As we leave winter behind and head in to the brighter days of March, most of the coldest weather is behind us and the promise of another growing season is on the horizon. For March's plant of the month we are going to look at planting small pots of perennials ready to be grown for a riot of summer colour. Planting small pot perennials in March and April give you the widest range of perennials, these often include taller growing varieties which aren't always available in the s

- It's good for your heart! All that digging, planting and weeding burns calories and strengthens your heart. - Stress reduction. Gardening can help reduce signs of depression and anxiety. It gives you a chance to focus on something and put your mind to work with a goal and a task in mind. - It makes you feel good. A healthy bacteria that lives in soil, can increase levels of serotonin and reduce anxiety. -. Gardening can improve your hand strength along with strengthening m

1. Plant a tree. 2. Water the way nature intended with rain water from a water butt. 3. Go peat free or reduce peat usage in your garden. 4. Make your own compost or use your local councils green waste/ food waste bins. 5. Pull up a slab in your patio, if 30 million household each did this and plant beneficial plants this would improve carbon storage and decrease air pollution. 6. Plant for pollinators look out for the RHS plant for pollinators logo on our pots. 7. Grow your

Everyone has opportunity to make a positive impact, something that seems small such as a window box full of pollinator-friendly flowers will have an effect. There are about 30 million gardeners in the UK, and this has amazing potential if we all take a step in a greener direction. The total area of our gardens put together is more than half a million hectares – about the size of Norfolk! Extreme weather events related to climate change such as floods and heatwaves are increas

Most plants actually prefer rain water to tap water. Consider installing a water butt to catch rainfall from the roof of your house, shed or greenhouse. - Use mulch (barks or gravels) around plants and only water in the morning or evening as it reduces evaporation and wastage. - Think about choosing plants that can thrive without too much water such as lavender, geranium, verbena and alliums. Most plants with grey leaves or fine foliage such as rosemary. - Let your lawn go br