Just Because it’s Winter Doesn’t Mean You Shouldn’t Enjoy Your Garden

Winter is well and truly here, bringing dark skies, gloomy days and persistent cold. And for most of us, that’s not a problem when we have the giddy thrill of fun Christmas activities and New years’ festivities to look forward to. When the seasonal fun ends, however, and the gears of life start grinding their way to their normal rhythms, it’s not uncommon for many of us to feel the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder including depression, lethargy, sporadic appetite and lack of energy and enthusiasm. Yet, while our first instinct may be to retreat indoors, we’re far better served when we make time for the great outdoors in the few hours of sunlight the days afford us. 

Spending time in your garden, your own little slice of the natural world can work wonders for ailing mental health, helping us to feel more relaxed, alert and happy. But if your garden tends to look like an anonymous slab of mud and unkempt grass until spring rolls around, it doesn’t take all that much effort to make some positive changes that will enhance your enjoyment of your garden in winter.

For the birds

Studies show that proximity to nature is a proven mood booster so we owe it to ourselves to get outdoors in the winter months no matter how appealing the combination of Netflix, sofa and residual Christmas choccies may be. Still, it’s more than just plants and flowers that make us feel happy while we’re spending time outdoors. Exposure to birds and animals can also make us feel calmer and happier. A bird table and bird bath can not only be a great way to ensure that you get more enjoyment out of your garden in the colder months, it can also be invaluable to help your local bird life survive and thrive in the cold harsh winter days. 

Woodn’t it be nice?

Did you know that when we include natural materials like good, stone, cotton and paper into our interior and exterior decor that these also have a soothing effect on our mental health? Synthetic materials might look great in a showroom but they subconsciously look and feel “wrong” to our minds and it can be difficult to stay relaxed around them. With that in mind, the winter might be the perfect time to get some eco-friendly timber decking supplies or perhaps install some wooden cladding. If your garden doesn’t have the space for trees and shrubs, wooden decor can add to the soothing effect your garden should have in winter. 

Winter plants that are evergreen

Of course, nobody wants to relax in a drab and colourless garden. If you thought that you’d have to wait for spring to roll around before you could admit a burst of colour into your garden, think again. 

There are many bold and vibrant plants that flourish in winter, giving you a wonderful colour palette all year round to offset the gloom of the bare branches which won’t flower until the warm weather comes. 

So, make the changes you need to enjoy your garden all year round. Your mind and body will both thank you for it!