7 New Year’s gardening resolutions our editors are committing to in 2025

Our yards may be in their dormancy, but that’s no reason to stop planning and dreaming about the changes and improvements we all would love to see in our gardens this year.

Whether it’s a large-scale landscaping project, installing a greenhouse, learning how to propagate your houseplants, or mastering the skills to keep container plants happy, setting some gardening goals is an effective way to stay focused and intentional about what you want to achieve in the garden in 2025.

With that in mind, the H&G gardening editors have shared their own personal New Year’s gardening resolutions, which we hope will inspire you to think about what you could do, grow and create in your own yards.

Growing heritage and unusual plants

Heritage and heirloom seeds are becoming more and more popular among gardeners of all abilities. Not only do they preserve local history, plants are often more disease resistant, and heritage vegetable crops tend to give a much deeper flavor and have a greater variation in color.

Our gardens content editor Thomas Rutter is one of many who is intrigued about cultivating more of these unusual plant varieties. ‘This year, I want to continue learning about and growing unusual plants. Ever since I completed my horticultural traineeship in London, I have enjoyed finding new species to try my hand at,’ he says.

‘Whether learning about heritage tulip bulbs that have a long history going back hundreds of years, or reading up on rare fruiting trees that produce unusual crops, growing something different will keep your garden full of interest.

‘For many years, I have also been mildly obsessed with unusual mint varieties, growing pineapple, orange and chocolate peppermint in previous summers. In 2025, I intend to try growing the mojito mint variety, (you can find live plants available from Burpee), which should add a flavorful twist to my summer cocktails.'

Growing vegetables and fruit in containers

Container gardening is ideal for those with smaller outside spaces, and anyone living in a short-term rental. After having success with this method last year, Drew Swainston, grow-your-own expert and content editor at H&G, has decided to try growing even more crops in this way - and trialling a few unusual ones, too.

‘In 2024 I grew Jerusalem artichokes and oca in grow bags on a patio - with good success. It was a very satisfying experience, so I am keen to experiment further to see what uncommon crops, perennial vegetables, and fruits grow well in containers or grow bags,’ says Drew.

‘With space at a premium for most gardeners, growing crops in containers allows homegrown harvests even in smaller outdoor areas - including on decks or balconies.

'If perennial vegetables and fruit bushes thrive in a container, given the right care you can get years of harvests from one pot. I have had a dwarf raspberry in a pot for many years, but do want to extend my collection of container fruit.’

Making use of vertical space to grow houseplants

The houseplant trend phenomenon is set to be even bigger in 2025, if that’s even possible. And our resident houseplant expert and news writer, Tenielle Jordison, has grand plans for her collection.

‘A houseplant resolution I have for this year is to make more use of vertical space,’ she says. ‘Indoor gardens don’t have to be as basic as placing a plant on a windowsill. There are so many ways to get creative with houseplants and achieve interiors overflowing with luscious greenery.

‘I’m planning to use hanging propagation stations and shelving units to elevate my indoor plant displays, too.’

Planting a Mediterranean-inspired container garden

Tenielle is also moving into a new rental in 2025, and plans to make a start on a Mediterranean-inspired container garden as soon as she arrives.

'Think lots of herbs for fragrance and drought-tolerant trees for pots that can cope with the hot weather of summer months,' she says. 'I’ll also be opting for terracotta and earth-toned stone pots to bring it all together.

'As well as having aesthetic value, much of this style of planting helps futureproof our yards for the changing climate.'

Cultivating an indoor edible garden

When it comes to indoor gardening, innovations in hydroponic gardening systems and grow lamps mean so many more city dwellers, and even those of us without any outdoor space, can grow their own.

Alex David, H&G's head of ecommerce and gardens product expert, is going to focus his efforts on his indoor herb garden this year.

'My gardening new years resolution is to take my edible plants more seriously,' he says. 'I have lots of easy-to-grow kitchen plants like basil, thyme, and rosemary, but because they're simple to grow I focus on other projects and neglect to take care of them.

'It's made for some slightly bitter basil leaves in my pasta sauces, so this year I'm going to keep on top of all my kitchen herbs, by learning more about the best way to water and prune them, and how much sunlight they need to thrive.'

Creating curves in a rectangular backyard

When it comes to my own sprawling garden, there is a huge amount of work that needs doing. But this is going to take years, so it's useful for me to chunk up my backyard vision into a couple of achievable areas.

The shape of my backyard is largely rectangular. It's bordered by dense, high beech hedging with a path to one side, and a beautiful patio area at the back of my home. It is, however, far too geometric for my liking. I need curves and movement in my outside space, so this year I am planning to ditch the straight edges and create curved beds which merge into my lawn, creating shape and flow. I want to fill these beds with giant alliums and ethereal grasses such as miscanthus sinesis 'krater' and carex 'ice dance'.

I'm going to soften the patio edges with round planters and trailing vines, and I'm even going to extend this idea to some new seating, opting for a curved bench at the base of a mature birch tree, and a large, strategically placed bolder as a place to rest half way down the garden and enjoy the rockery.

Making my own compost

I am also determined to get my own compost heap going in 2025. When we moved into this house two years ago I discovered several compost bins at the end of the yard. These are in good condition, and one hasn't ever been used, so I have no excuses.

I'm using no dig champion Charles Dowding's book, Compost, available from Amazon to learn more about how to start a compost heap, and how to maintain compost to make the most of my household waste. It'll take a bit of time, but hopefully by the end of the year I'll have been able to dig some home-made nutrients back into the soil.

If you're still not sure that your gardening resolutions are going to be for 2025, you might find more inspiration by reading about the latest gardening trends, which industry leaders have tipped as being huge this year and beyond.