New Year’s resolutions for yard and garden
As we look forward to the new year, it is difficult to forget about the struggles and challenges of the past two years – nor should we. With that being said, I hope we can all move forward into the new year with optimism. A new year with a fresh, positive attitude can hopefully bring new opportunities to improve life.
This philosophy can easily be applied to the garden. During the last two years there has been resurgence in the interest in gardening. At the beginning of the pandemic, working in the yard was something we could safely do outdoors when we could not do anything else.
As the restrictions were being lifted, most people continued to maintain and improve their landscapes. They gained a sense of accomplishment that they did not want to let go. Now it is the season of making new year’s resolutions. I would like to make a few suggestions so you can continue to achieve the sense of pride and accomplishment you can find in the garden.
Gardening and landscaping are regional. We can search for information on the internet, but oftentimes the information is for places with climates dissimilar to ours. The ability of plants to survive in a certain region is determined by weather zones. These zones are for both cold and heat. Some plants also have certain soil requirements. This information is not always available when shopping for plants online.
It is okay to look for new plant ideas online, but before you make any decisions to buy, look for the plants at a local, independent garden center. If they are not selling the plant you are looking for, ask them why. They will be able to give you information about a particular plant based on their own experience.
Know your capabilities and limits. When you are planning a new garden, do not plant more than you can maintain. Remember, when a garden is first planted there should be plenty of open space when you are finished because plants need room to grow. If the plants are touching each other, with little open space on the ground, your garden is too crowded. When plants are competing for space they will not grow well.
There may not be enough space for a particular plant. For instance, you cannot plant an oak tree ten feet from the corner of your house, but there are plenty of other options. If you do not have a yard, you can always garden in containers on a porch or patio. If you do not have a porch or a patio you can grow certain tropical plants – with the right conditions – indoors.
Motivation for planting should be endless. In the last several years, there has been a shift within the horticulture industry, including education, to focus on sustainability. Sustainability is the practice of using plants and planting methods to support the environment. I agree with the importance of this. At the same time, there are a lot of people who simple like plants for the beauty they offer. These people should also be appreciated. With the exception of a few plants – especially those that are considered invasive – any plant is good for the environment.
No matter what your motivation is any time you plant something, that plant is a gift to the community. The benefits to the environment, as well as the beauty they offer, is something we all can share.