Container Gardens Nursery Landscaping Guide

Horticultural Therapy And Container Gardens

By Jennifer Dullard

Container gardens have been used for ambiance for many years, but what one may not realize is that container gardens are one aspect of horticultural therapy. For centuries the therapeutic effects of a garden have been used to help individuals that are sick whether mentally or physically.

In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and also considered to be the "Father of American Psychiatry" stated that garden setting held curative powers for people with mental illness.

Container gardens are especially useful in the hospital setting because they can be used either indoors or outdoors. Horticultural therapy and the use of container gardens can be important aspects of one's recovery from an illness.

Horticultural therapy has many techniques and a few deal with container gardens. One technique is to construct wide paths that are wheelchair accessible for entrances, exits and mobility of the chair. Also, with this type of therapy, a raised box garden is a type of container garden that can be used to stimulate an individual.

Garden Tools Adapted To Reflect The Disability

Many of the regular tools that one uses to garden have to be adapted to reflect the disability. This in turn will cause a person who would normally be incapable of doing the gardening task to have the ability to complete something that they previously thought was impossible.

Another thing that is good for therapy is for the planter garden or container gardens to be full of color with various plants. This will in turn cause the stimulation of the individual to be increased promoting more rehabilitation.

Horticultural Therapy

Horticultural therapy is taught and practiced throughout the world in a variety of settings and cultures. These highly trained people are trained to create garden masterpieces including container gardens that accommodate everyone with various abilities.

People with either physical or mental disabilities will gain benefits from gardening therapy. They will learn various skills that can be continued at home when they are released from a therapeutic environment. Both ornamental plants and edible plants are used in horticultural therapy which is recommended by doctors, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.

Help To Rehabilitate People With Physical Or A Mental Illness

No longer are container gardens just for pretty flowers or small patio tomatoes. Horticultural therapy uses a variety of gardens including containers to help rehabilitate people with both physical and mental illness.

The stimulation that gardens provide help a person to become able to care for themselves instead of feeling that they have a disability. Along with the beautiful and bountiful harvest that container gardens produce they can now be used to help individuals in therapeutic settings.

A person can now learn how to plant and take care of natures beauty and that in itself is very therapeutic for anyone of any age.

About the Author:
Jennifer Dullard has written a number of articles on gardening and landscaping including Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture, Metal Window Boxes, Flower Beds, Wrought Iron Garden Gates, Water Proof Cases, Growing Tomatoes, Ornamental Grasses, Window Box Garden, Gardening Container, Hanging Baskets, Container Gardening.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.

Little Known Gardening Facts....

Are flowers considered container gardening?
Yes. Technically anything grown in a container is considered to be container gardening. Flowers are a great way to add color and freshness to a landscape. By placing flowers in containers, you can move them around for different landscape designs.

One thing to keep in mind is how tall or wide the flowers will grow. The larger the flower plant, the bigger the container must be in order for the plant to grow to its fullest potential. Repotting a plant is often an easy solution for flowers and plants that have grown too large for their pot.

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