Gardening is great for both mental and physical health. First and foremost, the physical activity has many benefits, including helping with fitness, balance, strength and flexibility. Even if your health is compromised, moving around a thoughtfully planted outdoor space is valuable exercise and good for well-being.
Of course, injuries can happen too. It’s common for people to cut themselves with secateurs and power tools, strain muscles and break bones. Meanwhile, gardens with steps, slopes, walls and uneven paving are more interesting but pose more hazards than flat spaces. It’s all about maintaining an awareness of potential dangers. A handrail in a tricky part of the garden can become part of an attractive design, and awkward steps can be altered to create a change in levels that is easier to negotiate.
Grow your own
Growing food is just one way to boost the health benefits of a garden, and it can provide great pleasure. You eat produce associated with few, if any, food miles and it can be chemical-free, if you choose to grow it without using sprays or artificial fertilisers. You can guarantee the freshness, meaning that nutrients are not depleted.
Now that August is here, the advancing year will limit what can be sown or planted, but there’s still plenty of scope for growing salad crops, as well as some types of spinach and radishes. The latter are fast-growing and can be harvested in as little as three to four weeks.
You can sow spring onions directly into the ground, but bear in mind they don’t generally do well in high temperatures, so you might need to provide some shade. Turnip seeds can also be sown in August and it’s the perfect time to sow spring cabbages for harvesting as either spring greens or more mature cabbages next year.
Healthy herbs
Herbs offer many advantages. Several well-known plants are said to positively impact mental health, including lavender, rosemary, mint and lemon balm. Plant them near paths or in areas where you can brush past them regularly to enjoy their calming scent. They help to reduce stress and can also be added to a bath or even a tea. If in doubt, always consult an expert.
Lavender is associated with better-quality sleep. It’s said to soothe the human limbic system – nerve networks in the brain which influence mood and basic emotions. But not every type of lavender has this effect. Lavandula latifolia, known as spike lavender, tends to energise and stimulate. It can also be used to help ease aches and pains. English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is claimed to have the best calming effect and is said to have anti-bacterial properties to help the healing of cuts.
Peppermint is also believed to have excellent healing qualities. Used in tea, it can aid digestion, reduce stress and promote good sleep. Pop some into a bath for an uplifting soak.
Plant care
During August, you can sow chamomile, coriander, parsley and dill. Also include hardy small plants within your herb garden, such as rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, chives, mint and oregano. Some will appreciate winter protection, if you want to continue your harvest throughout all seasons but others, including rosemary, will keep on giving.
The key to success in August is water, so keep your newly planted crops hydrated in dry weather. This applies to seeds, perennials, shrubs, trees and anything else that hasn’t yet had a chance to establish a healthy and extensive root system.
By Caroline Knight
