To add to campys suggestion about landing. When you ease down to about 3 inches off the ground. HOLD IT THERE... 3 inches as LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG as you can. Dont let it climb to 4 inches hold it there and it will sit as gentle as a feather. The guys I have trained have always had to overcome the urge to stop flying at about 1-2' and let the plane drop to the runway resulting in a hard landing usually with a bounce or two afterwards.
If you will float as long at 3 inches as you can you will land softer and take up less runway because you will be a little slower at touchdown.