New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners – sounds cliche, but can actually be a great way to start the year off with intention in the garden!

Winter is usually a quieter time for green-fingered folk, but Spring is never too far away and if you wait to start planning until the sun is out again, you may find yourself too busy to make plans!

Whether you usually make resolutions or not, these 5 ideas for resolutions might just inspire you to do something new in the garden this year. Even if you start and don’t finish, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the excuse to get outdoors!

 

New Year’s Resolutions For Gardeners

 

 

Make Your Own Organic Fertiliser (ditch the chemicals)

 

In the UK, we have grey kitchen caddies to collect kitchen food waste: anything from teabags to potato peelings. We also have a brown bin to put it in, but did you know you could be using it to make your own compost?

Get a compost bin, or just pick a corner of the garden. Be aware that it will be stinky, though, so a bin is preferable for smaller spaces!

Rather than using compostable bags, just fill your caddy directly with organic waste, and empty it into your bin. You can leave it to compost, or to speed things up, stir it up with a garden fork or shovel ever few weeks. Watch out for the bugs! This isn’t the most pleasant thing to mix but it will help your compost to develop faster.

In hotter temperatures, or direct sunlight, you may be able to find a little useable compost at the bottom after just 3 months. It’s more likely to take a little over 6 months, but if you start now, you should have plenty by January 2019!

 

Grow Plants From Seed

 

It takes patience, occasionally a greenhouse and a lot of care, but why not make this the year that you grow plants from seed?

If you’re a beginner, go for something hardy like sunflowers, sweet peas and geraniums. If you’re a seasoned grower, then why not tackle something a little more picky?

Another challenge to set yourself is to propagate! Take cuttings (with permission) of the flowers that catch your eye when you’re out and about. Depending on the plant, you should be able to simply leave them in water or compost until roots grow, then plant and repot as necessary.

 

 

Give Nature a Chance

 

Recent years have seen a resurgence of the wildflower meadow. A little wildness goes a long way in a garden, no matter how small.

Wee wildflower meadows are a haven for pollinating insects in the summer, and offer shelter for small insects, birds and mammals at other times of year.

Section off a part of garden, sow your wildflower seeds and let’s see what nature creates!

 

Plant Herbs or Vegetables

 

How amazing is it to save money at the supermarket because you have your own produce to hand? If space is an issue, then plenty of herbs will grow well in small spots. Mint and Rosemary are hardy enough to survive in window pots. Chives, Coriander, Basil, Parsley, Thyme and Sorrell are other brilliant options for container planting.

If you’ve got the space, then try some veggies! Salad, spring onions and peas all grow well in UK climes, as well as potatoes, onions and garlic.

Feeling ambitious? Get a greenhouse. Tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, bell peppers and more can thrive in a warm, sunny spot!

 

 

Get Out in the Garden Every Day

 

And make sure it isn’t always to work! Choose a lovely corner and get yourself a bench for sitting out and enjoying a cup of tea.

A little bit of time outdoors, even just fifteen minutes every day, makes a huge difference to our mood.

Even if you look at your garden and just see lots of things that need to be done, try to prioritise a little time for relaxing in your green space. You deserve it!

 

Keep up with our blog for lots of gardening and outdoors ideas in 2018! Wishing you a very happy new year, from all of us at Stewart Timber.

Going to try some of these new year’s resolutions for gardeners? Let us know in the comments!