Gardens are the perfect adornment for the exterior of your house. The best hobbies are often those that stimulate the mind and jolt the body, with excitement deriving from even the hobby’s most mundane tasks. At least, that’s what gardening does for some; it just feels good in the soul. Some people know the saying “gardening is good for the soul,” but it’s also worth wondering why exactly that is, even if most gardeners could tell you it’s the case just by the mere enjoyment of gardening itself.

Be certain to pave any provides secure footing. Avoid slick surfaces or loosely set pavers that wobble. Paving materials like polished granite or smooth outdoor tile may not offer enough traction in rainy and wintery climates.

Leave plenty of headroom under archways, arbors, and pergolas. Consider 7 feet to be the minimum, and add at least another 18 inches if I know there will be plants growing over the structure. This may sound high, but outdoor structures tend to look smaller than they would if they were indoors.

While it may not be a hobby like cross-country running, gardening has its share of physical benefits as well. In addition to increased time spent out in the sun – which has its own share of benefits – gardening often requires constant movement in some capacity, whether it’s walking around a garden to water flowers or the hand movement involved in planting new flowers. Gardening offers gentle yet beneficial forms of exercise that people of all ages can participate in.

Give your plants room to grow. If you must have a dense, full landscape right away, plant with the intent to relocate or remove some plants as they mature. You can also plant quick-growing, short-lived “filler” plants to temporarily bulk up your plantings. Beauty may be skin deep, but plants can do more in the garden than sit around and look pretty. The right plants, used the right way, can actually add comfort and utility to your garden. Conifers and broad-leaved evergreens can protect your garden from harsh winds. Large-scale perennials or ornamental grasses can make an “instant” privacy screen. A well-placed tree or tall shrub border can provide a shady oasis in the heat of a summer’s afternoon. Don’t think you have enough room for a tree? Think again. With so many compact ornamental trees available, there’s probably one to fit any property.

Several studies have associated a lower risk of dementia with gardening, particularly that those who gardened on a regular basis had a 36% to 47% lower risk of dementia than those who did not garden. There’s a reason that many of the best retirement homes offer gardening programs and gardens for the elderly to walk through; the act of gardening stimulates the youthful sentiment within everyone’s soul, while also likely reducing the risk of dementia.

Watch your garden grow and your stress shrink. If you’re looking for a way to get some physical exercise, breathe deeply, and relieve stress, look no further than your garden. Planting and tending a garden is an excellent way to alleviate anxiety and create a quiet respite amidst a busy life. This design detail is just as important as the interiors of a home.

If you would like to learn more about designing your home inside and out, contact Cami today!