidden in it for those taking time out from watching a match.
Head Gardener Martyn Falconer took time out to show me how Sun Gardening readers can replicate the famous flora in your own outside space.
And even better, you can get pretty much all of the plants in your local garden centre or supermarket – at minimal cost.
Petunia’s are on sale at Gardening Express for £1.99, Salvias are £5.59 at Crocus and you can pick up a A five Fern collection at Homebase for £9.50.
“Our ethos is ‘Tennis in an English Garden’ so that’s what we hope that people are experiencing,” he said.
“It’s quite easy as there’s a lot of herbacious purples and greens – Petunia’s, Hydrangeas and the Ivy are our iconic plants.
“But Salvia Nemerosa ‘Ostfriesland’ is a really piercing good bluey purple, which has really come out with the sunshine.
“Our living wall is a soil-less system, in rock wool, watered four times a day with nutrients, 52 weeks a year.
“There’s Heucheras, Liriope, Hebes and ferns in there – about 14 different varieties of plants in it.”
He added: “We’ve got a team of 12 full time gardeners, then eight seasonals from April to September.
“Where we really try to make a big impact is the main concourse, under the balcony where you get the players showing off the trophy, so that area is a quite heavily planted showcase.”
Martyns Iconic Eight
All of these plants can be bought at your local garden centre or supermarkets
- Euonymus Harlequin
- Dutch hydrangeas – including the traditional ‘blue’ and also the shorter ‘curly wurly’.
- Hebes – more for the foliage than the flowering.
- Salvia’s – mainly Nemerosa ‘offreizant’ and also ‘Love and Wishes.’
- Ferns are great for softening everything up
- Petunia’s – purple, green and white are everywhere.
- Agapanthus
- Acer trees
“Our day during the championships starts around 5am for deadheading, watering and making sure everything is tip top – including picking out Pimms glasses and cigarette butts and bits of fruit – before the public arrive at 10am.”
“We choose plants that are going to be out naturally around this time of year and get a delivery every week, six weeks out from the championships, with a very regimented plan.
“I’ll make sure they’re quite closed heads, not in too much flower, then we’re playing a little bit with God and hoping that the British weather is on our side – and it will all look great for the Champs.”
In Veronica's Gardening Column this week...
Top tips, competitions, news and more
NEWS! THE RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden festival starts on Tuesday. There’s a whole host of Show Gardens, including Money Saving, Moss Magic and Lion King themes plus one which celebrates Moths.
And all the usual demos and talks, a floral marquee, the RHS allotment area, and free family activities.
Plus SheGrowsVeg is recreating its ‘edimental’ heirloom veg exhibit following its gold winning success at RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year.
Founders Lucy and Kate will be sharing top tips with keen gardeners and plant-lovers on how to grow veg, fruit and edible flowers.
TOP TIP!
Keep cutting your sweetpeas when they’re in bloom – the more you pick the more flowers you’ll get and it will keep the plants nice and healthy.
THIS WEEK’S JOB!
Start thinking about your Autumn flowering bulbs – and remember to plant them two to three times deeper than the bulb, otherwise they might collapse. Crocosmia, Cyclamen and Autumn flowering crocus are nice and easy.
WIN!
One lucky reader can win a £500 Rhino Greenhouse Voucher – and with some of their stock starting at £401, you could get a real steal. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/RHINO or write to Sun RHINO competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 13.07.24
SAVE!!
Beat the weeds with this £59.95 Sneeboer Royal Dutch Hand Hoe from Harrod Horticultural, or go for B&Q’s Gardena Comfort Hand Hoe at £13.15
FOLLOW ME @Biros_and_bloom