It’s that time of year when we celebrate the end of another year and New Year’s resolutions are made. Instead of resolving to eat better or get more exercise and other soon-to-be forgotten promises, consider ways to improve your garden’s success this coming year.  

• Know your United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone. For garden success, select zone-compatible perennials or treat perennials that are grown in zones warmer than yours like annual plants since they likely won’t survive winter temperatures. You can find your USDA Hardiness Zone at:  https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.
• Check last and first frost dates to better prepare and protect garden plants. The last frost date will help you calculate when to start seeds indoors and out or to safely move transplants outdoors. Count the number of days between the last and first frost dates to determine the length of your growing season. You can find the average last and first frost dates for your location here:  https://garden.org/apps/frost-dates/.
• Have a soil test done. Make a note in your calendar to take a soil sample this spring and get your garden soil tested if you haven’t already done so. A soil test will provide you with information concerning existing soil conditions and nutrient levels. It will make recommendations for amendments, including fertilizers, to benefit what you plan to grow. For more information on getting your soil tested, see: https://go.uvm.edu/soiltest.
• Be prepared by putting the winter months to good use and planning early. A sketch of the upcoming season’s garden showing what and where you intend to plant can give you a head start on a successful growing season. Knowing what you’re going to plant can save you time and money.
• Order only seeds you plan to use this year. Seed catalogs feed winter’s wishful thinking. Before you order, stop and consider. Will you really start seeds indoors this spring? Do you have seeds left over from last year? While extra seeds can be saved from year-to-year, their germination rates decrease over time, so it’s best to use what’s on hand first.  
• Plan this year’s plant purchases. Mail-order catalogues and the opening of local nurseries in the spring provide inspiration and temptation. Avoid the need to find a home for impulse purchases by knowing where they’ll fit into the garden before bringing them home.
• Get started early to control weeds. Don’t wait for springtime favorites in the garden to wake up; weeds won’t sleep in and may emerge before other plants. Hand pull or otherwise remove them before they get established.   
• Spend some time in the garden daily. Whether it’s preparing a new bed, weeding, or harvesting, doing a little each day keeps tasks from becoming a chore.
• Share the bounty. It doesn’t take much more work to add a plant or two or even an entire row to the garden to donate to the less fortunate. Check with local food banks and consider planting a row for the hungry this year.   
• Check out ways to preserve the harvest beyond the growing season. While what to do with a bumper crop of zucchini makes for a good joke each year, consider learning a new skill such as canning or dehydrating to keep more of your harvest to enjoy during the winter months.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help. If you find yourself with gardening questions even during the deep winter months, contact the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardeners Helpline at: http://go.uvm.edu/gardenhelpline.

While most New Year’s resolutions are quickly forgotten, including your garden this year might just result in resolutions you can happily keep.