Oehme was born in Germany and became an apprentice at Bitterfeld Horticultural School. He then studied landscape architecture at the Technical University of Berlin.In 1957 he moved to the United States to work for Baltimore County Parks Department. The practice with James van Sweden was formed in 1977. They have specialised in herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
