5 lessons in planting style from the new Oudolf borders at RHS Wisley..

00:37 Naturalistic planting - why it's easy care
01:10 Plants for naturalistic planting
02:20 What is naturalistic planting?
(note that Amazon links are affiliate, see below)
02:41 Natural vs naturalistic - a completely wild meadow in Vermont with flowers used in naturalistic planting
03:30 What's the difference between block planting and matrix planting?
05:08 The definition of matrix planting
06:14 Plant the ornamental grasses first
06:40 Oudolf Landscape major change - a different way of planting up a slope!
09:19 Repetition and contrast in naturalistic planting
10:56 Maintenance of naturalistic borders

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[nicolasbertin]

I love Oudolf's designs so this message is gonna be quite long... The main goal of naturalistic plantings is that it needs to look good all year, even in winter. This was the main change back then : having shapes in winter, and realizing like Piet says, that "brown is also a color". Piet Oudolf carefully designs plans first, with number of plants, surface areas etc... Then people prepare the soil by weeding everything, adding compost etc... and then go in with 2-3 year old perennials in large pots. Now the key is that he has in his mind a list of plants that go well together. He knows which shape or texture will go well with another one. For us mortals it is impossible to do that as well as he does. I remember seeing a youtube video about a woman who took the list of plants that go together at the end of the "designing with plants" book, that's now out of print, and just listed what goes well with what in excel form. I tried to do the same thing, so for each plant you have a list of "Oudolf approved" plants and you can design your garden like that. When you have 2 or 3 plants and you need THAT plant that goes well with the other 3 then it becomes a nightmare. And then you check out other Oudolf books and you realize he uses combinations that aren't listed in the book, the list wasn't complete, it would have been too long otherwise. So that's the issue with this method : Oudolf alone knows the full combinations of plants, and in the books he doesn't want to give it up. Not because he's petty or secretive, but because he would rather people thought by themselves and come up with their own combinations. Except that it takes a lifetime, and people would rather have the full method to create a nice garden the first year.

What's interesting is that there's been two main variations from the Oudolf method. The first one is from perennial seeds. It's something that James Hitchmough does. Instead of planting from pots, you sow a carefully designed mix, in a thick layer on sand that you put on the garden (previously prepared and weeded out). It recreates a meadow with dense intermingling. My issue with this method, is that you have to clear out the garden, and source out all this sand. The second variation is what Thomas Rainer does. His conferences are a bit of a headache because he speaks VERY fast. It's hard to grasp the method from his book too. And like Oudolf he doesn't give us enough plants. But I think it's the most promissing. The base is like an Oudolf garden : matrix planting, or block planting. Except that Thomas Rainer fills up the WHOLE space. He puts plants really next to each other, very dense, so that there is no weeding. If a plant is like a vase, and has large stems that create shade, he plants underneath too. Because what people don't understand, and Oudolf is very clear on that, is that an Oudolf garden DOES require a lot of maintenance. His plant spacing isn't that dense. So it needs weeding the first years. Rainer will just fill every single gap, with small carex or geraniums and has a specially designed small pot/cell so that he can have greenhouses filled with them, ready to be used for his projects. It's a whole organization, but I really like the idea. It's more practical, it's about giving these gardens to communities that don't have the budget to maintain all this. Oudolf is more artistic, you need maintenance to achieve his vision. He doesn't care very much about wildlife or root depth etc...although he will adapt to specific conditions of course, but it's more about how it looks and balances out.

[gardentours]

What your sister-in-law did with her field is amazing. The wild asters are absolutely stunning.

[YarrowPressburg]

I really like your work, and I watch many of them over and over again, hoping aspects will sink into my head, meanwhile using a lot in the creation of my two year old garden in a damp rainy climate that I am not used to, coming from the desert south west, trialing plants to see what does what I want, a natural bee friendly environment with a few veggies mixed in. Thanks again for your lovely program!

