New year’s resolutions can feel unachievable, while to-do lists sometimes seem to take the fun out of everything. Nonetheless, January can provide a valuable chance to consider what you would like to do in your outdoor space in the months ahead. That may particularly be the case if, given the weather, you’ve barely stepped out in it in weeks.
And as the months of 2026 stretch ahead, we can dream of warmer days, browse seed catalogues and think about what we’ll do with our outdoor patches. January is a great time for cultivating your ideas and setting some specific goals, as everything else is waiting to grow, while also tackling seasonal tasks such as pruning.
This year, you may want to join the trend for gardening which takes climate change into account, and the new demands on open spaces. Aspects of this include water management, supporting wildlife and making the best of the shifting weather conditions. You may also decide to establish more plants for pollinators.
If you want to grow your own food, you could opt for some of the dwarf varieties of vegetables that are currently popular, from mini aubergines to table-top chillies or maybe some potted herbs. Additionally, last summer was very dry, yielding a glut of tomatoes, meaning that 2026 could see continued demand for this crop.
Another change you may want to consider making is a punctured water butt. Although there are myriad irrigation systems and technologies around, this is a good one. If you make small holes in the water butt and place it strategically so that water flows slowly into the soil and frees up capacity for the next time it rains, reducing reliance on mains water use.
Don’t forget that, when planning, it’s no bad thing to aim for greater enjoyment of your garden and to think about how you can spend more time in it.
Garden planning and design
You can also use the coldest weeks to design new layouts for your garden. For example, are you adding new raised beds or creating themed zones in your space? (Such as sensory areas, patches dedicated to wildlife or somewhere for the kids to play.)
Another idea is to plan planting schemes providing year-round aesthetic appeal, texture and scent, whether through ornamental grasses, evergreen shrubs or bulbs which flower in succession.
If you’re taking a fresh look at your fencing, consider darker colours, which make plants stand out and so minimise any sense of feeling boxed in.
Go for natural materials
There is an increasing trend for natural, tactile materials such as natural stone, reclaimed timber and clay paving stones, marking a shift away from finishes which look too manufactured.
Above all, your aim should be to create a garden which looks delightful and is a pleasure for you, your household and guests to be in, while also being resilient in the face of climate change and supportive of local wildlife and the environment.
AS Landscapes can help with your garden
At AS Landscapes, we have more than 20 years of industry experience, and have won multiple awards for what we do. We’re a Surrey-based landscape design-and-build company offering a broad portfolio of services, all provided with an exceptionally high level of craftmanship.
Talk to us about what you want for your garden as we head into 2026. We offer a full garden design service, complete with planting schemes to finish the overall look, plus everything else from artificial grass to patios, decking, walling and brickwork, fencing and more.
Learn more today about how we could help bring your vision for your outside space in 2026 fully to life.