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I don’t review my gardening year to tick a box or declare a verdict. I do it because gardens have a habit of quietly showing us where things are harder than they need to be.
This year, I noticed something important: when my garden felt overwhelming, it wasn’t because I lacked knowledge or effort. It was because I was trying to do too much, all at once, often at the wrong time.
So instead of chasing better results, I focused on making things simpler. Slower. More supportive – of the soil, yes, but also of my own energy.
These are the three changes I made this year, and why I’ll be sticking with them.
Three questions. Two minutes. A flower list chosen for your actual garden, not some idealised one.
Let’s find your flowers.
1. Moon gardening: not for better plants, but for a quieter mind
I started experimenting with moon gardening around February. I can’t honestly say it was the magic ingredient behind good germination and strong flowering – the weather certainly played its part. What I can say is that it didn’t harm anything, and it gave me something I didn’t realise I needed: mental space.
I love a list. Unfortunately, I also love making lists so long they overwhelm me into doing nothing at all. Moon gardening gave me a rhythm. Certain tasks belonged to certain weeks, and if it wasn’t the right time, I could let it go – usually for a full four weeks.
That structure slowed my thinking down. Instead of constantly reacting to everything that could be done, I focused on what needed doing right now.
The science? I’m comfortable with a healthy dose of scepticism. The moon undeniably affects tides and water, but there’s little hard evidence when it comes to plant growth. For me, the benefit isn’t proof – it’s pace.
I explored biodynamics briefly, but in a small garden it felt unnecessary, and some of the theory sat less comfortably with me. Moon gardening, by contrast, felt practical and grounding.
I’ll be continuing – but ideally with a better system than endless notes and reminders. If you want more detail I’ve covered it in this post on moon gardening.
2. Simplified soil improvement: feeding the soil when plants are growing
Good soil is the backbone of everything. If the soil is healthy, the garden copes better – with weather swings, pests, and my occasional neglect.
For years, my routine was straightforward: clear the beds in autumn, add a generous layer of compost, and assume I’d done my bit, ready for the next growing season. Yet I still had slug problems, and worm numbers were disappointing (which are a good indicator to your soil health – the more the better). My slug issue was better this year – but I’m realistic enough to know that the weather played a big part and one dry season doesn’t solve anything long-term.
The penny-drop moment came when I realised I was putting most of my effort into soil improvement at a time when nothing was growing.
Compost was adding nutrients, certainly, but I added it in autumn. Surely it would be more beneficial to add it in the spring to help the new plants, but that would mean leaving the soil surface bare for a long stretch over winter. That’s not ideal for worms, and it’s not great for soil structure either.
So I’m turning things on their head.
Instead of clearing beds completely, I’m keeping the soil covered as much as possible – with living plants, or with the remains of them. Letting plants decay in situ returns nutrients slowly, protects the soil surface, and gives worms something to feed on.
In spring, I’ll clear anything that hasn’t broken down fully – enough to avoid creating a slug paradise – and then top dress with compost when plants are actively growing and can actually use it.
If it works as I hope, it should mean:
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- Better soil structure
- More worms
- Fewer slugs
- Less compost needed overall
- Fewer heavy jobs concentrated in autumn
That feels like a fair trade. I’ve added my full soil improvement garden plan here.
3. Simplified composting: letting time do the heavy lifting
I’m getting older. My garden is generous with its growth. And if I’m honest, turning compost sits firmly at the bottom of my gardening joy list.
I love making my own compost – that part matters to me – but I’ve tried too hard to “do it properly” over the years. Careful mixes, regular turning, constant monitoring. The result? Perfectly adequate compost, and a fair bit of resentment.
Ironically, the best compost I’ve ever had came from a pile I completely ignored. Grass clippings, added whenever they appeared, hidden away and forgotten for years. When I finally needed it, it was dark, crumbly, and beautiful.
So this year, I’m going back to basics.
The plan is simple:
- One new compost pile started each year
- Three piles on the go at any one time: one active, one maturing, one ready
- No turning
- No stressing about greens versus browns
- Just adding what I have, when I have it
Each pile will be left untouched for at least a year – preferably closer to two at the bottom. Anything not fully broken down when I use it will go back onto the active pile. FOr more detail on my new compost approach read here.
This approach only works because I’m using compost more thoughtfully – feeding soil when plants are growing, rather than spreading it thickly when they aren’t.
Less effort. Less guilt. Better compost.
That’s the hope, anyway.
Looking ahead
None of these changes are dramatic. There’s no grand system, no final answer. Just small shifts towards working with the garden – and with myself – rather than trying to control everything.
Next year, I’ll be paying close attention to what these choices make easier, and what they quietly improve in the background.
If you’re feeling stretched by your garden, my encouragement is this: you don’t need to do more. You may just need to do a little less, at a better time.
If you’re interested in making your garden feel lighter – fewer heavy jobs, better soil, and systems that support your energy rather than drain it – I’ll be sharing more detailed posts on composting, soil care, and gentle garden rhythms soon.
A quick aside: I built a little app for flower growers who want gentle reminders about what to do and when - without it turning into another thing to feel guilty about. It's called the Flower Grower Companion. You tell it your location and your flowers, it tells you what actually needs doing this week (and just as importantly, when there's nothing to do at all)
Have a look
