New Year! Fresh start! You may be listing down your 2022 New Year’s resolutions — eating healthier or exercising more — but don’t forget to appreciate other aspects of your life, like your garden. Gardens are a positive and calming sanctuary, which is reassuring because, while our world remains uncertain (and scary at times), we can rest assured that they, no matter how big or small, can provide us with peace, inspiration, pleasure, and, just maybe, a couple of salad ingredients.
Make a gardening New Year’s resolutions that will motivate you to produce an even more beautiful, fruitful, and satisfying garden. Here are a few goals to add to your list:
- Start a garden journal
Take more photos and start a 2022 gardening diary to track the progress of your garden during the growing season. Even just the view out the kitchen window could vary dramatically as the year progresses. On the first day of each month, take a shot of your garden from the same vantage point, and by the end of the year, you’ll have a fantastic photo album of your garden’s development. You’ll be surprised by the things you have accomplished. You can use your smartphone to easily track your progress. - Organize your tools
While it’s easy to dump your favourite gardening gloves or best pair of pruners in a random bucket in the back corner of the garage, you may have difficulty finding them when you need them. Rather than wasting time looking for your tools, commit to getting them organized and maintaining them that way. You’ll be able to take better care of your yard if your tools are constantly available.
- Reduce the size of your lawn
Give yourself more space to garden. Lawns require a lot of upkeep and cost a lot of money. You’ll spend less time behind the lawnmower and spend less money on fertilizing, watering during droughts, and re-seeding in the spring and fall if you replace a portion of your grass with shrubs, perennials, or even vegetables. You can even start this effort right now by dying a section of your grass organically. Simply choose a grassy area and cover it with compost and aged manure. The land should be suitable for planting and mulching by spring. - Take care of pests
You’ll have to deal with unwanted guests in your garden, such as squirrels, rodents, insect pests, and weeds, no matter where you live in the country — but don’t be put off by this! Rather, vow to be prepared.
Regularly check for weeds that may emerge as the earth thaws, and eliminate them as soon as possible. If a particular area, such as your vegetable garden, is known to attract bothersome animals, fence it off before sowing seeds. Certain plant species are more susceptible to pests than others, so do your homework before adding a new plant to your yard. You can also reach out to pest control experts for help and guidance on making sure your garden remains pest-free.
- Join a gardening club
There are a lot of other people that have the same interests as you do. Share your passion for gardening with others, inspire novice gardeners, acquire new tricks from experts, learn 2022 garden trends, and have fun while doing it. The majority of garden clubs also work on worthwhile projects such as beautifying parks, roadsides, and vacant sites so you can also allot your time doing something beautiful for the community. Some may even provide flower design, landscaping, or organic gardening classes. - Be more water-conscious
Guessing whether the year will be wet or dry is difficult. Instead, take the necessary precautions when it comes to water use. This entails replacing old, inefficient spray heads with drip irrigation and installing a smart irrigation controller. You can also use mulch because it aids in the retention of moisture in the soil for your plants. Wherever there is bare soil, add at least a 2-inch covering. Also, choose plants that are local to your area; they will survive without a lot of extra watering or other attention.
- Plant more native plants
This will make your life a lot easier! Flowers, shrubs, and trees that are native to your area are tailored to your soil and environment. They are easy to grow without pesticides or fertilizer. They also respond to adverse weather conditions, such as droughts or bitter winters, better than hybrids and non-natives. Native plants also provide food and critical habitats for birds and beneficial insects in your area. - Create a compost bin
Ditch the toxic chemicals and turn to organic compost. You don’t need a large area to make garden compost. Garden centers and internet retailers sell little composters about the size of a patio grill, which can turn kitchen scraps, leaves, or yard debris into nutrient-rich material for your potted or in-ground plants. You can also build your bins out of 4×4 poles and strong gauge wire or slatted boards. Safeguard local waterways and all living animals by using safe and natural solutions.
- Leave grass clipping on your lawn
By leaving grass clippings on your lawn, you are replenishing the soil in your yard with much-needed moisture and nutrients. Leaves decompose over time and supply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil without the use of expensive chemical fertilizers. This easy approach will save you the time and effort that would have been spent on bagging your grass. It will also keep up to 20% of your household waste out of the landfill. Grass clippings are free, and grasscycling can help you avoid using chemical fertilizers altogether. - Grow indoor plants
Your love for gardening shouldn’t be limited to the outdoors. Indoor plants have numerous advantages, including greening a room, improving emotions, increasing oxygen levels, and providing visual design interest. You can discover a green pal for every bright corner and gloomy cranny of your home with a little houseplant know-how. By adding houseplants this year, you can nurture yourself with nature and surround yourself with new life and growth. - Try a new project
Trying something new in the garden, whether it’s a weekend activity like creating your own concrete planters or sprucing up your garden beds with some striking edging, is part of the enjoyment. Perhaps you’d like to try your hand at making your own trellis or a broken brick patio? The garden design ideas are boundless, but whichever you choose, you’ll undoubtedly gain new abilities and a sense of success. If something doesn’t work out, you can always charge it to experience and start a new project
- Garden More
It’s a new gardening year, and there are always more things to learn and do. This resolution is simple — go outside and enjoy your green space even more. More hand weeding, planting, pruning, or simply admiring your plants are all possibilities. You can reduce your stress levels by spending just 20 minutes a day outside in nature. So make it a point to stop and smell the flowers now and again. While sipping your morning coffee, take a few seconds to observe the birds and butterflies at work. The more you can make your outdoor space a nice and soothing environment, the more you’ll appreciate all of your hard work.
It’s a New Year, a new garden, meaning it’s a new beginning and new possibilities, both in life and in your environment! This could be your best garden yet.
If you need some help with maintaining your plants and trees, professional help is at your disposal. Great Northern Regreenery provides tested and proven tree services in Newmarket, Bradford, King City, Aurora, and Alliston. Call us at 1-877-775-7444 today!