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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Lucy Bellamy

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

Child checking on newly sprouted seedlings in small pots in a greenhouse.
Buying seeds instead of plants is the most sustainable choice when it comes to annuals and edibles. Photograph: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

With spring in full swing, it’s time to go shopping for plants. While adding to or creating a garden has obvious green credentials, some plants are more sustainable than others.

Whether it’s hidden peat, throwaway plants, high water and energy use, transport emissions or plastic pots that can’t be recycled, here’s what to avoid – and what is better to buy instead – for a truly sustainable plot.

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