Get Gardening!

As the weather warms up, there’s no reason not to get out and get gardening

Whether it’s for your health, environment— or your wallet— gardening has seen a boom in recent years. Over 7 million people have taken up gardening since the pandemic, with incredibly positive results.

Research has shown that spending more time outside is key to the nation’s well being. Nearly two thirds of UK adults said that taking in the colours, sights, smells and sounds of the great outdoors by gardening or being surrounded by nature helped with their mental wellbeing and lowered stress levels. And 43 per cent said that looking after houseplants or growing food or plants in window boxes also boosted wellbeing — showing that you don’t need a big garden to reap big rewards. Now is a great time to dig out your trowel and get your hands dirty in some sumptuous soil—wellies on or not, so here are our top reasons to get gardening this year:

Pick your own

There’s nothing like eating your own vegetables. From picking your own strawberries or unearthing the first new potatoes of the year, homegrown veg is a joy. It simply tastes better. Whether that’s down to the triumph of simply growing your own or eating it when it’s at its freshest, once you start home growing you may never stop.

You don’t need to have a large plot to do so either. Herbs and smaller veg are more than happy in pots on windowsills or small balconies, and are easy to grow from seed. Don’t forget that a windowsill garden should also provide colour as well as be useful, so experiment with different varieties for attractive foliage and variegated leaves.