The healing power of gardens: boosting your mental health and wellbeing

It’s a well-known fact that gardening is good for your physical health, but gardens and open green spaces are also associated with better social and mental health.

Gardens are special and peaceful spaces offering restorative qualities which do wonders for our mental health. There’s nothing better than sitting out in the fresh air and feeling all our stress and troubles blow away. Here are a few reasons why gardening is good for our mental health.

What is Therapeutic Gardening?

Therapeutic Gardening is the use of garden space and taking part in gardening activities to help people boost their health and wellbeing while promoting physical, social and emotional health. It doesn’t matter if you have a large lawn, a balcony or a courtyard, any garden space can be used as a place of relaxation, and gentle exercise by breathing in the fresh air.

What are the benefits?

Gardening provides a useful distraction from the pressures of everyday life, helping to relieve stress and anxiety. Having a sense of achievement is important for mental health as it boosts our self-esteem.

The nurturing and caring aspect of gardening encourages empathy, which helps us understand how others are feeling and helps regulate our own emotions.

How does it make us feel?

We all know exercise is good for our body and mind, but so is gardening! Gardening is classed as physical activity and this releases serotonin and endorphins, those happy, feel-good hormones which promote good mental wellbeing.

Unlocks our senses

Gardens are full of sights, sounds and smells which provides a treat for our senses! Natural sensory experiences have been shown to boost our wellbeing. Vibrant colours like reds, yellows and orange make us feel happy while greens, purples and blues help us to feel relaxed.

Gives us a routine

Tending to plants literally gives people a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Fitting gardening into your daily routine will help structure your day. Check out our blog to find out the importance of routine for mental health.

Setting aside 20-30 minutes to pull up some weeds, water the plants or mow the lawn will get you outside and incorporates exercise. Gardening helps you build strength, stamina, movement and balance.

Improves our diet

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is one of the best ways to improve health and wellbeing for you and your family. Nothing beats the taste of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, or the satisfaction and enjoyment knowing you’ve done it yourself.

Being able to walk out to your vegetable patch and picking a lettuce or cucumber will save you the hassle of adding it to your shopping list, plus it’s good for the environment!