Gardening is good for people, and the evidence for that is better than for most wellbeing claims. This guide covers what the research supports, how to design a garden that is restful in Australian conditions, and how to keep it safe and accessible for the people who stand to gain the most from it.
What the evidence supports
Worth being accurate here, because this topic attracts a lot of loose claims. There is reasonable research linking access to green space with reduced stress, better mood and improved wellbeing, and that finding is solid enough that Australian councils and health services cite it in urban greening and social prescribing programs.
- Stress. In a Dutch experiment, allotment gardeners were given a stressful task and then either gardened or read indoors for half an hour. The gardeners' stress hormone levels fell further and their mood recovered fully.
- Mood and self esteem. A University of Essex study found allotment gardeners scored better on mood and self esteem than people who did not garden, and that a single session improved both.
- The broad picture. A 2017 review that pooled 22 studies found gardening was associated with lower depression and anxiety and with higher life satisfaction.
Horticultural therapy is an established practice in Australian aged care, rehabilitation and mental health settings, and therapeutic and sensory gardens are increasingly built into hospitals and care facilities here.
Claims about specific plants producing specific psychological effects are much weaker, and so is the popular idea that soil bacteria lift mood, which rests mostly on studies in mice. Treat those as interesting, not settled.
Why gardening works on us
- It is exercise without the name. Digging, weeding, carrying and bending add up to moderate physical activity for people who would never describe themselves as exercisers.
- It holds the attention. Small absorbing tasks, the texture of soil and the detail of a plant pull attention away from whatever was being turned over in the mind.
- It shows results. A seedling that comes through a hard summer is a visible achievement, and the planning and problem solving along the way keep the mind working.
- It brings company. Community gardens give people a low pressure way to meet neighbours around a shared job, and most welcome people who have never grown anything.
Designing a garden that is restful here
- Shade is the first requirement. Nothing about an Australian garden is restful at 40°C in full sun.
- Give it somewhere to sit. A seat in shade is what turns a garden from something you look at into somewhere you spend time. Our creative ideas for garden sitting spaces cover how to position seating so it gets used.
- Enclose it a little. A hedge, a screen or a planted trellis on one or two sides gives the sense of a private room, and a winding path makes a small garden feel larger.
- Plan for evening use. Most people are outside at dusk in summer. White flowers and silver foliage read in low light; reds and purples vanish.
- Concentrate fragrance where you sit. Gardenia, murraya, native gardenia and frangipani all carry further in warm humid air. Lavender suits a dry sunny edge and jasmine a fence or pergola, and our guide to the most fragrant plants suggests others that carry scent on a warm evening.
- Add water. Sound and reflected light matter, and even a small feature cools the air around it. Keep it moving so it does not breed mosquitoes.
- Plant for birds. Callistemon, grevillea, banksia and correa bring honeyeaters and lorikeets in, and that activity is a large part of what makes an Australian garden feel alive.
- Make a green corner. Ferns in shade give a cool, forest like spot for the hottest months. Our guide to ideal fern environments explains how to get the moisture and shade balance right.
- Grow something to eat. Herbs, a citrus tree or a vegetable bed give a reason to go outside every day.
- Keep it low maintenance. A garden that becomes a chore stops being restorative. Lomandra, dianella, westringia and mulch do more for wellbeing than an ambitious bed you cannot keep up with.
Accessibility
Raised beds at 600 to 900 mm, wide firm paths, handrails on any change of level, and seating placed through the garden as well as at its edges make gardening possible for people with limited mobility, which is the group for whom the benefits are best documented. Wicking beds are particularly useful in Australian conditions, since they cut watering frequency substantially.
Check paths regularly for uneven surfaces, and expect to adjust the layout as plants grow and as the people using the garden change.
Gardening safely in the Australian climate
The benefit disappears if the conditions make gardening unpleasant or unsafe, and our climate demands some planning.
- Garden early or late. Australian UV is among the highest in the world, and midday summer gardening is hazardous. Early morning and late afternoon are both cooler and safer.
- Treat sun protection as part of the job: hat, sleeves, sunscreen. Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world.
- Create shade first. A shaded seat or a tree over the working area is what keeps a garden in use through summer.
- Wear gloves. Several common garden plants have irritant sap, including euphorbia, frangipani, cunjevoi and agave.
- Dampen potting mix and wear a mask when you open the bag. Potting mix can carry Legionella longbeachae, and there are Australian cases every year.
- Watch for wildlife. Snakes and spiders are a real consideration in rural gardens and near bush, so wear closed shoes and look before reaching into dense growth.
Bringing it indoors
If the garden is a balcony or a windowsill, the same ideas apply at a smaller scale. See our guide to plants for a stress reducing indoor garden.
Common questions
Is gardening really good for mental health?
The research says yes, with sensible limits. Studies consistently link gardening and time in green space with lower stress and better mood. It is a support for wellbeing, not a treatment, and anyone struggling should also talk to a health professional.
What is a therapeutic garden?
A garden designed around the people using it: easy to reach and move through, with shade, seating, scent, sound and plants that can be touched, and with some privacy for quiet time.
Which plants suit a sensory garden?
Scented plants such as gardenia, murraya, lavender and jasmine near seating, soft or textured foliage along paths, and bird attracting natives such as callistemon and grevillea for movement and sound.
Ready to plant?
Start with scent from our fragrant plants, add local character with native plants, or build a shady green retreat with ferns for shady areas. Every plant is delivered Australia wide and backed by our 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
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