By Oliver Clarke Horticulturists know that gardening has incredible health benefits! Besides the obvious nutritional benefits of growing your own, fresh food and herbs, gardening is a mild to moderate exercise, and can help with mental conditions too. The presence of plants is well-known to redu...

By Oliver Clarke

Horticulturists know that gardening has incredible health benefits! Besides the obvious nutritional benefits of growing your own, fresh food and herbs, gardening is a mild to moderate exercise, and can help with mental conditions too. The presence of plants is well-known to reduce stress and increase happiness, thereby reducing anxiety and depression. Additionally, large gardens set up with circular paths can help dementia patients, and plants chosen for their colors and textures may even provide an excellent experience for those with sensory difficulties.

But not everyone is physically able to spend time on their hands and knees in a traditional garden, and some people have a “black thumb,” and end up with dead plants, no matter what they do.

For those with physical limitations, a little forethought and construction is necessary. If the gardener can bend and reach from a seated position, “container gardens” are an excellent choice. Buy deep plastic storage tubs, drill holes for drainage in the bottom, and set them near a water source, such as a hose, to minimize carrying a heavy watering can; from there, set them up as if they are raised gardening beds.

If the gardener can stand, a vertical wall garden may be a good choice. Any type of container can be mounted onto a wall or fence. Tomatoes can even be planted upside down, so their fruits are within easy reach.

Finally, if the gardener is a wheelchair-user, raised beds can be constructed on tables, and the gardener can use long tools such as barbeque forks to reach the plants. In this instance, it may be useful to have an irrigation system that does not require much physical movement on the part of the gardener, beyond setup.

As for the black thumb… gardening experts say there is no such thing, only a lack of knowledge. There are many resources online and in print for beginner gardeners that will teach you all the basics and keep your plants happy and alive.

For now, keep in mind that the biggest mistakes new gardener make are poor watering habits, and taking on too much work. Learn the signs for under-watered and over-watered plants, and find a happy medium. Start with just a couple easy house plants, such as a spider plant, a snake plant, or a dracaena. Keep a closed container of water nearby so it is easy to water when you remember to do so, and keep in mind that plants are used to rainy days and sunny days; soak the soil occasionally, and let it dry on other days.

Go forth and celebrate spring with some beautiful plants!