Garden Photo by Martin Knรญลพe on Unsplash
The benefits of garden ownership are hard to deny, right? Before we moved into our current home, my husband and I lived in a number of rental properties that had no garden. Whilst the lack of garden maintenance was quite nice, the fact that we had no outdoor space wasn’t ideal. So when we decided to buy, a garden was super high on the priority list, especially as we were expecting our first baby at the time. We were certainly extremely grateful for our garden during the Pandemic as we were able to spend a lot of time outdoors during that difficult period.
There are so many benefits to having a garden so let’s take a look at what some of them are.
The Health Benefits of Being Outside
I have written about this extensively in all the many posts I have written on the subject of biophilic design. There are so many health benefits that come with being outside. For a start, being in the sunshine is great for boosting vitamin D and getting fresh air can help our oxygen levels and blood circulation. We are all well aware that being couped up inside all of the time isnโt good for us, and we all immediately feel better the moment we get outside and spend some time outdoors.
The Calming Effect of Nature
Spending time in nature is incredibly calming. Studies show that it leads to a reduction in stress and anxiety levels when we spend time out in nature. The sounds of nature, such as birdsong, and views of nature, wildlife and greenery all help to calm our nervous system. So having your own garden to escape outside into can be incredible for our wellbeing. You just have to make the most of it.
The Joys of Gardening
Itโs also worth noting that gardening can be rewarding too. Not only the physical labour that you put into it but the enjoyment of planting and seeing your creations grow. This can end up becoming a hobby that fills you with a lot of joy. Studies show that getting your hands dirty in the soil can actually increase levels of the happy hormone serotonin in our brains. Contact with specific bacteria in the soil can also help to boost our immune systems.
Creating an Environmental Paradise
When you have your own garden you have the freedom to create an environmental paradise literally in your own backyard. How you do this, and what your personal vision of paradise is, is unique to you of course. With a bit of research and maybe some pinning on Pinterest, you will find the right elements that you want to bring in. Perhaps you’re simply looking for a beautifully healthy lawn that uses empire zoysia grass or maybe you want to create a rock garden or perhaps you’d like to incorporate a water feature. Maybe flowers are what bring you the most joy. The choice really is yours. Itโs just about making it work for you.
Bring Your Outside Haven to Life
So if you have a garden, but you haven’t yet done anything to make it heavenly, perhaps now is the time to start. This means getting stuck in with gardening and giving it all a try. You may not be hugely experienced with it just yet, but we all have to start somewhere. Maybe just get stuck in with some basic weeding and planting and see how you get on. You will be able to reap the benefits right away โ and youโll certainly wonder why you didnโt start any earlier.
Are there any other benefits of garden ownership that you can think of? Let me know in the comments below.