Gardening therapy: how planting up your front garden is as good as meditation
It has a positive effect on the environment, too


By Megan Slack
Gardening therapy is being talked about again – no surprise, considering we are all looking for ways to deal with the pandemic, especially in the depths of winter. And while wellbeing and gardens have been connected for a while, it has been revealed that planting up your front yard is as good for you as meditation.
This week, Britain's Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) revealed that, since 2015, front yard greenery in the UK has grown by almost forty square miles – or the size of London's Hyde Park, with over one million UK front yards containing nothing but greenery. The RHS also shared that the amount of front gardens with no plants at all has halved.
These impressive statistic is particularly welcomed at a time when people are increasingly looking for activities that improve their wellbeing, preserve local wildlife, and heal the planet.
Despite the charity announcing an increase since 2015, the time frame reflects the flourishing desire to unwind with nature amid the stress of the pandemic – following suggestions that gardening can improve your physical and mental wellbeing. It seems the benefits of garden greenery are in abundance, as further to this reports suggest that maintaining a front garden is one of the best ways to add value to your home.
‘The RHS has been promoting the importance of adding plants to paved-over front gardens since 2015 when we launched our Greening Great Britain campaign,' explains Professor Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science and Collections.
'Although there is still much to do, we are thrilled to see an improvement which has been helped by millions of people taking up gardening over lockdown and buying more plants to grow indoors and out.’
In spring 2020, the months in which people across the world were first instructed to stay at home, the RHS revealed that nearly half (48%) of all participants shared they had spent more time in their garden. Over a quarter (28%) had invested more time and money in gardening, with many admitting they bought plants for their garden.
‘RHS science suggests that this substantial increase in greenery will be bringing wide-reaching benefits to people’s mental and physical health and to wildlife, improving air quality, helping conserve water from rainfall and cooling cities in hot summer months,' Professor Griffiths continued.
'A recent RHS science project has shown that adding a few plants to a bare front garden reduces stress levels by as much as eight mindfulness sessions, so we are delighted by this increase in plant cover.’
Following the newfound fascination with gardening, and its benefits, across the UK, the Royal Horticultural Society declared the ‘RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science’ will launch in June 2021.
Opening in the RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, the facility will promote a greener future while sharing the incredible power of plants in improving health and the environment.
-
-
Explore this Yorkshire farmhouse kitchen with its colorful cabinetry
Rich color and a bespoke breakfast area beautifully complement the kitchen in this 450-year-old Yorkshire farmhouse
By Amelia Thorpe •
-
10 times banquette seating has transformed a small kitchen
Use stylish banquette seating to optimise space in a compact kitchen...
By Ruth Doherty •
-
Deck ideas – 12 creative decking ideas for your garden, patio or terrace
Decking provides a versatile and cost-effective way to extend your living area into the garden. You can create an attractive space for garden furniture, and an outdoor entertaining area, without the need for heavy-duty building work
By Jennifer Ebert •
-
How to grow bluebells
The stuff of myth and legend, these glorious flowers are true hallmarks of spring
By Homes & Gardens •
-
She shed ideas – 10 ways to turn a humble shed into a relaxing garden retreat
For many people, the garden is an extension of their home where the rules don’t apply – or where they can simply while away the hours. Discover the appeal of escaping (almost) outdoors
By Jennifer Ebert •
-
Charlie McCormick's garden design secrets – from inspirations to practicalities
Insider secrets from the famed garden designer
By Sarah Wilson •
-
Monty Don reveals his dahlia tuber planting tips – for a colorful display
The celebrity gardener shares his top tips on checking the condition of dahlia tubers, and planting them to get the most dazzling displays in the garden this year
By Rachel Crow •
-
Monty Don’s brilliantly simple tip for building raised beds in the garden
Raised beds offer endless possibilities for growing crops and flowers, and they are so easy to include thanks to this advice from the celebrity gardening expert
By Melanie Griffiths •
-
How to make a living spring wreath – in four easy steps
This teardrop-shaped DIY spring wreath is crafted with fresh bulbs that you can plant in the garden after they have bloomed
By Andrea Childs •
-
Sissinghurst rose pruning trick – this will boost your blooms
Find out why you've been pruning your roses wrong and how to do it like the professionals
By Holly Reaney •