Ideas to consider …

  • Reuse all your plastic labels and pots until they wear out

  • Use course bark as a mulch to conserve moisture, reduce weeding and prevent compacted soil

  • Use thick layer (5-8cm) of mulch whether organic or stones after heavy rain to keep water in the soil

  • Use bottle corks as cane toppers and twigs and pollarded stems as plant supports

  • Use shower water and washing up water to water pots and bedding

  • Find space for more water butts

““We are now painfully aware that we face a climate and biodiversity crisis, and that every effort counts. The RHS is in a unique position to harness its science, reputation and reach to help address this in a positive way”
”
— Keith Weed, 2022 RHS President

Seven things you can do right now

With thanks to the RHS. For further information ideas and resources click here

PLANT A TREE - Trees are brilliant at drawing down carbon from the atmosphere

WATER THE WAY NATURE INTENDED - Switch from mains to rains in your garden to save carbon

GO PEAT FREE - Peat provides the largest carbon store on land

MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST - Every 1kg of homemade compost typically saves over 0.1kg fossil CO2 emissions

PULL UP A PAVING SLAB - Garden soil and perennial planting plays an important role in storing carbon

ELECTRIFY YOUR GARDEN - If the 21% of gardeners who use power tools switched to green energy electric tools (or hand tools) it would save enough carbon equivalent to drive round the plant 29,820 times

EAT MORE HOME GROWN, UK and local and seasonal fruit and vegetables

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BBC Gardeners World has a 'Growing Greener ' series available at gardenersworld.com/podcast

Arit Anderson has produced these five Podcasts each 30 minutes long discussing the following topics:

  1. Sustainable garden design

  2. Harnessing the power of plants

  3. Waterwise gardening

  4. Creating Soil for life

  5. Growing food Sustainably

alternatives to roundup

We are all trying to avoid the use of harmful pesticides in our gardens. The Consumer Notice Group has come up with some useful suggestions. Click here for more information