While most people groan at the sight of grey skies during Wimbledon, there’s one person who quietly celebrates a good downpour—Martyn Falconer, the All England Club’s head gardener.

While the rain might delay matches and frustrate fans, for Falconer and his team, it’s a welcome boost for the flowers that make Wimbledon just as much a visual feast as it is a tennis spectacle.

A Living, Breathing Garden Show

Every summer, as the world’s tennis elite descend on southwest London, so too do around 27,000 new plants—handpicked to add to the thousands already blooming across the 42-acre site.

From cascading petunias in hanging baskets to pastel-hued hydrangeas spilling from window boxes, the All England Club transforms into something straight out of an English countryside dream.

Falconer, who has been part of Wimbledon’s grounds team for 25 years and has led the charge for the last 11, sums up the tournament’s vision in one phrase: “Tennis in an English garden.”

Last-Minute Tweaks Before the Gates Open

With the 2025 Championships kicking off on June 30, Falconer’s crew—including 10 full-time gardeners, two apprentices, and about 10 seasonal recruits—is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the grounds.

“We’re making sure it looks lovely and presentable for everyone,” Falconer shared.

“Once the public arrive, we take a little breath, but our mornings are still all about watering, deadheading, and keeping everything fresh.”

Dealing With Nature… and Humans

The crowds might come for the tennis, but they also pose a unique challenge for the gardening team.

According to Falconer, “We get a lot of bums sat on the planters.

Where there’s somewhere to park a bum, they will.”

That’s why the team always has a stash of “rescue plants” ready to fill in if anything gets flattened or wilts under the pressure—literally.

There’s even a trick called the “Wimbledon twist” to make flowers last a few extra days before they’re quietly replaced.

A Palette Rooted in Tradition

When it comes to colour, Wimbledon stays true to its roots—think greens, whites, and purples.

But Falconer is also allowed some creative freedom. “It’s really about creating that feeling of being in a calm, soft English garden,” he said.

That means avoiding flashy neons in favour of gentle pinks, buttery yellows, and classic pastels.

Planning Starts Months Ahead

This spectacular garden show isn’t thrown together overnight.

The planning begins months in advance, with nurseries potting and prepping the plants before they’re sent to Wimbledon to settle in.

“If they come too late, they’ll grow too big,” Falconer explained. Timing is everything.

He and his team keep a careful eye on which plant varieties perform best—and when—ensuring there’s always something colourful in bloom at every corner of the grounds.

Navigating a Shifting Climate

This year’s warm, dry lead-up to the tournament has brought new challenges.

Falconer admits he might be the only one at Wimbledon hoping for a little rain.

“It’s challenging,” he said. “But we just adapt and keep going.”

Even after the tournament ends, the work doesn’t stop.

The team transitions into maintenance mode—hedge trimming, pruning, mulching—making sure everything is ready to flourish again in the spring.

The Joy That Comes With Opening Day

After more than two decades on the job, Falconer still gets a thrill from opening day. “There’s nothing like it,” he said.

“You work so hard to get everything ready, and when the gates open and the fans walk in—it’s a sigh of relief.

But then, the next morning, it all starts again.”