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Wimbledon Moves to Drought‑Tolerant Planting as Hydrangeas Face Possible Removal

Officials say hotter, drier summers driven by record June temperatures will force changes to preserve Wimbledon’s English‑garden look.

Overview

  • On July 1, tournament horticulture leads confirmed plans to relocate some hydrangeas into shadier sites and to remove others if extreme heat persists.
  • Grounds staff will increase drought‑tolerant plantings such as lavender and other hardy perennials to reduce water demand while keeping the venue’s colour palette.
  • Organizers have ruled out overtly Mediterranean species like rosemary and olive trees for aesthetic reasons even as they test new varieties in projects such as the Hill trial.
  • Wimbledon is continuing long‑running turf research with Dutch growers, will move to peat‑free compost in hanging baskets next year, and is running plant trials to find resilient grasses and flowers.
  • The changes follow record June heat that has already triggered Wimbledon’s Wet Bulb Globe heat rule and caused a Roehampton qualifying suspension after a heat‑linked power outage, and they reflect a tradeoff between heritage visuals, player safety, and water use on the 42‑acre site.