Gardening and Better Mental Health

Gardening for Better Mental Health

Gardening for better mental health – as summer is here many of us are taking advantage of the nicer weather and getting out into the garden, enjoying the sunshine, BBQs and the fresh air. We have a number of other blogs on this website that explain the benefits of spending time in nature.

Plant Therapy – Nature’s Impact on our Mental Health

Hobbies and Mental Health

Exercise & Mental Health – Developing a Practice

The Therapeutic Benefits of Nature

Exercise & Mental health

Gardening is a great source of exercise which is good for your mental health but studies have also shown that gardening can help with significant reductions in depression and anxiety and improved social functioning. Gardening can also help maintain independence and prevent cognitive decline. 

Researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School analysed mental health data from 1000 urban residents and tracked where they had lived over the past 18 years. They found that people living near green places reported less mental distress.

In 2021, the RHS released research that revealed those who garden every day have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher(9) and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t garden at all. Surveying more than 6000 people the research showed a significant association between gardening more frequently and improvements in wellbeing, perceived stress and physical activity.

It is clear that getting into your garden this summer could have a positive impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Start small, just mow the lawn, or work on a small area or just perhaps go out for 15 minutes a day. If you don’t have a garden consider indoor plants and if this isn’t possible make a proactive effort to go out and spend time in nature wherever you can.


Paul Carter is an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practitioner as well as a counsellor, psychotherapist. If you are looking for support, call Paul Carter now to book an appointment or to discuss your issues further. At the moment, Paul is only working online or the telephone due to COVID. To make an appointment please call Paul on 07843 813 537 or fill in the form on the Contact Page, if he doesn’t answer he is probably in a session, please leave him a message and he will call you back as soon as he can.