Sandi Switek, an Osceola County Master Gardener, offers some New Year’s advice for our gardens.

A New Year for the Garden 

Now that it’s time for New Year’s resolutions, why not make at least one for the yard?  Hopefully  the result will be a more beautiful yard.  And hopefully your new resolution will also cause you to have less work to do in the future.  Here are a few ideas.   

1 – Get rid of Invasive plants.

Some of the worst invasive plants are still up for sale.  We shouldn’t even be tempted to buy one of them just to see if it really is invasive.  I have never been able to prove the experts wrong.  

Next, we must make a plan to get rid of any invasive plants that we already have, no matter how they got there.  The longer they stay with us, the more they spread.

2 – Remove your weeds.

Select a weeding day before the weeds get a chance to just take over.  

3 – Help wildlife to survive as you beautify your yard.

Buy yourself some plants which provide nectar for butterflies and other pollinators.  A native firebush can attract many.  Also include some larval plants for the butterfly caterpillars to eat.  And try some plants which provide seeds or berries for wildlife.  Invest in a bird bath and bird feeder.  The wild critters have a hard time surviving in modern urban landscapes. 

Help wildlife even more by cutting down on pesticide use.  Try to find some plants which don’t get many pests.  Pollinators are declining in home landscapes.

Minimize the lawn and provide more wildlife cover plants.

4 – Pick out some nice native plants for your yard.

Native trees, shrubs, and flowers can save you a lot of work if planted in the right environment.  They survived for many years without any help from us.

5  – Recycle your yard waste yourself.

Raked leaves and pine needles can make decent mulch for flower beds.  Grass clippings can be left on the lawn.  A mulching blade for the lawn mower will help.  Even plant clippings can be cut up or shredded and used in gardens.  In these cases, we are no longer throwing away the nutrients which we have fed to our plants and lawns.  

If you still need more mulch, use only something that is sustainably grown, which often does NOT include cypress mulch.

Start a compost pile to make use of any other yard waste and turn it into soil.

6 – Use the right plants for your environment. 

Consider the water and light requirements.  Don’t buy a plant that will grow too large for its space, expecting that you won’t mind pruning it for the rest of your life.  Don’t buy plants which will freeze or catch diseases easily.  Choose plants that don’t have high water requirements unless you have a native wetland.  Consult the Florida Friendly Plant Guide for info on the best plants.  

7 – Treat yourself to a book on your favorite plant subject.

 Have a happy year of gardening!

A jatropha can provide nectar for our state butterfly, the Zebra Longwing.

photo/Sandi Switek