How to make your outdoors bloom in 2026

If you want to make more of your garden this year, prioritise soil health and you're good to go

- With DIARMUID GAVIN

Many gardens are not as pristine as you see photographed in magazines and on television. Perhaps you've let part of the garden grow wild or that’s the way it was when you moved in.

If you want to turn it into a productive growing area, the key is to move steadily, understand what you are working with, and get the basics right before rushing into planting. Good soil is made, and the first phase is preparation.

Begin with an honest assessment. Walk it, observe it, and take note of practical realities. Look at how the land lies. Is it flat or sloping? Does water sit anywhere after rain? Does it feel exposed or sheltered? Notice where the sun falls and where shade persists. All of this will influence layout and crop choice. While you are at it, check what is already growing. Brambles, nettles and docks tell you the land is fertile but neglected. Thin grass and moss suggest poor or compacted soil.