Top tips to keep your plants happy and healthy

What can we do to protect our gardens, parks and urban spaces from threats and plant health problems? Below our Plant Health team at RHS Garden Wisley shares a few top tips to keep our plants happy and healthy.

Check new plants coming into your garden or home

Always check your plants for health problems before purchase. Then grow them separately and check again after a few weeks to ensure they are problem-free before adding to your plant collection. If you spot unusual symptoms, contact the supplier or RHS Gardening Advice.

Encourage biodiversity in the garden

Attracting a wider variety of beneficial organisms, including insects, fungi and bacteria, will help you to reduce populations of less wanted visitors. On our website, you can discover what you can do to make your outside space a haven for wildlife.

Give your plants the right care and attention for their needs?

Strong, healthy plants are more resilient and are less likely to be severely affected by problems.

Make leaf mulch from healthy fallen leaves

This is great for wildlife, and improves soil health. Remember to pick up and dispose of diseased leaves and stems to prevent reinfection next year.

Keep your garden tools, greenhouses and waterbutts clean

This will reduce the risk of providing a refuge for plant health problems. Garden waste affected by plant health problems should be disposed of carefully, in most cases via council garden waste schemes.?

Find more advice for specific plant health issues on our website.