How to create your own Piet Oudolf garden planting plan

Piet Oudolf is one of the most influential garden designers of our time, renowned for his pioneering approach to planting design. His naturalistic style, which embraces perennials, ornamental grasses, and plants with structural interest, has transformed gardens across the world. From the High Line in New York (see Wikipedia) to the Lurie Garden in Chicago and the Hauser & Wirth garden in Somerset, his designs showcase an ever-evolving tapestry of plants that provide beauty throughout the seasons.

Discover our selection of plants curated by Piet Oudolf

But what makes a Piet Oudolf garden so unique, and how can you create one in your own space? Read on to discover the principles behind his designs and how to bring them to life in your own garden with a curated selection of plants from Farmer Gracy.

What defines Piet Oudolf’s garden designs?

Oudolf’s approach to gardening is far removed from traditional, neatly manicured flower beds. Instead, he favours a wilder, more natural aesthetic that mimics the look of meadows and prairies. His philosophy is deeply rooted in ecology, sustainability, and year-round interest. Here are the key elements of his style:

1. Focus on structure and texture
Rather than designing around fleeting blooms, Oudolf prioritises the shape, texture, and form of plants. He considers how they look in every stage of their life cycle, from fresh spring growth to autumnal seed heads and winter silhouettes. Even after flowering, many of his chosen plants continue to add visual interest, standing tall through the colder months.

2. Perennials and grasses take centre stage
Piet Oudolf’s gardens are dominated by perennials and ornamental grasses, which blend seamlessly to create movement and structure. Swathes of grasses like Miscanthus and Panicum provide a soft, flowing backdrop, while long-flowering perennials such as Echinacea and Veronicastrum add vibrant bursts of colour.

3. Naturalistic planting scheme
Inspired by wild landscapes, Piet Oudolf avoids rigid planting schemes in favour of an organic, flowing arrangement. Plants are grouped in large drifts, allowing them to intermingle naturally. The result is a garden that feels immersive and dynamic, constantly shifting with the seasons.

4. Seasonal interest all year round
An Oudolf garden isn’t just about summer. His plant selections ensure that there is something to admire throughout the year. Spring bulbs provide an early burst of life, summer perennials reach their peak, autumn foliage takes centre stage, and winter seed heads offer stunning sculptural elements.

5. Biodiversity and sustainability
Piet Oudolf’s gardens aren’t just visually stunning—they also support wildlife. His plant choices attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while seed heads provide food for birds in winter. He also favours tough, drought-resistant plants that require minimal maintenance, making his gardens as practical as they are beautiful.

Discover our selection of plants curated by Piet Oudolf

Creating your own Piet Oudolf-inspired garden

If you’re inspired by Piet Oudolf’s approach, you can incorporate his principles into your own garden. Whether you have a large space or a small urban garden, the key is to choose the right plants and create a design that embraces nature’s rhythms. Here’s how to get started:

1. Plan for a natural look
Start by sketching out a loose plan, focusing on how different plants will interact with one another. Avoid rigid rows or formal borders—instead, aim for a relaxed, flowing layout where plants appear to grow naturally. Use large, sweeping drifts of the same species to create impact.

2. Select the right plants
Choosing the right plants is crucial to achieving the Oudolf effect. Look for a mix of structural perennials and ornamental grasses that will provide texture, height, and seasonal variety. To make things easier, Farmer Gracy offers a curated selection of plants chosen by Piet Oudolf himself, allowing you to create an authentic Oudolf-style garden at home.

3. Layer your planting for depth
To create the rich, layered effect seen in Oudolf’s gardens, mix plants of varying heights and forms. Use taller grasses and perennials towards the back or centre of beds, with lower-growing species filling in the gaps. This will create a tapestry-like effect that changes through the seasons.

Discover our selection of plants curated by Piet Oudolf

4. Allow for self-seeders and natural spread
One of the joys of a Piet Oudolf-inspired garden is its ability to evolve over time. Allow self-seeding plants like Verbena bonariensis and Eryngium to establish themselves naturally. This will enhance the organic, naturalistic feel of the space.

5. Embrace the beauty of decay
Unlike traditional gardening, where plants are often cut back at the end of the season, Oudolf encourages gardeners to leave seed heads and dried stems standing through winter. This not only provides architectural interest but also supports wildlife, offering shelter for insects and food for birds.

6. Think about movement and light
Grasses play a huge role in Piet Oudolf’s designs, adding a sense of movement and catching the light beautifully. Position plants where they can sway gently in the breeze, and consider how they’ll look in different lighting conditions—early morning sun and late-afternoon light can create magical effects.

Bringing the Piet Oudolf style to your garden

The beauty of Piet Oudolf’s planting style is that it works in gardens of all sizes. Whether you have a sprawling countryside plot or a small city garden, you can incorporate elements of his philosophy by selecting the right plants and adopting a more relaxed, natural approach to design.

By choosing plants from Farmer Gracy’s exclusive Piet Oudolf selection, you can ensure that your garden is filled with species personally chosen by Oudolf himself. This collection makes it easy to achieve the distinctive, textural planting that defines his gardens.

Why choose Farmer Gracy’s Piet Oudolf selection?

• Curated by Piet Oudolf — The plant selection reflects his signature style, making it easy to recreate his look.
  
  
• Quality plants — All plants are carefully sourced and grown to ensure the best results in your garden.
  
  
• Perfect for naturalistic gardens — The collection is ideal for creating an Oudolf-inspired landscape with minimal effort.

Piet Oudolf: The master of naturalistic garden design

Piet Oudolf’s gardens are a testament to the beauty of nature when it is allowed to flourish in an unrestrained, yet carefully considered way. By focusing on structure, movement, and seasonal interest, you can create a garden that evolves beautifully throughout the year. With the Farmer Gracy Piet Oudolf collection, bringing this world-renowned style into your own garden has never been easier.

Visit Farmer Gracy’s Piet Oudolf plant selection today and start your journey towards a stunning, naturalistic garden.