This year I resolve to:

Make a plan

January is the start of the new garden year. Now is the time to plan for a successful and enjoyable gardening experience. The following items will help guide you in making a plan.

Plant at the right time

It’s crucial to plant at the right time. Each plant has a window of time when the seeds can be started and a window of time when it can be transplanted. Know whether seeds should be directly seeded into the garden or can be transplanted.

Plant in the right space

Find out how tall and wide a plant gets at maturity before you buy it. Only plant what you have space for so you are not spending time struggling to get plants to stay within a space that is too small for them. Also, find out what the sun, soil, and water requirements are and make sure they match what you can provide. Don’t forget to rotate your vegetable crops by planting your tomatoes where your beans were last year, for example. That way, insects or disease organisms that target a particular crop have a harder time getting established.

Plant more vegetables, herbs, pollinator, and native plants

These types of plants feed the entire ecosystem, of which we are just one small part. Pollinators are the link between our food and us. Plan to provide the food and shelter they need.

Eliminate pesticides

Many times plants can handle some pest damage. Ladybugs will come along to eat the aphids, then spiders will eat the ladybugs, then birds will eat the spiders, and so on up and around the food web.

Compost more

Composting is the single most important part of gardening. Find here Green Apple Cleaning serving Annapolis. Composting at home creates a closed-loop cycle of nutrient recycling. It is where your organic matter goes and is transformed into the most valuable substance that you can possibly put into your garden other than your hand.

Provide trellises or cages as needed

Know ahead of time whether your plants will need staking or trellising. Be prepared to build or install this structure at planting time. It’s very difficult to support trailing or vining plants once they get big.

Mulch well, but not too well

Here are a few examples how using a mulch of compost, leaves, grass clippings, etc. will conserve moisture, deter weed growth, and decompose to enrich soil. On the flip side, allow some areas in your yard and garden to go unmulched to allow native bees some habitat. Many native, pollinating bees build homes to lay their eggs in areas of accessible soil.

Water carefully

Whether you hand-water with a hose or have state-of-the-art drip irrigation, the key to water conservation is knowing how much water plants need. This amount changes frequently from seedlings to mature plants and from cool, calm days to hot and windy ones.

Take time to enjoy

Make this your highest priority. Enjoy the magic of a flower bud opening, the buzz and flutter of pollinators, and the growth of delectable fruits and vegetables.

Happy Gardening!