There are so many great reasons why you should garden. The joy of nature, the satisfaction of nurturing plants from seed to full grown, the abundance of colour and scent, and the health benefits which come from regular exercise and working in the fresh air.

But there is also another tangible benefit to our hobby. Working and enjoying the garden can be hugely beneficial to our mental health. Kirsty Ward wrote about the connection between  gardening and mental health on our blog, and ‘green therapy’ was recently brought back to our thoughts here at Direct Plants - strangely enough through football.

You Are Not Alone and Green Therapy

We’re all huge Norwich City supporters and the club ran a You Are Not Alone campaign to proactively support positive mental health. You can learn more about the campaign in the video below.

The club’s message which hit home with us as the campaign’s sense of community and shared healing aligns with the principles of green therapy, where the act of gardening is both a solitary and collection beacon of hope.

Understanding Green Therapy

It’s not a new concept. And we all know that working in the garden makes us happy. And throughout the century’s gardens have been used as spaces for meeting and healing across different cultures. Sensory gardens for example have long being used in mental health.

In a formal setting, horticultural therapists work with clients to achieve wellness goals, using the act of gardening as both the means and the end to better mental health. The NHS recognises the benefits of green therapy and some health trusts even provide gardening packs.

The Science Behind Gardening and Mental Health

I’m a gardener not a scientist but bear with me. I’ll do my best here. Some studies have been done around the therapeutic benefits of gardening and they found that getting out into the garden can lead to reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, improved attention, and better overall quality of life.

This is all to do with the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Also, as gardeners we are more exposed to daylight which helps regulate circadian rhythms, improving sleep and mood.

Mental Wellness Benefits of Gardening

Let’s recap. Green therapy can help with your mental well-being in a few different ways:

Reduce that stress: We all know this. Is the world driving you mad? Can’t stand to look at the news? Get out into the garden and chill. A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that gardening could lower stress levels.

Improves your mood: You might not think this when you see pests have invaded your roses again but gardening can act as a natural antidepressant. Mainly for the reasons above: physical activity, exposure to sunlight, and the fresh air. This all helps improve our neurotransmitter activity.

Cognitive health: When you think about it gardening involves learning, problem-solving, and sensory awareness. All of these are essential to our cognitive health. The act of planning and planting a garden and caring for the plants will help keep the mind sharp.

Gardening and mindfulness

One of the tenets of mindfulness is being fully present and engaged in the moment. And what is better in this regard than gardening? When you’re focused on pruning plants, planting a bush, or weeding the border, you’re anchored in the here and now, which can help reduce rumination and promote feelings of relaxation. And the garden environment itself offers a wealth of sensory stimuli — the sound of birds, the smell of soil, the touch of leaves — all of which ground us firmly in the moment.

Creating a healing or therapeutic garden

We do this by default. But those of us who need a bit of a lift and who may be new to the hobby can derive great psychological benefits from creating a healing garden. Doing so is very much a personal journey. It could start with selecting plants that have particular meaning or that engage the senses — like fragrant lavender, textured painted fern, or visually stunning roses. You can incorporate elements of water, such as a small fountain, for its soothing sound. And every garden, and especially healing garden, should have a comfortable space in which to sit and reflect, surrounded by nature and the plants you’ve cherished.

Community gardening

In harmony with the ‘You Are Not Alone’ campaign, community gardens offer more than just the opportunity to grow food; they are places where people can learn, share, and support each other. This can be in a genuine community garden of which there are many, or on an allotment. But by participating in such initiatives, you will form connections, share knowledge, and enjoy a sense of belonging. These social aspects are crucial for mental health, particularly for those who may feel isolated or disconnected from family or community.

Overcoming barriers to gardening

Yes, there are barriers to gardening - the usual one being that of space. But these can be overcome. Container gardening can bring a slice of nature to the smallest balcony or patio. Vertical gardens can maximise space in tight urban environments. Meanwhile, indoor gardens, even a simple herb box in a kitchen window, can offer therapeutic benefits for those without an outdoor garden of their own.

Finally, here’s a thought. Maybe as we cultivate our gardens, we also cultivate our inner selves? After all, gardening is an accessible, flexible therapy that can adapt to any lifestyle and need. Green therapy is a natural and potent way to improve mental health.

Norwich City FC have some wonderful resources for those struggling with mental health or who would like more information. You can access those resources  here.

YouAreNotAlone image, hashtag, and video © Copyright Norwich City Football Club (2023).