With winter comes the chance to slow down and reflect on what worked in the garden and what hasn’t. Besides a much-needed period of reflection, it’s also a great time to make a gardening wishlist to help you accomplish the things you didn’t manage to get done this year. Think of it as a new year’s resolutions list for your garden. With this in mind, we’ve pulled together an inspirational garden wishlist to hopefully help improve our collective gardens next year, with resolutions for every season.
In Winter, Let’s Resolve To:
Set Up a Bird Feeder
Winter is the perfect time to add a bird feeder to your garden to support the wild bird population. These feeders are incredibly important, as birds need to eat more during the winter to stay warm—however, many struggle to locate natural resources under the snow and ice, so an easy supply of food makes a huge difference!
Build a Compost Bin
If you don’t have one already, a compost bin is a great way to recycle plant material into something that’s incredibly soil nourishing. You can buy one at our garden center or even make your own with wooden pallets, which are the ideal size for a large composting bin.
Swap Seeds with Friends and Family
Hosting seed-swapping parties is a great way to learn more about other native plants and to socialize with fellow plant lovers. When organizing the seed swap, make sure to also include cuttings, tubers, and pre-started seedlings.
In Spring, Let’s Resolve To:
Start a Compost Pile
Spring is a great time to start a compost pile because you can put all the old plant material from spring cleaning around your yard to good use in your flower beds and garden. Keep in mind that some bins need at least 21 days to produce usable compost, so it’s best to plan ahead.
Start a Garden Planner
A yearly garden planner, whether online or in a notebook, is a great way to design your garden and stay on top of its planting and harvesting dates. Use your planner to sketch out vegetable beds or jot down a list of potential plant additions. Adding a garden planner to your arsenal will go a long way toward making you a better gardener in 2023.
Switch to Organic Fertilizer and Pest Control
Switching to organic fertilizer and pest control is a great way to enrich the soil in your garden. Organic gardening practices have tons of practical benefits, from more sustainable gardens to higher soil and plant quality. If you haven’t embraced the organic gardening philosophy yet, but would like to, this year is a great time to start!
Install a Rain Barrel
Setting up a rain barrel and using collected rainwater in your garden has many economic and environmental benefits. You’ll be able to conserve water, save money, and keep your plants a lot happier. When setting up your rain barrel, make sure you won’t be harvesting rainwater from sources that might leak pollutants into your water supply.
Plant Flowers For Bees and Pollinators
There are endless positives to planting more flowers for bees and other pollinators in your garden this summer. Consider planting milkweed for Monarch butterflies, and get your kids involved in the garden by planting sunflowers!
Learn to Identify Good and Bad Insects
Knowing the difference between harmful and beneficial insects will help you better manage your garden’s pest situation this summer. Beneficial insects pollinate our plants and aerate the soil, and so it’s good practice to identify and protect them.
Preserve Your Harvest by Canning
By learning how to can, you’ll be able to preserve your fruits and vegetables at peak flavor. The options are endless and delicious, from tomato sauces to jams and homemade pickles. Your pantry will thank you, and they also make incredible gifts.
Grow a Few Varieties of Lettuce
As lettuce grows best in the cooler weather of early fall, it’s the perfect time to try your hand at growing a few different varieties. Certain types of lettuce can take you from seed to salad in just a month, making them perfect options in case of an early winter.
Save Seeds From Vegetables and Flowers
Fall is the time for the big harvest and to start saving seeds. A great way to share your bounty with family and friends, seed saving is also a more sustainable way to grow your garden next season, as the new plants will adapt better to your environment and become more disease-resistant.
If you’re looking for items or inspiration for your 2023 garden wishlist, come visit us at Plant Perfect in Bismarck, ND, today! We have a wide selection of plants, tools, seeds, home decor, and advice that is sure to make your 2023 gardening journey a profound success!