New Year, New Yard: Planning for 2019

It’s officially 2019! You’ve probably started your resolutions – planning when you’ll be going to the gym and how you’ll be eating better. Well, why not have some resolutions for your yard, as well?

Image via HGTV

While the weather is still frigid outside, now is the time to start thinking about how you want to shape your yard for the new year. Before you know it, spring will be here, and it’s great to go into the season with a game plan. Here are a few things to consider:

Space

How big is your garden? How big is your yard, overall? The amount of space you have will not only inform the number of plants you can take care of, but also what plants will do best in the space you have. If you plan to do additional landscaping, you need to consider how everything will work together. Do you think you have enough room for both the vegetable garden and the pond? If not, now’s the time to prioritize what you really want before you commit.

Design

How do you want your landscaping to look? Formal, groomed gardens require more attention than a more carefree, casual garden. Think of whether you want multi-tiered levels for added height dimension, or if you’d rather keep things level. Things like benches and pathways are also something to think about when determining your design.

Care

Seriously consider how much time and effort you can contribute to your yard. It’s important to be realistic here, otherwise the vision you have for your garden will not fully come to fruition. If you travel often or have other time commitments, you may need a smaller garden or plants that are lower-maintenance.

Plant needs

Know your soil type and quality, including pH to determine the type of plants that will thrive in your garden. Take watering need, temperature changes, and light levels into account while planning this, as that will directly impact the plants.

Once you’ve thought about those key points, you may want to map out your garden. Whether you’re making large changes or very minimal changes to your landscape, having a plan mapped out helps you visualize the final product and make necessary adjustments before committing to any one design.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Once you have an idea of what your want your landscaping to look like in 2019, try implementing a few of these garden resolutions, as well.

Prevent Pests

Prepare this year by identifying what pests, weeds, and diseases have invaded your garden in the past. Once identified, you’ll be more prepared to face them come spring.

Preventative measures such as fences to keep large animals out of your garden will help in the long run. While you’re planning your garden, be sure to determine what plants are more susceptible to disease so that you can establish more hearty varieties in your garden this year.

Conserve Water

Especially important in drought-prone areas, conserving water is important for any garden. Be sure to choose the right mulch that locks in soil moisture and filters water quickly so the mulch doesn’t rot as easily.

Something to consider if you choose to focus on conserving water is to use native plants to your region, so you won’t need additional watering to preserve them.

Take on a Challenging Project

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

This is a fun way to get involved in your yard this year. Pick one area of your landscape and plan a project for you to tackle head on. Try building your own trellis, or starting a vegetable garden. There’s a lot of potential, and if a project goes wrong, you get a chance to try something new.