Start small, pick perennials and go peat-free: how to buy plants sustainably

Gardeners can reduce waste and environmental impact by choosing long-lived plants, avoiding black plastic pots, and starting with smaller, peat-free specimens, according to a new guide [1]. The guidance recommends selecting perennials, shrubs, and trees over resource-intensive bedding plants designed for single-season use [1]. To cut plastic waste, buyers should seek alternatives to non-recyclable black plastic pots, such as biodegradable coir pots that can be planted directly into the soil [1]. Starting with smaller plants in 9cm pots leads to easier establishment and less water usage than larger specimens [1]. Award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson notes, ‘Smaller plants experience less transplant stress, so they settle in quickly and extend their roots into the soil more easily’ [1]. The guide also advises choosing peat-free plants to protect carbon-storing peatlands, suggesting buyers use the RHS website to find 100% peat-free nurseries [1]. For maximum sustainability, growing plants from seeds or selecting perennial bulbs are recommended options [1].