Lately, many of us are struggling to cope with the stress of unprecedented world events. We believe nature holds many of the keys to managing stress and anxiety, and you don’t have to go far to unlock the benefits. For those of us who are struggling to cope, these garden activities are great for managing stress levels.

Create a Container Garden

If growing a full-fledged garden isn’t in the cards for you, a container garden offers many of the same stress-relieving benefits in a smaller package. You can create a container garden with a single medium or large pot, or create several container gardens of various sizes for a higher-impact arrangement. 

This project is an excellent natural stress reliever because it allows you to make physical contact with live plants and fresh soil. Working with your hands to gently re-pot and care for your container plants allows you to focus on the task at hand. With container gardening, you don’t need to push any of your body’s physical limits, the stakes are low, and the payoff is rewarding and long-lasting. 

To get started, choose at least one pot and three or more plants to use in your arrangement. The “recipe” for a beautiful container garden typically includes a “thriller” (a bold plant that will act as a focal point), a “filler” (a mounding plant that fills in empty gaps), and a “spiller” (a trailing plant that cascades over the rim of the container). Refer to Pinterest or your favorite social media platform to find some inspiration for your own container garden!

Grow Some Fresh, Healthy Food

If you find yourself feeling a little anxious or helpless these days, starting a vegetable garden is an excellent remedy. There’s something very powerful about growing food the way people used to back in the days of Victory Gardens. The very act of managing a vegetable garden has stress-relieving qualities, and it’s one of the best ways to keep your body active without leaving your property.

The secondary benefit is the feeling of empowerment and self-sufficiency you’ll feel when you harvest your first crop. You’ll soon see why vegetable gardening is one of the fastest-growing gardening trends this year!

Plant a Pollinator Garden

If there’s a silver lining to the events of the past, it’s the reminder that we’re part of a global community. We’re all learning how important it is that we take care of each other, but also how vital it is to care for our world. Pollinators are vital to our food supply, and planting pollen and nectar-rich flowers to keep them fed is an excellent way for all of us to make a difference.

Pollinators mainly gravitate toward native plants because these plants are recognizable as safe food sources. Another benefit of these plants is that they’re well-adapted to our climate in Maryland and Virginia, so they’ll require very little maintenance. Contact your nearest Greenstreet Gardens location to learn about the pollinator-friendly native plants we have in stock today.

Relax in a Garden Nook

Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery. A garden nook is essentially a designated area of the garden where you can get out of the house and into nature without stepping outside of property lines. A patio, gazebo, or pergola can double as a garden nook, but you can also establish one in your garden area with the addition of a comfortable outdoor chair or bench and a few homey touches.

To build on the relaxing ambiance of your garden nook, think of ways to engage all the senses. Plant fragrant annuals, perennials, bulbs, and shrubs in the area to fill the air with fresh, floral scents. Add wind chimes or a simple water feature to create a backdrop of soothing white noise. Decorate with comfortable, outdoor-safe cushions that are soft to the touch, and add soft outdoor lighting and garden art to please the eye. If you want to appeal to all five senses, add a blueberry or raspberry bush to keep a supply of fresh, healthy snacks on-hand in the summer!

Stress is a natural response to the adjustments we’re all making this year, but we can take some comfort in the therapies our natural world has to offer. To relieve even more of your stress, we’ve introduced curbside pickup and online ordering to keep your gardening experience as worry-free as possible. Contact one of our garden center locations in Lothian or Alexandria to learn more today.