Weeds, peat-free soil and lawn stripes: Wimbledon’s head gardener answers your questions

Recommended Garden Garden maintenance Weeds, peat-free soil and lawn stripes: Wimbledon’s head gardener answers your questions Ahead of the 2026 Championships, we spoke to Martyn Falconer about his gardening tips and experiences Save Comment speech bubble icon Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Emilia Hitching Reviews Writer, Home and Garden Emilia is a reviews writer for Recommended, specialising in home, garden and sleep product reviews, buying guides and deals advice. Previously, Emilia was sleep and wellness editor at Homes & Gardens where she worked with testers to find the best sleep products, from mattresses to sunrise alarm clocks. See more Published 26 June 2026 4:00pm BST Save Comment speech bubble icon Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Head gardener Martyn Falconer preparing the bushes, flowers and shrubs that covered the grounds ahead of Wimbledon 2019 Credit: John Nguyen/JNVisuals Emilia Hitching Reviews Writer, Home and Garden Emilia is a reviews writer for Recommended, specialising in home, garden and sleep product reviews, buying guides and deals advice. Previously, Emilia was sleep and wellness editor at Homes & Gardens where she worked with testers to find the best sleep products, from mattresses to sunrise alarm clocks. See more Published 26 June 2026 4:00pm BST You could walk through the grounds of the All English Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club without ever spotting Martyn Falconer, but you likely will have admired his horticultural handiwork. He’s the man who keeps the place looking lush and green. Falconer joined the team at Wimbledon in 1999 as a contractor. Now, over a quarter of a century later, he’s the head gardener, looking after everything from the ivy that climbs up the centre court walls to the hanging baskets in the viewing stands. I interviewed Falconer for our Readers Ask series, where members of the Telegraph Recommended Community put their questions to industry experts. From a day in the life of the Wimbledon gardening team to his opinions on peat-free composting, here are his answers. When did you start as head gardener and what’s your favourite moment so far?Fakhrul, West Midlands I’ve been head gardener since 2014. My favourite moment is the start of each championship, when the public comes through the gate at 10am and we’re ready for them. Every year, it’s worth waiting for. What’s the best thing about your job?Peter, London The people that we work with. Everyone at Wimbledon, from the gardeners to the offices to the catering staff, is amazing, all ready and waiting to reach the same goal. Everyone works as one. Martyn and his team spend their days ensuring that the gardens are looking tip-top, as well as preparing for the year ahead What’s a typical day for you and your team?Colin, South East Of course, it depends on the time of year. But at the start of each day, some of the team go out on site to make sure that the gardens are looking tip-top, for the members of the public or the staff or whoever we’ve got coming in. From my side, it’s slightly different. I’ve got lots of meetings and organising to do for the year to come. When I can, I like to get out and get my hands dirty, but that doesn’t happen as much as I’d like. What’s one gardening decision that we wouldn’t notice that has a big impact?Mark, London Now that peat is being banned in the UK, lots of places are having to go peat free. We’ve been trialling peat free for use in our petunias, and in 2027, we’re looking to go completely peat free in all of our hanging baskets. Peat-free soil is good because it stops the peat from being taken from the ground, but there are challenges; it doesn’t hold nutrients and water as well. So we’re looking at how we can incorporate different growing mediums and techniques to make sure the plants can take what they need. How do you get rid of bindweed?Anonymous It’s difficult. Keep digging and putting mulch down. You can put some cardboard down to block out sunlight and starve the weed of energy. Try and keep it as organic as possible. What are your top tips for getting rid of weeds?Lisa, South East Just mulching if you can and constantly getting out there with a fork, hoeing off weeds. Once they’ve been hoed off, the weeds can be compressed and left to die. Which year has been the most challenging to keep the plants in good condition?Helen, South West There have been many. Whether it’s raining or there are two weeks of full sunshine, those are both challenges in a different way. We’ve had to learn how to react to whatever comes our way. Have you ever been hit by a tennis ball while working?Eleanor, South East No! It has been close, though – one’s gone overhead. What measures are you taking to improve sustainability?Mal, East Midlands As well as our work on peat free, we’re looking into more climate-resilient plants. We still want that English garden feel, but we’d like to use less water. We’ve got an irrigation system so we can control how much water we’re putting on and reduce waste. So, there’s plenty that goes on behind the scenes. Have you ever had any problems with the players?Brian, London No, not the players. More often with the public sitting on the plants! The players are normally good. Martyn Falconer has been working for Wimbledon for over 27 years What’s your favourite flower?Boris, North West At Wimbledon, I would say the hydrangea. You get a lot for your buck, in the sense that you get lots of flower heads per plant so it gives you the impact we’re looking for. It’s probably not the most sustainable choice – it likes a lot of water – but it’s iconic to Wimbledon. Do you plan and grow plants to follow a certain colour scheme?Diane, South East Well, Wimbledon’s green and purple, so that helps, but it’s more the English garden ethos we’re looking to fulfil. We focus on pastel colours, pinks, nothing too garish. There are no bright oranges anywhere. What kind of weather gives you nightmares before a tournament?David, London Probably prolonged heat. Very hot days mean lots of work for the guys watering. But in the next breath, you might get a heavy downpour that can do as much damage. So we’re always looking up at the sky to see what’s coming. Do you have stripes on your lawn at home?Nigel, South West Yes, definitely. It looks great. Recommended Would you like to ask the next expert a question? Join the Recommended reader panel Join the conversation Show comments The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Related Topics Wimbledon Tennis, Gardens License this content You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Find out more here. Log In Subscribe Advertisement More Stories