Ticking off new year gardening tasks is the perfect way to start 2026. Here are three quick jobs to tick off on the 1st of January, or soon after.
Prune your gardenias
Prune your gardenias at the start of the new year to help shape them and set them up for next year’s flowering. You can cut them back hard if needed because gardenias respond well to a good chop. The fresh new growth that follows is where next spring’s flowers will form. To help them along feed with organic fertiliser, water well then top with The Garden Family Sugar Cane or Tea Tree Mulch to preserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Soak your pots
If you notice water running straight out the bottom of your pots the mix has likely shrunk and is repelling moisture, leaving roots thirsty. To make sure your plants start the new year strong, dunk the entire pot into a larger container of water for 10 minutes or so until fully saturated then resume normal watering. Large pots can be treated with a soil wetting agent. Follow up with an application of liquid fertiliser then mulch the surface with The Garden Family Sugar Cane Mulch to hold in the moisture.
Preserve excess harvests
The start of a new year is often when the garden is overflowing with excess fruits and vegetables. Bottling fruit and pickling vegetables is a wonderful way to preserve your harvest and enjoy it for months to come. It is surprisingly easy, deeply satisfying and turns excess produce into pantry treasures. From tangy pickles to sweet, bottled fruit you will extend the season’s flavours long after the garden slows down while reducing waste and filling your shelves with home grown goodness your whole family can enjoy. For safe preserving basics and extra recipe ideas visit ABC Everyday.
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