The mental and physical benefits of gardening are well known, from enjoying the smell of flowers to hearing the buzz of insects, but what can you do if you don’t have a garden?
According to latest research by Cherry Lane Garden Centres, nearly half of Brits (45%) believe gardening would boost their mood – but have no access to outdoor space.
For anyone living in a flat or an apartment, the good news is that– no matter how big or small – there are several quick and easy ways to bring the outdoors indoors.
That means however small your home is, it’s possible to enjoy the numerous benefits provided by gardening, which include stress relief (32%), improved physical fitness (36%) and reduced anxiety (26%).
To help create the perfect space, Cherry Lane Garden Centres has teamed with TV gardener Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek to compile 5 ways to make the most of your space.
Michael said: “There are lots of ways to make the most of your outdoor space, no matter what size it is and you don’t need a garden to reap the rewards of gardening. Planters, window boxes and hanging baskets are great ways to bring colour, fragrance and fun to your outdoor spaces.”
MICHAEL’S TOP TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF OUTDOOR SPACES
- Hydration is key!
Plants need to stay hydrated just as much as us humans do. Whether you’re opting for a planter, window box or hanging basket, always start with a good quality peat free compost which helps locks in moisture and keeps plants happy. Alternatively, you can opt for some magic ingredients such as moisture release crystals, mixed with control release fertiliser which help lock in moisture, minimise watering time and reduce maintenance.
- Adopt a thriller, spiller, filler approach
When planting your planter, boxes or baskets, think about how the final piece will look. A good approach is the thriller, spiller filler concept, with show stopping plants like zonal geraniums, filler plants and spillers such as bidens which are great for filling holes in hanging baskets, adding an immediate sense of drama.
- Get potty…
A great tip for planting plants, is to take them out of their pots and place the pots in the soil first. That way, not only will you know how deep to plant them but can also get a sense of how the plants will look when together, meaning you get a beautiful garden masterpiece first time. Half fil your container with compost, add the pots and then fill around the around them with more compost, making it easy to just drop your plants into place.
- Think about the senses
Not only should planters, boxes and baskets look good, but they should smell good too. Fragrant plants are a great addition to any outdoor space, creating a feast for the senses but the bees and butterflies love them as well, helping create a mini wild country garden feel, even in the smallest of spaces. Great scented plants include my favourite bidens which have a wonderful honey scent and traditional lavender plants which immediately have that English country garden feel.
- The finishing touches
Adding decorative gravel to the top of planters, not only looks great and creates a show stopping garden, but also helps lock in moisture, adding further hydration which your plants will love!
This summer Cherry Lane Garden Centres will encourage people to find their own gardening joy with a Plants Win Prizes campaign, asking people to share their planting masterpieces in exchange for money off vouchers.
Nisha Collins, Brand and Marketing Manager at Cherry Lane Garden Centres said: “Gardening is the perfect stress relieving activity and we’ve really seen an increase in the interest in gardening post pandemic. But the reality is many of us today do not have access to private garden spaces, with lots of us only having access to balconies, patios or yards.”
For more information visit www.cherry-lane.co.uk
