As 2021 winds down and we look forward to a new year, I wanted to talk about resolutions. Not your personal plans to eat better or exercise more in 2022, but your ambitions for your garden next year. Now is the perfect time to think about what you want to do in the new year and make a plan, so that when spring rolls around, you are ready to act.
To help out, here’s my list of 10 resolutions for the new year.
- Have a bird feeder. Actually, this is one you can do right now. Birds are even more reliant on us right now than during the warmer months, so outfit a nearby tree with a bird feeder and keep it well stocked.
- Buy or make a compost bin. You can purchase a composter for anywhere from $50 to $500, but it’s also easy enough to make one for about $20 or less. Good for the environment and good for your garden.
- Learn to prune properly. Invest in good pruning shears (we have plenty at Warner’s) and learn how to take care of your trees. We have pruning guides for both deciduous and conifer trees.
- Ask your relatives what they planted in their gardens. During your holiday get-togethers, compare gardening notes with your nearest and dearest. Find out what they planted this past season. It might just inspire you!
- Plant a fruit tree. Been envious of your neighbors with their fresh pears, peaches or apples? Try your hand at planting a fruit tree this year. Not only will you get delicious eats, you’ll increase the value of your property.
- Test your soil. If you haven’t before, soil tests will help you amend your garden beds and get fuller, healthier plants.
- Explore native and naturalized plants. Native and naturalized plants evolve with the local climate and typically require less upkeep. For those of us in the high desert, this means plants that usually require less watering than non-native species.
- Invest in a rain barrel. One of the blessings of our region is the annual monsoon season. Having a barrel to capture rainwater is a great way to be more water wise in 2022.
- Take care of bees and other pollinators. Absolutely essential in our ecosystem, pollinators account for about a third of the food we eat. Think about a bee condo or put in plants that are loved by birds, bees and butterflies. Here’s our suggestions for bees and another for butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Make plants your gift of choice in 2022. It could be a rose bush for Mother’s Day, mums in the fall, poinsettia at Christmas or houseplants anytime of year. Plants are a lovely, living gift that your recipients will enjoy for a long time to come.
And there you have it – my top 10 New Year gardening resolutions. If you have any questions or need any help as you plan for the new year, please give us a call. The nursery will be open every day until 1 p.m. on December 24. Then we are taking a break between Christmas and New Year’s Day weekend, returning on Jan. 3, 2022.
Happy holidays and happy gardening,
Misti