The year is nearly over, and 2026 is just a few days away, so now is the perfect time to do some easy tasks in the garden to get ready for the new year ahead. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish shared a plentiful list of tasks every gardener should be doing over the next few days to prepare their garden for a bountiful harvest.
If you’re not entirely sure where to start, Ish has got you covered. From ensuring your soil is in top shape, deadheading, and planting, there are numerous things you can do now that will reap benefits over the next few months. Ish wrote in the video’s caption: “Here are some quick and easy jobs you can do in your garden to prep it for next year, and there’s so much you can do too. I’ll be talking about prepping borders and flower beds, pruning trees and planting soft fruit plants.”
The first thing Ish encouraged gardeners to do is to get on top of nourishing your plants, ready for the spring. It’s all about ensuring your plants have enough nutrients in their soil to thrive.
He said: “Now’s a really good time to build up some nutrients in your flowerbeds and borders. And a really simple way to do that is by getting some multi-purpose compost or some mulch, and simply shoving it straight over the top.
“By doing that, you’ll introduce a lot of nutrients at the top, and with the mix of rain and cold coming through from the weather, it’ll soak it right down, getting it nice and fresh for next year’s flowers.”
Ish also recommended that gardeners take note of any empty spaces around their gardens, which could be signs that some plants may have died. By taking note of what spaces are empty, you can make a list of what plants and flowers you’ll need to buy in the new year.
Late December is also the optimal time to give any deciduous trees a good trim. These include any acers, fruit trees such as apples and pears, and wisterias.
He said: “Ideally, what you want to do is stop it from feeling over-crowded and cut back as best as you can, and as a result, a lot of new growth will grow through in the spring and look absolutely stunning.”
For any winter hanging baskets, Ish advised giving the flowers a “good deadhead” as they will continue to bloom until the March-April time. Deadheading these will allow them to grow back bigger and better for a longer period.
If you have a greenhouse, now is the perfect time to cut back any old plants and replace them with some new crops. Also, consider adding an extra layer of compost.
He also encouraged gardeners to plant seedlings for onions, leeks and sweet peas, too. For anyone who’s thinking about planting tulips, late December is the last time to do so for a spring bloom.
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