As we emerge from the haze of the festive season and into a New Year, many of us will be eager to get back to our gardens. While of course it’s a quiet time of year for growing, it’s a perfect season for looking ahead and planning, laying some of the all-important groundwork that will help our gardens flourish in the months ahead.
8 things to do in your garden in the New Year
1. Early Planting
If you’re planning to grow some early spring variants of your favourite flowers and vegetables, it could be time to get some seedlings on the go indoors. Requirements will vary, of course, so remember to follow the instructions on the seed packets, when it comes to how deep and far apart the seeds should be, as well as how much light, heat and water they require.
You may find these are different for these early-growing variants than the seeds you’re used to planting later in the year. If you’re planning to move them outside once they have matured, keep in mind that they will need hardening off, so think ahead to which pots and planters can easily be moved in and out when the time comes.
We have a handy seed sowing guide that gives you a good starting point on what seeds can be sown each month for best results, so be sure to check this out regularly throughout the year.
2. Plan Your Garden
Not all gardeners love to plan, but many of us do. And this is the perfect season to think ahead to the spring blossoms, summer blooms and autumn harvests you want to enjoy later in the year. Were you happy with the layout of your garden last year? Are there new plants or features you want to introduce, and where are the best spaces for them?
If you’ve been growing vegetables, is it time for a crop rotation, to support long-term soil health and set yourself up for a fruitful season. Planning might just involve some thinking time as you walk around your space, or you might enjoy mapping your garden out on paper and mark up what you plan to do with it in the year ahead.
3. Inspect and Clean Your Tools
Blunt secateurs and mud-caked tools may await you when you open up your shed in January. The start of the year is the perfect time to check your tools, see what might need fixing or replacing, and get out your sharpener, cleaning rags and oil. Does your mower need servicing? Are your wooden-handled tools in good nick? These are the implements that will be a big part of your gardening activities throughout the year, so it's worth taking a moment to inspect, clean and repair them now.
4. Check Soil Health
This is also a great moment to test soil pH and nutrient levels and take any action that might be needed to improve soil health. Do you need to add compost, organic matter or fertiliser? Because you have some time before the growing season, you can plan for gradual and more natural soil remedies, which many gardeners prefer to more chemically based, rapid solutions. For example, if you’re working out what to do with the remains of your Christmas tree, pine needles can help lower pH levels in soil.
Equally, wood ash can help to raise it. When it comes to pH levels, it’s always important to start with a test, to check what action is needed, so that you don’t end up lowering when you should be raising, or vice versa.
5. Prune Dormant Plants
This is a great season to tend to your trees and shrubs. While they are dormant, you can prune them to improve their structure and promote healthy growth when those green shoots start showing. If you’re not sure, take some time to look up pruning tips specifically for the types of trees and shrubs you’re cutting back, so that you set them up for healthy regrowth for years to come.
6. Protect Plants
Depending on where you are based, frost may not have been much of a worry so far this year, but if it has been cold where you are, take some time to check plants for winter damage. We still have some chilly months ahead, so it might be a good idea to mulch around your plants to insulate roots and protect against frost in the remaining winter months.
If you already mulched at the end of Autumn, you might want to check whether any additional protection is needed. If you are overwintering plants in a greenhouse, they may need checking as well, to ensure that moisture levels are manageable. And while you’re there, make sure to check for pests, especially in any wrapped plants.
7. Plan for Pests
Talking of pests, we all know they’re part of every gardener’s life. So, this moment of quiet in the growing season is a good time to look into ways to protect your lovely plants from pests throughout the year ahead.
What strategies for pest management can you implement now, to prevent problems before they start? Which types of plants suffered the most last year, and which pests did you find yourself dealing with repeatedly? Take some time to research what you can do now to get ahead of those pesky pests this year.
8. Organise Seeds and Supplies
Set yourself up for productive, fertile and enjoyable months ahead in your garden by taking an inventory of the seeds and supplies you already have and making a list of things you need to replenish for the year ahead. Do you need to stock up on potting compost and fertiliser?
If you know what seeds are waiting for you, you might enjoy making a planting plan for them. Which are you going to start off on windowsills inside, which in the greenhouse, and which will you be scattering straight into the beds later in the spring? Were there flowers or vegetables that you particularly enjoyed last year that you need to reorder? And where did you tuck those seeds that you collected in the Autumn? Getting everything in order now will set you up for a bountiful growing season ahead.
Happy new year to you and your garden!