New Year’s Resolution Ideas for your Garden

Each year’s end brings a new year’s beginning. Many people see the new year as a fresh start, and an opportunity to try something new. Here are some New Year’s Resolutions to kickstart your 2023 gardening journey:

  1. Selecting the Right Plant for the Right Place

    The entrance to the Exploration Gardens featuring Florida-Friendly plants.
    The entrance to the Exploration Gardens featuring Florida-Friendly plants. Photo: Tia Silvasy

    Have you ever bought a new plant and the second you bring it home and plant it in your yard, it immediately dies? Well chances are it might not have been the right place for the plant. Some things to consider when selecting a new plant are the light requirements, soil type, irrigation needs, and even the size of the plant when it is fully grown. If you need help selecting the right plant for the right place, you can check out the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design or contact your local Extension office.

  2. Take a Class at Your Local Extension Office

    There is a wealth of knowledge at your local Extension office! Classes can range from various Gardening Tips and Tricks, Introduction to Beekeeping, Nutrition & Health, Money-Management, and so much more! To view our upcoming classes in Orange County you can check out our Eventbrite page.

  3. Water Efficiently 

    Pop-up, in-ground sprinkler head and home irrigation system.
    Photo: UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

    Water is one of the most vital resources on the planet. Humans, plants, and animals all need it to survive. As our population rises and agriculture and related industries grow, so does our water use. A few ways to conserve water include watering in the early morning or evening to avoid water loss due to evaporation, install a drip-irrigation system in your garden, and create an irrigation schedule using automatic timers to prevent overwatering.

  4. Follow the Central Florida Gardening Calendar

    Kale in raised bed
    Kale growing at UF/IFAS Extension Orange County. Photo credit: Naima Ibrahim

    Did you know that lettuce grows best during the cool season? Or that southern peas and sweet potatoes grow well during the warmer summer months? Following the Central Florida Gardening Calendar will help you maximize garden growth and decrease garden failures.

  5. Fertilize Appropriately 

    Throughout various times of the year, many counties across our state have fertilizer ordinances prohibiting the use of fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorous. This is an effort to protect the waterways from nutrient run off. If you need assistance with fertilizer recommendations and finding out the ordinances in your county, you can contact your local Extension office.

  6. Set a Weekly Weeding Schedule

    For many gardeners, weeding is a daunting task when you have a full garden to get to. But if you set a goal of weeding 20 minutes a week, it will make a big difference! It will help prevent weeds from growing large enough to produce seeds, which in return will help reduce your weed population.

  7. Become a Master Gardener Volunteer

    UF /IFAS Extension Logo and Florida Master Gardener LogoYour love for gardening may be a great opportunity to give back to your community. The Florida Master Gardener Program is an outreach program composed of UF/IFAS Extension certified volunteers who are trained to provide research-based horticultural education to Florida residents. Volunteer opportunities include Community Gardening, Youth Education, Public Outreach & Education, and helping residents in our Plant Clinic. Orange County Residents that would like to be added to the mailing list for information on the next recruitment season can submit their contact information here. For more information, please e-mail the Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator in your county.

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Posted: December 1, 2022


Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture
Tags: Central Florida Gardening, Fertilizer, Fertilizer Ordinance, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardenflorida, Gardening, Gardening Solutions, Gardening Tips, Gardening Tips And Tricks, Home Garden, Irrigation, Master Gardener Volunteer, New Year's Resolutions, New Years Resolution, Ocenews, Ocextension, Orange County Extension, Orange County Florida, Plant, Plant Clinic, Residential Irrigation, Start Garden, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County


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