Sensory gardens are a popular sub-genre in our hobby and becoming ever more popular as gardeners realise, they aren't gimmicky or whacky but rather a legitimate way for us all, especially children, to explore and enjoy the environment.

If you're not familiar with sensory gardens we'll walk you through everything from the nuts and bolts of what makes a garden ‘sensory’, to why they're such a fantastic addition to any space, big or small.

Understanding Sensory Gardens

Let's start at the beginning: what exactly is a sensory garden? As you might expect it's a garden designed to stimulate all five senses - sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound.

It all sounds very grand and 'out there' but unlike a traditional garden, sensory gardens are interactive and immersive. They offer a unique experience that engages you in more ways than just admiring the flowers and trees. Yes, they look amazing but they also stimulate, excite, educate, and are therapeutic in so many ways.

There isn't really anything new about sensory gardens. The concept has been around for a long time. We all know that gardening and gardens can be relaxing and sensory gardens have built on that by being used as curative spaces.

Why Plant a Sensory Garden?

Well, why not? As much as it's true that anyone can enjoy a sensory garden it's also true that anyone can plant one too. Why would you? There are a few reasons including:

Therapeutic Benefits

As I've already hinted at, one of the main reasons for planting a sensory garden is their therapeutic value as a relaxing and stress-free environment. These gardens are sanctuaries for mental and emotional well-being. For individuals coping with stress, anxiety, or mental health issues, the sensory stimulation provided by these gardens can offer a calming and restorative experience.

Again, this is an extension of what we all know as gardeners. Simply enjoying and engaging with nature – smelling a flower, touching a leaf, or listening to the rustle of pampas grass – which we do every day, is so relaxing.

This is why sensory gardens are particularly beneficial in healthcare settings, like hospitals or care facilities. They provide a restful place of escape for patients or residents.

Educational Value

In a school, a sensory garden can become an outdoor classroom. It provides hands-on learning opportunities and helps teach children about plant biology, ecology, and the importance of nature in our lives. For younger children, especially those with developmental challenges such as autism, sensory gardens can be a great help in sensory development and learning.

Good for the Environment

As you’d expect, sensory gardens are very eco-friendly. With their plants they support biodiversity, and provide little havens for insects, birds, and even small mammals. In effect they become mini-ecosystems.

Good for You

Of course, on a personal level making a sensory garden is not only fun but it is tremendously rewarding. For all of us gardeners, the process of planning, planting, and nurturing a garden is so fulfilling. But it goes beyond that. Your sensory garden will become a personal retreat.

Good for the Community

It goes beyond what we’d look to achieve as a hobby gardener but larger community sensory gardens are worth discussing as they can really help to bring people together. Like any large garden people are able to connect, share an interest, and help foster that community feeling which we’d all like to enjoy.

In urban areas, they provide much-needed green spaces for residents to unwind and socialise. They are also ideal for being hubs of community projects and of course will help promote environmental awareness and be a source of comfort to those who are unable to create their own garden.

What’s in a Sensory Garden?

Plants of course but a sensory garden is so much more than that. Water, sculpture, texture, seating; a sensory garden isn’t just about the plants. As the name suggests it should be an experience that plays on all your senses. Think rustling grasses for sound, fragrant flowers for smell, textured leaves for touch, vibrant colours for sight, and edible herbs for taste. It’s also about the non-plant elements - like water features that add soothing sounds, or sculptures that invite curiosity and interaction.

Choosing Your Plants

As with any garden, choosing your plants is a delightful puzzle. You want to consider not just how they look, but how they smell, feel, and possibly even taste. For fragrance, think lavender or scented geraniums. For touch, lamb's ear or moss are wonderfully tactile. And for taste? Herbs like mint and basil are great choices.

Benefits of Sensory Gardens

As we’ve already mentioned sensory gardens offer benefits above and beyond their aesthetic appeal. Without getting too evangelical about it let’s have a quick look at what you and others would get out of your sensory garden.

Stress Reduction: Engaging with nature in a sensory garden can significantly lower stress levels. The calming effects of plants, the sound of water, and the fragrance of flowers all contribute to that sense of relaxation that we all cherish.

You’ll Never Be in a Bad Mood: Just spending time in the garden surrounded by nature and the environment you’ve helped to create will uplift your mood. Basically put - spending time in your garden will make you happy.

Support for Mental Health: Sensory gardens are often used in therapeutic settings to aid individuals with mental health challenges as they can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Sensory Delights: For family members or friends with sensory disorders like autism these gardens provide a safe and controlled environment to explore and engage with sensory stimuli. For all children a sensory garden will help cognitive development in such a natural and enjoyable way.

