The New Year is a time of reinvention, or at least it’s meant to be. But while “regular” resolutions tend to fai l, the lawncare experts at Hayter said it might be worth asking what your garden needs in 2026. If lawns could talk, they added, “They’d probably ask for more pollinators, further protections against droughts to avoid last-minute irrigation, timelier scarification or for their owners to finally get around to making that cold frame”. Here, the pros shared their New Year’s garden resolutions to help you get the best out of your backyard: 1) Plan your scarification and aeration schedules Scarifying and aerating your garden removes old thatch from its surface. “You must scarify and aerate after a short mow. However, be careful not to scarify and aerate too late in the year when a short mow isn’t advisable due to harsher weather conditions,” Chris Cooper, Senior Product Manager at Hayter, said. Great planning is key to a healthy, beautiful lawn. Try a lighter session in spring, when “the grass is beginning to grow more actively, and the soil is usually moist but not waterlogged”. Heavier aeration and scarification are best carried out in early autumn. This is “the best way to prepare your lawn for the winter months, allowing your lawn to grow as long as it can before growth all but stops in under 6°C conditions.” 2) Sharpen your mower blades before March Grass-cutting season “will likely start back up in March, when the weather is consistently higher than 6°C, said Cooper. So, he recommends sharpening your lawnmower’s blades before then, as “Dull lawnmower blades can seriously damage your lawn due to the nature of the cut, tearing the grass from the root, leaving jagged edges that don’t heal properly”. To sharpen your mower’s blade, he continued, “disconnect the spark plug first, then clamp the blade in a vice, using a wooden wedge to stop it moving when the mower is laid on its side. “File along the original angle to sharpen, then check the balance by resting the blade on a screwdriver through the central hole. If the blade remains evenly balanced, it should be good to reattach. “Finally, put the blade back on by following the removal steps in reverse.” 3) Prepare for hosepipe bans As hot, dry summers become more likely in the UK, so too do drought and subsequent hosepipe bans. “This year, Yorkshire, Kent, Sussex and others were affected – and if your area wasn’t, there’s a good chance it could be in 2026,” Cooper told us. His solution? Install a rain catcher. “Place an old barrel, water butt or plastic bin beneath a downpipe to collect rainwater over the weeks. You can attach a tap near the base for easy access and add a mesh at the top to keep out insects,” he said. “This rainwater is perfect for watering your plants with, and if you use a big container, you’ll find your lawn survives in heatwaves when others struggle.” 4) Plan for pollinators “As many gardeners are aware, it’s never been more important to attract pollinators to your garden,” Chris said, “especially with worrying reports of declines in wild bees across Europe.” He explained that one way gardeners can help is by creating “dedicated areas in our garden to attract pollinators, planting pro-bee species such as lavender, foxgloves or buddleia”. Luckily, he added, “What’s good for the bee is also great for the garden... with fuller flower beds, healthier plants and a more diverse ecosystem all directly benefitting”. 5) Begin feeding your lawn year-round It’s understandable that many of us only remember to feed our lawns when they’re looking a little sad. But, Cooper said, “You shouldn’t only be feeding your lawn when it’s looking a little sad, you should be planning when it’s due for a feed so that it never gets to the stage of looking too worse for wear”. He recommended we “Use a spring feed in March or April, ideally after your first scarification and aeration – this will support grass growth as the weather begins to improve”. Do another feed in June or July, he continued, before your final one after your winter aeration and scarification. “This will giveyour lawn the strength it needs to survive the winter, or at the very least, give it the bestchance of doing so.” Related... 4 Reasons UK Gardeners Should Leave Autumn Leaves On The Ground The High-Protein Food Robins Will Keep Returning To Your Garden For UK Gardeners Urged Not To Make 8 Mistakes In Heavy Rain