I thought it might be fun to kick off the new year in style with some gardening resolutions, a practice that may both motivate us and help to maximize our gardening potential. It goes without saying that there are many ways any of us can improve in our lives, community, relationships and even workplace. Setting goals is always useful (year around for that matter), but it seems like at the New Year holiday, resolutions large and small take center stage. I will skip the topics of losing weight, trying a new diet, quitting drinking or smoking, attending church more frequently or even learning a new skill. Maybe cut back on those streaming services? Good luck with that one. Or cut down your Facebook time? Yeah right, although we all definitely should. Quit buying lattes every day? This might help many of us! For my own sanity’s sake, I will stick to gardening here, as I am certainly vastly under qualified to counsel on any of these other “life issues”.
My hope is that you will consider any or all of these topics, and even add some of your own if needed, formulating your very own resolution list for the New Year in your own garden. So raise you right hand and repeat after me…
I will choose to go green whenever possible. This is one resolution I wish I could get the entire world to comply with, as utilizing natural/organic products in any garden is the way to go. Conversely, synthetic chemicals like neonics or systemics harms our pollinating friends and poisons our environment. Using organic fertilizers, soils and sprays (like NEEM OIL) not only breeds success but it is also vitally important to our local ecosystem’s health into the future.
I will visit my local garden center frequently. One of the most common questions I get year after year is “how do I make my garden look good year around?” Garden centers everywhere specialize in carrying exciting eye candy, plants that are in season for local gardeners throughout the year. Stopping in at least once a month will show these timely treasures off, allowing you to add interest month after month all throughout the year.
I will promise to do all that I can for our native birds and creatures big and small. Going green (listed above) will help protect our wildlife friends, but also incorporating natives and other plants that provide food and shelter really helps. Some of our creatures (rabbits and deer for me) can do some damage and provide seemingly endless frustration sometimes, but to me that does not change the fact that they deserve to be here as much as we do. Try not to maim or kill, but rather repel them to the neighbors. Then smile, wave and apologize profusely.
I will try to not be too OCD like Trevor. I am trying to be better and not shop-vac every piece of garden debris in the fall, leaving some things to just be as they are. Finding that balance between neat and natural is the key, allowing leaves to protect our soil and plants, all the while adding nutrients once decomposition happens. At least I don’t prune things into little ice cubes, spirals and globes… although maybe someday I will.
I will share extra divisions with gardening friends and neighbors. When you have extra gardening goodies, share the love and don’t send them to the great compost heap in the sky. Dividing that overgrown clump of Hosta, for example, means that you can add some back into the ground but then also share a division or two with a neighbor, colleague or fellow plant addict. Heck, some of these could even be potted up and donated to a worthy local cause or public garden.
I will step out of my box and try something new. I will speak for myself, and as a creature of habit, sometimes I can fall into a rut. Remind yourself to step out of that gardening comfort zone and try a new plant or embrace a new technique. Perhaps even a new color flower? I repeatedly profess the fact that pink is not my favorite color, but this year I added some hot pink annuals into my container mix and ended up loving the combinations. A small example, but I think you see the point. Challenge yourself to try something new and you could be surprised. If not, you can always go back… right?
I will amend my soils and create ideal growing mediums for all my plants. The world of soils and amendments can honestly be overwhelming at times, but doing some investigative research or speaking with a horticulturist can help. Soil composition can vary, but the needs of plants does not. Adding compost and other goodies to your soil can help breed success, allowing specimens to thrive in your landscape. Categories of plants like differing things, so take areas like the lawn, the vegetable garden, berries, roses, fruit orchards and all the other areas in your yard and utilize the best organic amendments for them to be successful.
I will embrace some of the imperfections of nature. Nature is never perfect and its randomness should be expected. Roll with the punches from Mother Nature, whether it be the rain, cold snaps, late frosts, bugs, diseases, weeds or anything else that challenges us in the garden. Embrace the battle, do your best, and if failure is imminent, remember that Mother Nature is not out to get you! Every time we learn something in the garden, we evolve a bit. Never forget that gardening is the ultimate exercise of trial and error – we can learn from someone else’s mistakes or fix our own. Either way you are embracing the imperfections of nature in a positive way.
I will continue my gardening education by attending classes, reading and speaking with local gardening gurus. This is an important point for all of us, including me. Believe it or not, a gardener is never all-knowing about everything! I go to classes all the time to expand my knowledge on this subject or that one, as should you. Whether these classes are free at the local garden center or more involved like the Master Gardener training program, the reward of continuing education is profound.
I will volunteer at a local arboretum, public garden or p-patch. Each and every one of us can bloom where we are planted, helping in our local gardening community. Sharing your passion for gardening and desire for more plant knowledge is incredible, and by volunteering at local gardens you can mingle with fellow plant lovers, sharing successes and failures. This will only help everyone down the road, both in your own garden and in the public space you are helping to maintain. Locally here in Everett, consider volunteering at the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens, a wonderful part of Legion Park that inspires visitors with its diversity of plantings, educational opportunities and fabulous art.
I am hoping that you got a chuckle out of some of these, but in all seriousness these are all things us gardeners can accomplish, without any doubt. As we head into a new year full of new possibilities, embrace some change and strive to be better, both in the garden and in your community. With all of the turmoil seemingly everywhere these days, it is an opportunity for all of us to rise up and stay positive. Be kind, share, smile and laugh, always treating others how you would like to be treated. It is the simple things that matter to me, along with all of the subtle things Mother Nature provides that we should note and celebrate. Gardening resolutions are important as they will help us be better, not only in our own individual gardening oasis, but in our local ecosystems too. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed the holiday season and wish you nothing but the best in life and in your gardens for 2026.
