I previously wrote a blog post with tips to create a mindful garden and today I have five more ways you can create a garden with your wellbeing in mind.

If you have a garden then it’s the perfect place to create a relaxing space that not only benefits your physical health through its maintenance, but also your mental health through connecting with nature and having a peaceful, fresh air space to take a break.

We have recently completed a huge garden transformation turning a messy 90 foot garden which I never wanted to spend time in, into a tranquil space with several seating areas, a calming pond and plenty of greenery.

It had been on our list of things to do since moving into our home six years ago, but renovating our entire home whilst raising two children and running our own businesses has meant everything has taken much longer than we expected.

We finally have our dream garden and it is incredible the difference it makes to have a space to relax in outside with surroundings that are visually pleasing to us. It makes us feel more positive and I now want to spend as much time outdoors as possible, which can only further benefit my overall wellbeing.

Here are five ways we have created a garden with our wellbeing in mind, which you can hopefully replicate in your own garden too.

Wellbeing garden ideas

1. Install a pond

I wasn’t sure about installing a pond, but my husband suggested it and now I am so pleased I got on-board as it’s probably my favourite part of our garden. It’s so amazing to see it flourish every day with plants and wildlife. It’s also so relaxing to simply sit by the water and stare into the pond!

Water features are a great way to add a really mesmerising spot to a garden, but a pond can be an even better way as it encourages wildlife to the garden too. Our pond is only two months old and we have had numerous damselflies and also a newt!

On sunny mornings I have taken my morning coffee next to the pond and sat on the floor soaking up the sunlight and gazing at the pond. It really gives me a good 5-10 minutes of mindfulness as I enjoy looking at the nature and forgetting all my stresses.

2. Grow lavender

It’s a great idea to grow something in your garden that can offer therapeutic benefits as well as looking pretty.

One of the easiest plants to grow for this is lavender. It’s readily available each spring in garden centres and once planted it comes back every year. It grows pretty quickly each year too, attracting bees and butterflies to your garden which are so beneficial for pollinating the rest of your garden. They’re also a delight to see!

Lavender holds many calming properties and its scent can instantly relax you. If you grow plenty, then dry some lavender too and make pouches to add under your pillow to promote a better night’s sleep.

3. Plant bright flowers

As well as having plenty of green in our garden which is instantly calming, I have also planted lots of flower seeds to brighten up the borders of our garden or any random patches where the grass does not like to grow.

Flowers can trigger happy emotions, which is why we love to see them and receive them!

Yellow tulips, for example, are a symbol of happiness, cheerfulness and hope. Flowers can easily be bought in pots ready to plant from garden centres, or grow your own beautiful tulips from Dutch Tulips to create a really unique tulip patch in your garden.

Wildflower seeds are also a great idea to entice the butterflies and bees to your garden and cover and rough soil areas.

4. Grow fruits and vegetables

Gardening itself is a great way to maintain physical health and it can even be an enjoyable hobby rather than a chore. Planting fruits and vegetables is one way to make gardening pleasurable.

Discovering a love for growing your own will encourage you to spend more time outdoors and give you delicious, fresh and nutritious homemade produce to consume.

It was always important to us to grow our own vegetables when we had a garden and even after landscaping the garden, so we made sure we incorporated vegetable patches and areas to grow fruit into our garden plans.

My husband even made two strawberry planters from reclaimed wood that sit neatly along one of our fence panels! I have commissioned him to make many more and some larger ones to grow carrots and leeks in a way that won’t intrude on our garden space, but will effectively use otherwise wasted space along our fences.

Growing fruits and vegetables in your outdoor space will encourage you to get outdoors, have a hobby you love and eat well.

5. Fence off sheds/workshops/messy areas

My husband has a workshop at the bottom of the garden and a collection of wood in a second shed. His wood and creations are often spilling out of the shed into the garden. I’m a tidy, clutter-free person and just seeing this meant I could never fully relax as it looked messy!

To make our garden even more complete we installed a fence towards the back with a gate on it to separate our new, relaxing garden from the workshop and wood shed at the bottom of the garden.

It’s incredible the difference this has made. It now looks like our garden ends at this new fence and this allows the landscaped part of our garden to end here. We no longer have to look at the messy shed or workshop as it’s hidden behind this new fence.

It also means my husband can make as much mess as he likes without the rest of our garden looking untidy or like a junkyard!

If you have garden buildings ruining your garden ambience then a garden divide is a great idea. Other options we considered were installing a row of bamboo in planters or a row of trellis to eventually cover in climbers like evergreen passion flower or clematis.

6. Maintain a Healthy Lawn

A well-manicured lawn is a great way to add visual appeal to your garden while also providing a space for relaxation and outdoor activities. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy lawn:

Mow regularly: Mowing your lawn regularly is essential for maintaining its health. Set your mower blades high, so you don’t cut too much of the grass at once, which can weaken it.
Water properly: Water your lawn deeply and infrequently. Overwatering can cause shallow roots, making the lawn more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Aerate the soil: Compacted soil can prevent air, water, and nutrients from reaching the roots. Aeration allows these essential elements to penetrate the soil, promoting a healthier lawn.
Fertilise appropriately: Use a slow-release fertiliser like Moowy lawn feed that provides essential nutrients to your lawn over time. Apply it according to the instructions and avoid over-fertilising, which can cause rapid growth and weaken the lawn.
Control pests and weeds: Regularly inspect your lawn for pests and weeds, and take appropriate measures to control them. Use organic pest control methods whenever possible to avoid harmful chemicals.

By following these tips, you can maintain a lush, healthy lawn that enhances the beauty and wellbeing of your garden.

The key to a tranquil garden is definitely to cleverly hide away any signs of mess or clutter so it doesn’t impose on the calm. If you’re sick of having to regularly cut your grass, you might even decide to opt for a modern artificial grass solution, giving you more time to make the most of relaxing in the garden and getting the time you need from it. Grass Warehouse offer a wide selection of ranges, with free samples available so you can test the quality for yourself.

Our garden has been a labour of love, but I can already see the benefits to our wellbeing with the new features we have installed. It’s now a place of peacefulness where we can relax and forget about our worries. If you have an outdoor space then why not consider turning it into your own positive wellbeing space?

Tips to start your own vegetable garden

Turn your garden into a veggie paradise

Calming solutions for managing anxiety