Educational Development: These gardens serve as living classrooms for people of all ages. They offer hands-on learning opportunities about plant life, ecology, and the environment.

Promotes Physical Activity: We all know gardening is good for your physical health. It keeps you active and in the fresh air. Tending to a garden encourages physical movement, which is beneficial for overall physical as well as mental health and fitness.

Designing and Planning a Sensory Garden

Designing a garden is always fun and there’s a few things you should think about when planning your new sensory space.

Understanding the Space and Its Users

Before you begin, assess the space available. Consider the garden’s primary users – just yourself, for children or grandchildren, elderly relatives, or family members with disabilities? Of course, it may well be a combination of two or more of those groups of people. But understanding who will use the garden will help you when you think about layout, plant selection, and features.

Accessibility is key. Ensure paths are wide and even, so wheelchair users and those unsteady on their feet will be able to access all areas of the garden. Think about adding seating areas for rest and contemplation.

Make Areas for Different Senses

Consider dividing your garden into different 'zones', each dedicated to stimulating a particular sense. For instance, a fragrance garden filled with aromatic herbs and flowers, a tactile area with a variety of textures to feel, or a visual zone with vibrant, eye-catching plants.

Within these zones, incorporate elements like water features for sound, bird feeders to attract wildlife, and edible plants for taste.

Selecting Plants and Features

Choose plants not just for their sensory appeal but also on how easy they are to grow, their hardiness, and the amount of care they require. The last thing you want to create is a garden whose maintenance will exhaust you.

Remember to incorporate non-plant elements that add to the sensory experience. Sculptures, wind chimes, and water features will all do the trick.

Get Creative and Interactive

In a sensory garden, interaction is key. Consider adding features like a small vegetable patch for hands-on gardening, or plants with interesting textures and shapes that invite touch.

And don’t forget your own comfort - as well as that of your visitors. Create a shady area for hot days, and perhaps a sheltered spot for when it rains. This will ensure the garden is enjoyable in most weather.

Personalise Your Space

Finally, make the garden your own. Personal touches like garden art, a favourite bench, or a dedicated memory garden make the space more meaningful and inviting.

Remember, the goal of a sensory garden is to create a space that not only looks amazing but also offers a rich, multisensory experience. It should be a place of discovery, relaxation, and joy. Especially for you.

Some Plants for Your Sensory Garden

Lavender

Lavender of course is loved for its fragrance, which is often used in aromatherapy for stress relief. The plant is lovely to look at with its purple blooms and silvery-green foliage. All of which makes is a great choice for sensory gardens.

Rosemary

An aromatic herb with needle-like leaves, Rosemary is known for its strong, refreshing scent and is often used in cooking. Touching its leaves releases their fragrant oils, adding a tactile element to your garden.

Mint

Mint has a refreshing aroma. Its leaves are soft to the touch, and when crushed, they release a cool, invigorating scent. And of course, mint is also edible which is another tick in the box for your sensory garden.

Lamb’s Ear

Everyone likes to touch Lamb’s Ear so it is a natural choice for any sensory garden. The plant is famous for its soft, fuzzy leaves, which children especially love to touch.

Sunflower

Sunflowers are visually striking, with their large, bright yellow blooms. They are a favourite among children and adults alike, and there is nothing quite as spectacular as a row of mature sunflowers. Their seeds are also edible and attract birds, adding sound and interaction to the garden.

Basil

Basil leaves are fragrant and soft and can be used in cooking, providing a sensory experience of taste and smell. Basil comes in several varieties, each with a unique scent and flavour.

Pampas Grass

Pampas Grass and other ornamental grasses add a tactile and auditory element to the sensory garden. Its feathery plumes are soft to touch, and the rustling sound they make in the wind is wonderfully relaxing.

Chives

With slender, tubular leaves and purple pom-pom-like flowers, chives are such an interesting plant. They also give off a slight onion scent when touched.

Thyme

Thyme can be used as ground cover. Interestingly it releases an aroma when walked upon, making it perfect for any pathways in a sensory garden.

Marigold

Visually stimulating with their bright orange and yellow flowers, marigolds also have a pungent scent.

Jasmine

No prizes for guessing Jasmine would be on the list. It has of course very fragrant flowers, which bloom at night and fill the air with a sweet scent.

Snapdragon

Kids love snapdragons. Apart from their unique shape and variety of colours they can be gently squeezed to make them 'snap'.

Sage

Tactile and aromatic sage has soft, velvety leaves and can have purple or blue flowers and gives off a wonderful earthy aroma.

Bee Balm

Not that well known in the UK, bee balm has bright, spiky flowers and a minty scent. It’s also a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies which will bring lots of life to your garden.