[jennifersauer]

Fantastic episode, Alexandra. We are preparing to extend the bed at the back of our yard so that it wraps around to provide a natural screen (rather than a fence). I’ve been dreaming about using these principles and your video has made me anxious to start! I can do this! 😊 Cheers!

[cerridwencottagediary]

I love how detailed your explanations are rather just brief overviews. I leave all the dying stems and seedheads for wildlife but usually have to cut them down early February so the snowdrops, hellebore and crocus can be seen

[titosrevenger]

Piet Oudolf is one of my favourite landscape designers, and I've been very keen to see more of the new garden at RHS Wisley. I'm very much looking forward to the next in the series on naturalistic plantings.
Your YouTube channel is by far the best gardening channel on YouTube.

[barbarahenn-pander]

I very much appreciate your emphasis on design. And encouraging attractive naturalistic landscapes is so relevant right now. Thank you!!❤

[wahiine]

Absolutely love your videos. So packed with helpful information and really well presented. Thank you 🙏

[ewadynek]

Tkank hou for this episode. All these principles are much easier when given with the examples.All the best😊.

[margaretmichelsen]

When I first saw these new Oudolf gardens I didn't like them very much, but over the years I am liking them more and more. I enjoyed this video, it is quite timely since we are doing quite a large bed from scratch, (Large for us, small compared to the ones on your video) and I am attempting to bring these ideas in, it will be a mediterranean/ naturalistic/ cottage conglomeration... or abomination, time will tell! The plants are about 10 cm tall currently, Spring in Australia! So by the end of summer we may have something! When you are in Australia next we would like to invite you to visit!

[franceshoward]

such an interesting video and you have given us many different pointers for designs etc. The provincial Parks department in the province of Quebec Canada has a nifty way with dealing with runoff on steep mountain/hill paths. They place a piece of wood, usually a small young spruce tree, diagonally across the path from side to side so the rainwater hits the wood and is immediately channelled to the side and off the path. This prevents erosion and helps to keep the feet dry too. It's a cheap and effective way to deal with water pouring off a hillside and they do have plenty of little trees to use . The paths keep to their usual twists and turns according to the elevation but are kept reasonably dry, intact and woodsy.

[enigel]

The Vermont “garden” is absolutely fabulous! It truly looks like a fairyland.❤

[kathyswearingen]

Love your videos always learn and enjoy the beauty of whatever garden you are visiting; but the Wisley Oudolf garden is the most enchanting garden ever!

[maryheskin]

As usual very informative episode. Really appreciate your videos and the knowlegde you provide.

[margeryholmes]

Thanks for this episode, which was so interesting and informative with lots of food for thought, especially as I'm redoing the borders in my small garden. One of the best things about this video is NO MUSIC. THANK YOU!!

[LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Thank you for a very helpful garden tips.

[SpanishEclectic]

I'm convinced this naturalistic planting will work well in my larger open space, where I do have a slight slope. It has a very artistic look, with the swatches of color rather than set blocks like a formal garden. The weaving in of flowering plants is an exciting concept. I'll have to revisit this video when I've prepared the area...which will be after we fix the roof on the house and replace the windows. By the way, you look very smart in your black and dark denim look. I always appreciate your very well organized presentations with additional information included on the screen. Look forward to more fall planting discussions. Cheers!

[camillaluckey]

I am trying Mt Mint on hillside, sort of works like a grass. Love! Native in Western North Carolina. Also, I am using asparagus for the feathery ripplese especially in wind.

[jdakat]

I love this look. Thanks for sharing.

[mayb.wright]

Vermont! So you weren't very far from me. Would have loved to have hosted you. :) I love your sister-in-law's meadow. I have plenty of those flowers growing here as well, but what I've discovered is that golden rod - which I love - can be quite the bully. For the past few summers, I was so busy with one project, I ignored the rest of the gardens and the golden rod took over. Their root systems become so dense and virtually impossible to dig up. Lesson learned to keep an eye on things and chomp away like a deer from time to time. Blessings to you.