Zero carbon and climate change Action for residents

Sustainable planting advice from our expert teams

Our arboriculture (tree) teams are expert at planting in Manchester. Here’s their advice on planting designs for your home or community project.

Planting around pavement trees

Pavement trees are already in a challenging environment. So, we must ensure they have the best chance of survival. Adding plants to tree pits means more competition for water, nutrients and space. Bulbs are a good option. They’re dormant for most of the year and need less water than most other plants.

Choosing bulbs for your design

Bulbs are often a cheap way to create a great floral display. Select varieties that flower at different times of the year and plant them together. This will give you a long succession of blooms – from late winter to early summer. Our favourites for tree pits are crocus, muscari, camassia and tête-à-tệte daffodils.

Planter gardening

Plants in planters need to cope with limited water, space and nutrients. So, it's important to choose plants that can survive in these conditions. Planters can dry out fast in full sun.

Mediterranean perennials are a good choice for sunny spots. We like lavender, rosemary and sage with creeping thyme (for ground cover). Prune ‘woody’ herbs like these often, so they don’t become leggy and too large. Planters in shady spots will need more shade-tolerant planting, such as ferns.

Nasturtium are great plants for filling gaps. Sow seeds straight into spaces. And enjoy the cascading, round leaves and attractive flowers that will appear. Bulbs are a great option for some early-season colour.

Use less soil in planters by filling the base with layers of logs, sticks and leaves topped with compost. This mixture can keep moisture and boost nutrient levels.

Patio fruit trees can live in large pots. Use the largest pot you can. Choose a self-fertile variety (doesn't need other trees to pollinate). And look for a graft to a dwarfing rootstock.

The perennial question

Perennials die back when their season is over but will come back and regrow year after year. Using perennials helps to ensure projects are sustainable. They can have a greater initial cost, but once established they can last for many years.

Annuals complete their full life cycle in one season. Try nasturtium, calendula and snapdragon. They’re easy to grow and can thrive even in poor soil. Often, annuals die off when the weather gets too cold. But some varieties such as Cyclamen can provide pops of colour even in winter. 

To find good pollinators, look for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo on plant labels. A full list of these plants is on their website at www.rhs.org.uk/plants-for-pollinators.

Free plants!

Take cuttings, collect seeds and allow your plants to reseed naturally. Sharing plants with neighbours and allowing ‘volunteer plants’ to grow can reduce costs. It also provides food for birds and creates a sharing resource with others in your community.

Want to get more hands on in your local community? Find out how to get involved