Seven New Year's Resolutions for your Garden

2022 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Garden
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Small steps for your garden that can make a difference in the larger world.
 
1. Create more habitat by planting native plants
Plant at least 20 different species of perennials to provide greater biodiversity of food sources for native pollinators and migratory birds. 
 
2. Compost your waste
According to some studies, more than half of the material going into our landfills could instead be composted and used again in our gardens. Composting at home is easy and there is a wealth of resources to help you get started. 
 
3. Plant an Oak (or another native tree)
Oak trees are the best North American species for supporting food webs. Take Doug Tallamy’s advice from The Nature of Oaks and plant an oak in your yard. 
 
4. ​Leave the leaves
Let your leaves be your winter compost. When in doubt, do what the forest does. Ask your lawn company to do the same. ​Leave the leaves
 
5. Keep water onsite
Stormwater runoff from our roofs, driveways, lawns and patios creates a host of problems for our watersheds. There are many actions you can take in your own yard to help and thankfully most of the local governments in our area have programs to provide you with expertise and/or financial support. 
 
6. Reduce your lawn
Turfgrass has its uses as a playing surface and groundcover but it’s time for us to rethink our reliance on lawns. There’s no need to get rid of all your lawn but in most cases transitioning some of your turf to native plantings can provide additional habitat, better stormwater management, less required maintenance, and a more attractive outdoor living space. 
 
7. Get your native garden on the Homegrown National Park map
Homegrown National Park is “Grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks”. If you have a native plant garden, put it on their map and help spread the word.