At Longmeadow Monty is planting bulbs in pots and around the garden for an explosion of spring colour. Carol Klein travels to Yorkshire where she takes a close look at the enormous colour range and form of a late season perennial, the salvia. Mark Lane is in Oxfordshire looking at how ornamental grasses can be used in planting design to create exciting combinations. Arit Anderson gets to grips with growing concerns about the use of plastics in the horticultural industry, and we find out from environment minister Michael Gove about any future plans for controlling its use and improving recycling.

Monty tackles three seasons of gardening this week when he makes additions to his spring garden, gives advice on how to dry and preserve herbs for winter and plants up a container to give interest from now until spring. Carol celebrates one of the plant successes of an extraordinary summer - the canna.