It’s well known that gardening helps to fight depression and leaves us with a greater sense of wellbeing. As we step into 2021, and with that familiar January gloom, we want to help encourage you to get down and dirty in your garden to help you start the year with a sense of calm.
Gardening for mental health is something anyone can benefit from but, of course, we’re not all blessed with having large gardens or quiet spaces.
We want to show you that no matter what your outdoor space looks like there are things you can do to make it a place that relaxes, rejuvenates and helps you to find some calm after a pretty crazy year.
Raised sleeper beds
These are a great way of introducing yourself to gardening if you’re not familiar with it. Accessible, easy to place on different surfaces and versatile (you can grow vegetables, flowers or small trees in them) you can get them in different sizes, shapes and once you paint them they bring a pop of much needed colour to any space (especially during winter months).
Sleeper flower beds can be stacked on top of each other to create a full visual effect or they can be placed at the ends of patio areas to make the space appear softer.
It’s so easy to get started with sleeper beds – once they’re installed you can fill it with soil and you’re away. They’re also great for bringing happiness to anyone who has physical limitations – the height means that they’re much easier to reach.
Balcony plants
Gardening for mental health can still happen even if you live in a flat.
You can bring a little oasis to your outdoor space by using small raised sleeper beds to stack plants and give a sense of height and depth. Paint them a bright colour and you’ll have happiness to hand whenever you step outside.
By nurturing and feeding hanging baskets and balcony flowers, you’ll bring colour and fragrance and you won’t have to lose any floor space which is at a premium on balconies. Take a look at this guide to balcony gardening to help you choose the right types of plants and pots for your space.
Finally, using trellis is a great way to get a little more privacy and selecting climbing plants and flowers will help you create a vista that brings peace and tranquillity. Choosing plants that can climb up trellis, survive dips in temperature and exposure to winds will all help to ensure it lasts.
Water features
Being near flowing water has a relaxing effect on your body – boosting serotonin levels and making you happier.
Introducing water features to your garden doesn’t mean having to undertake a mammoth pond and landscaping exercise. You can create container water gardens from items you might already have in your garden or home and add a small water fountain to complete the effect.
Alternatively, there are so many small water features available for you to gain inspiration from. Take a look at this stunning water feature created in amongst raised sleeper flower beds. Once you’ve created your water feature then you might want to think about plants like water lilies, water irises and water hawthorn that can all bring colour and depth.
We know that January is a difficult month for dragging yourself outside and cheering yourself up. But gardening for mental health even in these cold months will help you to relax and find calm and give you an immense amount of pleasure once everything starts to bloom in spring.
If you need any help with your planning then we’re always on hand to help [email protected] 07961 234448