Gardening is as beneficial on a psychological level as it is on an environmental level. Gardening can help us attain a sense of calm and self sufficiency that is hard to replicate with other activities. By following the tips enumerated below, even a novice gardener can quickly progress in their skills and in the attainment of that psychological satisfaction.
Create a series of garden ‘rooms’. The days of a square lawn with a surrounding border are long gone. A garden can offer so much more, by creating different areas to explore. A patio area is simply an extension of your indoor living space. Add an arbor at the end of the patio, leading to another outdoor room. This can be a play area for children, or a small vegetable or herb garden. Create seating areas under a tree or nestled in between shrubs. Add an element of surprise, such as a unique sculpture or piece of large pottery. Let your garden reflect your personality!
Mini roses are very popular and are low maintenance. They come in many bright colors and offer a variety of interesting flower shapes. However, if you want to add a rose to your garden for the fragrance, then a mini rose may not be a good choice because they produce little to no fragrance. If fragrance is your preference, try a larger, hybrid rose for the most intense fragrance.
If you don’t have the space to grow a garden in the ground you can still enjoy the benefits of gardening by using containers. Almost any plant can be grown in a container and many plants now come in a variety specifically for container growing. With a large container you could have a mini-garden right on your porch.
Try planting a ‘one-color’ garden bed. While this takes quite a bit of work, due to the limitations of the color palette, it can create a very striking visual. The emphasis is placed more on shape and structure, and it is especially helpful in a small garden, as it makes the area appear much larger. Remember that ‘one-color’ doesn’t mean a single shade. Use all shades in the color palette. For example a blue garden can feature flowers in shades of blue, purple and mauve.
In conclusion, gardeners approach their hobby from different perspectives and different skill levels. Many are just starting their gardening hobby. Others have been gardening for years. Non-the-less, everyone has room to learn. This is true regardless of how advanced they are. The tips listed above are guidelines in this learning process.