Here at Rosewood, we absolutely love what we do. We feel incredibly lucky that our job is one of our greatest passions. We enjoy spending time transforming our customer’s gardens, but we also love pottering about in our own gardens at home, there is just something so therapeutic about it! In our latest blog, we thought we’d look into how far the benefits of gardening actually go to help our mental health.
Relieve stress
Research has shown that two-thirds of us experience a mental health problem in our lifetimes, and stress plays a key factor in this. Gardening is not designed to be stressful. You are caring for something and watching it grow into something beautiful. It is a skill that takes time to master, but let us tell you, it’s certainly fun to learn along the way! Gardening gives you something to focus on when you need an escape from the stresses of everyday life.
A recent study conducted by RHS and the University of Sheffield, consisting of more than 6,000 UK residents found that people who garden frequently (at least two or three times a week) felt less stress and an increased sense of wellbeing. People who garden every day had wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than those who do not garden at all.
See something grow
It’s so great to be able to nurture something and watch it thrive under your care. If you feel a little daunted by gardening and aren’t sure where to start, why not try an indoor houseplant first? Most houseplants are quite low maintenance, so it’s easy to learn how to look after them. We love this graphic from Candide Gardening, check it out below for some super easy houseplants!
Once you’ve got to grips with the basics, you can begin to grow things outdoors. This time of year is perfect! No space is too small for gardening, even if it’s an alley garden or a window box, transforming it into a little green haven will be incredibly rewarding.
Opportunity to be social
Charities such as Thrive offer horticultural therapy and gardening interventions which are becoming more and more widely available to those who suffer from mental health problems, are disadvantaged or vulnerable. This is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to managing your mental health. Not only do you get all the benefits that gardening brings, but you also have a chance to be social. Spending time outside in the fresh air and talking to people about your hobbies will certainly boost your mood in the right direction.
Will gardening improve my mental health?
Getting into gardening is a great hobby. The real magic is that anyone anywhere can enjoy the benefits it brings. Taking the time out of your day to disconnect and do something productive, can not only boost your mental health but also enables you to progressively get better at caring for your garden – not a bad skill to have, we say!
Here at Rosewood, we believe that gardening is a fantastic way to give your mental health a lift, especially given the effects the pandemic has undoubtedly had on our mental health. After more than a year in and out of lockdown (mostly sterilising and keeping our hands clean) now is the perfect time for you to get your hands dirty. If you’re looking for a new hobby to help keep you grounded, we encourage you to give gardening a go! Please feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like any tips and tricks for your own garden this Summer.
