The act of spending time in a garden has the power to decrease an individual’s risk of developing dementia, reduce stress and anxiety, increase vitamin D levels, and provide a source of aerobic exercise (when actively gardening). If you’ve decided to retire, and are still on the lookout for meaningful new hobbies, gardening could be exactly what you are in search of. In addition to planting flowers and produce, and providing daily care to your plants, your garden can serve as a wonderful spot to nap, read a book, and to entertain guests. Learn more about some of the best ways to make your the perfect place, a garden to relax in retirement.
How To Have A Garden to Relax in Retirement
Create a comfortable and purposeful patio area
Of nearly any area in or outside of the home, patios often have the most unrealized potential and the easy choice when trying to create a garden to relax in retirement. Even if you have a relatively small patio space, you can quickly and easily turn a boring outdoor space into a stunning retreat. To do this, first decide how you would like to use your patio. Do you only want it to be reserved for time alone, or time with your family? Will your pets join you on the patio regularly? Do you want to host frequent dinner parties outside?
When you’ve established the various uses of this space, you can make the best choices for adding furniture, decorative elements, and functional features. For example, if you know that your patio gets a lot of sun, but you want to spend time entertaining or relaxing, the use of retractable awnings can provide much-needed shade and protection from experiencing an interrupting rain event.
Other low cost alternatives like shade sails or patio umbrellas paired with patio lights can add both atmosphere and shade. Considering the needs of yourself, your family, and your guests in advance (such as keeping out of the sun) can guide you toward making the best choices for your patio design.
Use your garden for learning
In addition to creating a relaxing and functional patio area, it is also beneficial to maximize the use of your actual garden as well. As mentioned earlier, engaging with your garden carries with it tremendous health advantages. On top of these benefits, you can transform your garden into a daily learning opportunity. Whether you’re an advanced gardener or a complete novice, there is always something new to learn about nature.
Set goals for yourself, such as learning how to care for specific crops, or learning about the care of plants and flowers that you are not yet familiar with. Stretch yourself beyond the patio to learn about garden water features like ponds and fountains. If you have an interest, learn how garden lighting and water pumps can utilize solar powered options.
Let your curiosity take you places you may not have considered before. Who knows, you might end up joining the needed and growing number of honey bee advocates in your garden plan’s pest control decisions and plant selection.
Establish your educational goals on a monthly basis (or on a schedule that works well for you), and track what you’ve learned throughout the year. Then, by the time the next year rolls around, you can review every new skill and fact that you’ve learned thanks to your home garden.
Add plants and flowers that appeal to you
It’s important to recognize that creating a beautiful garden environment is highly subjective. The plants featured in a popular home and garden magazine may not match with your home’s style and/or your own personal preferences. When choosing the plants and flowers that will adorn your gorgeous outdoor oasis, select only those that you most enjoy.
Since you will be the one who spends the most time in your patio/garden space, fill it with the plants that appeal to your sense of beauty. But don’t lose track of what is native or survivable in your climate. The key motivation is creating a perfect place to relax in retirement. Avoid over-tasking yourself in labor and/or resources trying to force beautiful but unsuitable plants to thrive.
Whether you desire a retirement full of activity or rest, your patio/garden area can provide both. By establishing your goals and desires for the space, and making it suit your needs, you can make the most out of this often underutilized outdoor area.