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.
Indoors And Outdoors Container Gardens
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 to review your options
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
Metal Window Boxes,
Flower Beds,
Wrought Iron Garden Gates,
Growing Tomatoes,
Ornamental Grasses,
Window Box Garden,
Gardening Container,
Hanging Baskets,
Container Gardening,
Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture.
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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