Have you made your New Year resolutions yet? You may have made and broken a dozen already. But let’s start with a clean slate. Why not resolve to make resolutions that are actually achievable and ones that you’ll enjoy?

No promising to lose weight, run a marathon, to stop throwing things at newsreaders, or boost those savings. Don’t punish yourself with your resolutions - make some for yourself and your garden instead.

After all, New Year's resolutions are not just about setting goals; especially ones you have no realistic hope or expectation of actually achieving. They should be a celebration of the potential for transformation and improvement. Usually this applies solely to ourselves but why not include our garden as well? It gives us great enjoyment and we spend so long there too.

Why make resolutions as a gardener? The answer lies in the very nature of gardening itself – continuous learning, adaptation, and a deep-rooted (forgive the pun) connection to the cycles of nature. Let’s make some resolutions to improve our skills, our understanding and appreciation of our garden and nature and challenge ourselves with new projects.

But what New Year resolutions can you make as a gardener? Glad you asked. We’ve made a list of 15 achievable and worthwhile resolutions that any gardener, whether experienced or a newbie, can embrace. You’re bound to find at least one that will tickle your fancy. From starting a composting system to learning a new gardening skill, each resolution is a step towards a more rewarding, sustainable, and interesting gardening journey throughout the new year.

Resolutions for You and Your Garden

1 - Start a Composting System

It’s something we all know we should do but knowing and doing are different things. But grabbing the bull by the horns and beginning a composting system is an excellent way to naturally enrich your garden soil while doing a bit for the environment. Composting allows you to recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste which not only benefits your plants but also reduces waste.

Getting started is simple: choose a spot (usually a forgotten corner) in your garden for a compost bin or pile, and you’re good to go. Remember to balance green materials (like vegetable scraps) with brown materials (like dried leaves), and turn the compost regularly to speed up the decomposition process.

2 - Plant a New Vegetable or Herb

It’s always good to try something new. So, this year why not try planting at least one new vegetable or herb. This not only adds variety to your garden but can also help in crop rotation. And it gives you something new to try. Not only will you expand your knowledge you’ll have something different to add to your summer salads.

3 - Create a Watering Schedule

One thing we’re not usually short of in the UK is rainfall. But it’s still useful to make a watering schedule - especially for your polytunnel or greenhouse plants and vegetables. And we all know that proper watering is crucial for a healthy garden. Over or under-watering can harm plants, so understanding the needs of your garden and establishing a routine is essential. You might also invest in a rain gauge to monitor natural water supply and adjust your watering accordingly. And we all like to have the odd gadget here and there.

4 - Go Organic

This is worthwhile but sometimes not easy to achieve. Pledge to use organic products in your garden whenever possible. This means avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, which can be harmful to the environment and your health. Organic gardening supports biodiversity and promotes healthier soil and plants. Organic alternatives may not always be available and are sometimes too costly. But many organic solutions can be made from household items, reducing costs and environmental impact.

5 - Start a Garden Journal

This is something I started doing a couple of years ago and I really enjoy updating the journal and it’s so useful for remembering what I’ve planted and adding photographs is a lovely reminder of how my garden is growing and maturing. Promising yourself to keep a garden journal is such a rewarding resolution to make. Note down what you plant, when you plant it, how it grows, and any issues you encounter. Your journal can include photographs, sketches, and notes about weather patterns, successes, failures, and changes you observe. It’s a great way to learn from your experiences and plan better for future seasons. You can use a blank notebook or many shops sell nice looking books for you to use.

6 - More Pollinator-Friendly Plants

What a wonderful resolution this would be. Adding more pollinator-friendly plants to your garden is a simple yet impactful way to contribute to environmental conservation and sustainability. Moreover, these plants often provide vibrant colours and fragrances, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of gardens. Importantly though these plants attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, which are vital for a healthy ecosystem and successful fruit and vegetable gardens. Consider plants that bloom at different times of the year to provide a constant source of food for pollinators.

7 - Improve Soil Health

Something many of us don’t really put much thought or energy into. But a bit of an off-the-wall New Year resolution for gardeners would be to improve the health of your garden soil. After all, healthy soil is the foundation of a productive garden. It supports plant health and helps manage water and nutrient levels.

Help nature along by regularly adding organic matter to your soil, such as compost or well-rotted manure. Make a habit of testing your soil with a meter to understand its PH and nutrient levels, and record them in your journal.

8 - Try Crop Rotation

Whether you have a small vegetable patch or a large allotment, using crop rotation can significantly benefit your vegetables by reducing pest and disease build up and improving soil health. Plan to rotate crops in different families to different areas of your plot each year. This does need a bit of planning, so make use of your gardening journal. You’ll need to keep records to remember where each plant group was grown in previous years.

9 - Learn a New Skill

As gardeners we’re always learning about plants and nature. But let’s vow to expand our skillset. Resolve to learn a new gardening skill this year, whether it’s pruning, grafting, or starting plants from seeds. Learning something new will make gardening more enjoyable and productive. There are plenty of books and online videos you can study to make you an expert in just about anything.

10 - Reduce Water Usage

Aim to reduce water usage in your garden. This is not only environmentally responsible but can also be crucial in areas with water restrictions when that yearly hosepipe ban comes into effect. To make things easier you can collect rainwater where possible for garden use.

11 - Plan for Year-Round Gardening

A garden doesn’t have to be just for spring and summer. Make a resolution to use your garden for all 12 months this year. Try to plan your garden so that you have something growing in every season. This can mean planting winter vegetables, using greenhouses and polytunnels, or starting seeds indoors.

12 - Attract Wildlife

Making your garden more wildlife-friendly is always worthwhile. This includes birds, insects, and even small mammals. A diverse ecosystem can help control pests but will also add bags of interest to your garden. Start with something as small and simple as a birdhouse or feeding station or flowering plants that attract pollinators. You should also try to avoid using harmful chemicals in the garden that could harm wildlife.

13 - Experiment with Container Gardening

For those with limited space or challenging soil conditions, container gardening is a great way to garden and what better New Year resolution then to have more pots and containers? Even if you have a large garden, planted pots can add an extra dimension to your space. Experiment with different containers; an old bath, a chimney pot, a fire bucket; they can all be made into decorative garden features.

14 - Share Your Harvest

If you’re lucky enough to enjoy a bumper harvest or grow more produce than you can use, why not share your garden's bounty with others? Whether it’s giving fresh vegetables to neighbours, donating to a local food bank, or sharing seeds and cuttings with other enthusiasts, gardening is an excellent way to connect with your community and a very worthwhile resolution for any gardener.

15 - Dedicate Time for Garden Maintenance

This will be the hardest resolution to keep. I know many gardeners are so good at keeping on top of those little maintenance jobs but others are like me. Terrible at putting things off. I think my New Year’s gardening resolution will be to regularly dedicate time to garden maintenance. This includes weeding, pruning, mulching, and other tasks that keep the garden healthy and attractive. Maybe setting aside a specific time each week would make this easier?

Growing Your Garden With Your New Year Resolution

So, there you have it. Any of those float your boat? Whichever, if any, resolutions you make for your garden and yourself have a wonderful year and enjoy your garden.

Don’t forget to check out our range of amazing plants and ornamental trees to get your new year gardening off to the best possible start.