How to create a sensory garden
February is a great time to be making plans for your garden. After two years of working from home and staycations we all appreciate just how lucky we are if we have a little green patch surrounding our home. The peace, privacy and feeling of wellbeing that come from appreciation of and relaxation in the garden is priceless.
A recent YouGov poll also tried to put a value on it finding that a quarter of British house buyers are now seeking outside space after the pandemic.
So how can we capitalise on our asset and what can we all do to make this a more pleasurable and healthy space? Well now is the perfect time to have a think about your garden and how you want to use it while the weather is still cold and you can’t get out into it that much.
So, from the comfort of your own chair why not first consider the picture your outside space creates with a particular focus on the combination of both hard and soft landscaping? Too much hard landscaping and it will feel cold and unwelcoming. Therefore try and combine seating and entertainment surfaces with planting that will help evoke a more comforting and relaxed environment. A small pergola, or archway can help define an area and create a calm space. A cedar corner bench can act as a focal point and provide a refuge to sit and reflect.
USE PLANTING THAT HELPS STIMULATE THE SENSES
Feature plants that have aromas; such as Jasmine, roses or lavender. Or why not consider some plants that move and create sounds; like oriental grasses, or bamboo as they rustle in gentle breezes. Trees that help create dappled light at certain times of the day or display amazing colours as the seasons change: Himalayan Birches cast fantastic shadow detail on terrace surfaces, Liquidambars reflect the most incredible autumn leaf colours while the Catalpa leaf, is almost fluorescent green against a vivid blue sky.
You should also think about the layout of the garden; how your eye is led through it, and how different areas are linked together. Take a look at our sketch of a typical small town garden space (8 x 8m). Try andavoid seeing the garden as a square, or oblong with minimal planting around its borders. This maybe practical, but boy it’s dull.
Adding a water feature can help engender a feeling of wellbeing. The gentle bubbling of running water is most relaxing and can act as a barrier to other less welcome sounds around us.
A woodland area helps create shade and natural verticals within the garden. If space is at a premium a carefully placed Tree Fern with woodland plants surrounding it can do the trick and provide a haven for wildlife.
“A small pergola, or archway can help define an area and create a calm space”
A HERB OR KITCHEN GARDEN CAN BE THE CATALYST FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO GET INVOLVED
If you have young children think about how they might play but also interact with the garden. Create a small area, or raised bed they can call their own - this could be a small vegetable garden, a herb garden, or a place that attracts birdlife, animals and insects.
A kitchen garden as part of your scheme, or even as a major component can be an excellent attribute if you appreciate fresh vegetables and herbs, but also a brilliant catalyst to interact with the garden.
If you refer to Marylyn Abbott's book, Gardens of Plenty, you'll also appreciate how the kitchen garden can, and has become, an integral part of mixed garden planting. Some other great sources of inspiration include the RHS's book Your Wellbeing Garden, Monty and Sarah Don’s From Fork to Fork, and John Brookes’ Small Garden. So yes, making your garden good for you is a great recipe for 2022.