HTA launches ‘It Starts with a Pot’ campaign to promote growing plants

The Horticultural Trades Association is looking to help get people growing plants this spring by launching the ‘It Starts with a Pot’ campaign.

The campaign is designed to show people that gardening does not have to be complicated but that it can be straightforward and fun.

Carol Paris, HTA chief executive, said: "Through this campaign we are hoping to encourage more people to enjoy their outdoor space this spring.

"We are trying to demystify gardening and demonstrate how just by planting a few pots, or indeed any other containers, you can provide colour and impact to your outdoor space effectively."

There will also be plenty of social media activity including a Pinterest page which already includes plenty of inspirational ideas and Twitter activity too using the hashtag #plantapot.

The HTA is also offering some ideas to shops and retailers to help raise awareness amongst customers:

1. Product merchandising - putting plants with alternative containers like welly boots, tea cups, watering cans, clogs, shopping bags etc.
2. Feature displays - examples of small space gardens grouped together to create a centre piece or individually positioned around the garden centre.
3. Occasions - promoting pots and containers suitable for gifts on occasions/events such as Mothers' Day, Easter Day, World Cup, Halloween, Christmas.
4. In store kids' activities - plant a pot for Mothers' Day, decorate a pot, making bird feeders from pots, making paper pots, recycled pots.
5. Themed pots - grouping plants to create recipe pots for cocktails, chefs, salad, grow your own and showcase by placing examples in the café, cookware area and so on.
6. Seasonal pots for spring, plant of the month pots.
7. Planting demonstrations and activities.
8. Plant pots in cafes - growing herbs on the table, bread in pots - helping to making the connection between growing and eating.
9. Competition to grow in the most unusual container and post onto your Facebook page or bring in store to display.
10. Interesting and fun displays of pots in store.

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"Plus it doesn't matter if we all know plants are better value. I'd make the point of this to the customer but if they want trough grown at the extra cost that's their choice I'd just do it"