A Fresh Start for a New Year

I love new beginnings. After a busy holiday season, it’s always nice to slow down again, restart normal routines and take stock of life. Indoors, this time of year is great for cleaning out closets, reorganizing and taking inventory of our belongings. Outdoors, the story is much the same…but who really wants to spend time working outside in 35-degree rain? I, for one, don’t. So what steps can you take to start the new year off right in the world of gardening?

Brand New for 2012: 'Superbells Cherry Star' calibrachoa

First, January is a great month for dreaming. Whether you enjoy perusing seed catalogs or reading magazines for the scoop on upcoming plant introductions, there’s a lot of fun in imagining the possibilities. Make a list of plants you’d like to try out—like last year, in 2012 there will be many exciting new plants for your yard. 

Second, look at your yard from a new perspective. It’s easy to plan your landscaping to look nice from the street—to give your home ‘curb appeal.’ Ultimately, though, you’re the one who does all the work—make sure you can enjoy it too. So here’s an easy task for this time of year: take a look out your windows.

That’s right—just look outside. If you’re like most people, the majority of the time you spend admiring your yard is actually indoors, so figure out how to make your yard more beautiful from your living room. Is there an overgrown shrub blocking the view of those nice perennials you planted last year? Do the low branches on that tree by the house get in the way of the view out to your rose bed? Grab your garden journal and make a note to change it! You don’t need to do anything right now—there will be plenty of time when the weather is nicer and the days a little longer—but take a few minutes to start planning. 

A third step you can take as you start the new year is to welcome wildlife to your garden. Near the front counter at Vander Giessen Nursery is our selection of birdseed, feeders and products to deter or discourage squirrels. It’s amusing to hear customers’ varied opinions of squirrels—some people love watching them and so put out food for them, some despise the creatures and will do anything to keep them away, and still others have resigned themselves to the idea that there’s not much they can do. 

Cole's Blazing Hot Blend deters squirrels

If you love squirrels and enjoy feeding them, good for you. I have to admit they’re fun to watch! But if squirrels have ruined your fun in feeding birds by your back window, start the year off right with squirrel-deterring birdseed. You might recall me writing about Coles Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce, a hot pepper sauce you mix with birdseed to attract birds (they can’t taste spice) but drive squirrels away (they hate spicy foods!). If that’s too much work, though, Vander Giessen Nursery also carries seed mixes pretreated with the hot sauce to save some effort. In the bleak months of winter, it’s nice to have some life to enjoy outside—and as a gardener, you’re bound to appreciate the sights and sounds of birds in the spring when you’re back outside.

In just a couple of months we’ll already be busy with the first spring activities outside—and if you’re like me, it will be fun to get started once again. But for now, enjoy the slower pace that winter brings and reflect on how you’d like to start a new year off right.