We’ve had a few days of bitter cold, I know I’d rather spend my days inside when it’s this cold. So now is a great time to make a plan on what needs to be done in the landscape for the coming year!
Right about now you may have an influx of gardening catalogs arriving at your doorstop. Grab them and get to planning! It’s a great time to plan on what annuals you may want to include in your outdoor planters or in your planting beds. If you have a green thumb it’s also a great time to start selecting seeds for starting indoors, as the time to start them will be March/April! I like to review how my annuals did the previous year (sometimes that new plant just doesn’t pan out like you thought it would) or I may decide to change up my color palette. I select my go to favorites and then do my research on new and upcoming annuals. Every year is a little different! I like to check out the Proven Winners first!
Be sure to review your perennial garden. Think about what performed well, what is outgrowing it’s designated space, what didn’t perform well. Make a plan on possibly thinning plants, moving them to better suited locations or if they need to be divided. When the season hits us we often forget what needs to be done and we don’t want to miss those opportunities!
Make plans by using sketches, photos or notes from the previous year to plan for the new year!
Plan and budget for new projects (or like me completing old projects!). For example maybe your front walk is starting to crumble, time for an upgrade possibly, or you’ve always wanted to have your own vegetable garden and finally have the time to put one in, or finish those projects that just never got completed from the year before. Make a plan and stick to it! You’ll be thanking yourself when all is complete and you have the best landscape in the neighborhood!
This pallet of bluestone is waiting for spring to complete a late fall project from last year!
Lastly make sure all your garden tools are ready for the new year. Does you lawnmower need a tuneup, now is the time to get that complete. Do you have all the hand tools you need, maybe it’s time for a new pair of hand pruners, or that old broken shovel needs replacing. You don’t want to waste your garden time by running around trying to get all the supplies you need.
