Month-by-Month Gardening Resolutions
Updated: Dec. 16, 2021Your yard will have its best year yet when you set and keep these month-by-month gardening resolutions!
Ready for your best garden year ever? Start with these gardening resolutions, designed to give you a fuller, richer gardening experience. Learn, grow, and enjoy your flowers and veggies like never before!
January: Start a Garden Journal
Make this year the one you finally start documenting your garden experiences. Sketch your ideas, make lists from seed catalogs, capture inspiration, record what works…and what doesn’t. Try the simple route with a notebook, expand your journal with photo pages, or go digital and start a blog or other online journal.
February: Add New Houseplants to Your Collection
Longing for the fresh scent of growing things, and wishing you had your hands in the dirt already? Satisfy your gardening hunger with houseplants. They’re more than just pretty; houseplants offer health benefits like cleaner air. Try these top 10 hard-to-kill houseplants.
March: Embrace Technology by Using a New Planning or Identification Tool
Many of us look to gardening as a chance to leave screens and WiFi behind. But there are a variety of online tools that can enhance your outdoor experiences. Cold winter months are a great time to explore them. Try the Kitchen Garden Planner from Gardener’s Supply Co.
April: Attend a Gardening Class, Online or In-Person
With warmer weather on the horizon, get ready for a great year in your garden by learning some new skills. County extension offices often offer free or low-cost classes; contact them for a list. Your local botanical garden or garden club should have some great options, too.
Check out 13 ways to take your backyard garden from good to great.
May: Try to Attract One New Butterfly by Growing Its Host Plant
The best way to attract new butterflies to your garden is by providing the plants used by their caterpillars, called host plants. Each butterfly has its own host plant or plants, so you’ll need to do a little research first. Remember, caterpillars will be chewing on these plants so they won’t always look their best. Plant them in an area where they’re not highly visible if this will bother you as a gardener.
Discover myths and facts about butterfly host plants.
June: Grow Something New to Eat
Veggie gardeners tend to stick to tomatoes, beans, peppers, and other familiar edibles. Every kitchen herb garden has mint, parsley, and thyme. This year, branch out and try something new! Visit the garden center and get inspired to grow new veggies, like tomatillos and bok choy. And try these little-known herbs.
July: Visit a New Botanical or Public Garden
By this time of year, gardens are at their best in most places. Take advantage of the splendor and visit a new botanical garden or public garden in your area. You’ll find inspiration for your own garden, discover new plants, and maybe even meet some new and interesting people. If you really love your local garden, consider volunteering your time there for an even richer experience.
Discover 23 of the most beautiful gardens in America.
August: Take Photos of Your GardenÂ
Since most of us have cameras in our pockets most of the time these days (in the form of smartphones), make a resolution to actually take photos of your garden in its prime this year. Snap lots of photos of your flowers, trees, and garden visitors. Don’t worry about organizing them now. Save that project for snowy winter days.
Check out 14 proven hummingbird photography tips.
September: Dry Flowers and HerbsÂ
Some of your favorite garden flowers dry well for use in indoor arrangements. Sedums, lavender, asters, and chrysanthemum all work very well as dried flowers. Almost any herb can be dried for use in teas and other recipes.
Follow these tips for saving tomato and veggie seeds from your harvest.
October: Clean and Repair Tools Before Putting Them Away
Imagine if you opened your garden shed in the spring and every tool was clean, sharpened, and ready for use. Let this be the year you make that happen.
Fall cleanup: 8 garden chores you should never skip.
November: Serve at Least One Food at Thanksgiving That You Grew Yourself
Now’s the time to benefit from the new veggies and herbs you planted back in the summer! Take pride in your harvest and share your successes with friends and family at the Thanksgiving table. It’s also a good chance to urge others to give vegetable gardening a try.
Learn how to prepare your garden for winter in two days.
December: Give Gifts From Your Garden
Remember those flower photos you took over the summer? Use them to create photo calendars, fridge magnets, or unique Christmas tree ornaments from your best shots. Craft sweet sachets from lavender you grew, or give jars of dried herbs from your garden. Gifts of seeds saved from your own flowers are also special, so try your hand at making these throw-and-grow seed balls.
Check out 5 more DIY holiday gift ideas from the garden.
