(StatePoint) Gardening isn’t just a means of beautifying outdoor spaces and growing delicious food. According to those who spend a lot of time in the garden, getting outside can also contribute to their well-being.
“Gardening is good for the mind, it’s good for the soul, and it’s good for the body,” said legendary football coach Vince Dooley. “I enjoy going out in the garden, and when I’m done, I feel like I’ve done something and I feel good.”
Landscape architect Doug Scott of Redeem Your Ground recently visited Dooley in Athens, Georgia to talk about gardening and mental health. Here are some of the ideas they shared:
health benefits
• Active benefits: Gardening exercises the body and clears the mind. Studies show that more exposure to the outdoors leads to fewer long-term health problems, which helps improve cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, strength, and dexterity, all of which lead to better mental health. The simple act of planting, cultivating, harvesting and maintaining plants gives you a direct emotional boost. Why? Gardening helps foster nurturing instincts and restores a sense of hope and purpose, ultimately improving self-esteem.
• Passive Benefits: No gardening skills? Don’t worry. Scientific evidence shows that simply being in nature has a positive impact on stress levels and brain chemistry. It can also lower blood pressure, increase concentration, and improve mood. Plus, being outdoors offers a deeper sense of belonging and a new sense of purpose outside of the daily grind.
designing your garden
Scott advises designing your garden to reflect how you want to live outside. Usually, he builds “rooms” connected by winding paths to rest, relax, and feel refreshed. However, his outdoor spaces don’t always have to be quiet. He can also encourage activity. If you enjoy company, he creates meeting spaces. Or, if you have hobbies that can be done outdoors, like exercising, painting, or writing, you can set aside areas for them.
Finally, Scott recommends designing your garden to awaken your five senses. That is how:
1. View: Choose calming colors, or those that bring you joy. The mere sight of an impressive array of plants or an arrangement of your favorite flowers is sure to give your mental health a boost.
2. Taste: Growing your own food will give you an incredibly rewarding harvest. Not only will you be able to enhance meals with the fruits of your labor, but you will get the personal satisfaction of a job well done.
3. Hearing: Among the plants and flowers, add props such as wind chimes and water features that will produce soothing sounds. And with the new habitat you’ve created, you’ll enjoy the birdsong too!
4. Touch: From the light, feathery textures of petals to the rough surfaces of bark or the stems of shrubs, touch offers a deeper sense of connection with nature.
5. Smell: You may already be using aromatherapy indoors. Take this concept outside by growing flowers and herbs, so you can literally “stop and smell the roses.”
Scott and Dooley provide more insight in “Garden Therapy,” a recent episode of “Done-In-A-Weekend Projects,” an original series from lawn care equipment manufacturer Exmark. To watch the video, visit Backyard Life, which is part of a unique media destination focused on helping homeowners make the most of their outdoor spaces. There you can also download additional tips and watch other videos from the Exmark original series.
By gardening, your mental health will be better. Just be sure to start small, simple, and stress-free.
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