We’ve written about gardening in the past, but spring is a great time to revisit this popular topic.
Maintaining a large garden, especially when you have mobility issues or limited space, can be extremely challenging and time-consuming. Still, gardening and caring for plants have been shown to have health benefits for all ages, especially seniors. If you have been interested in watching new life bloom despite your restrictive living situation, container gardening may be the right option for you. Today, we will discuss how seniors living in memory care assisted living facilities can benefit from gardening and the best methods to ensure success.
Health Benefits of Having a Container Garden
Container gardening is simply gardening that you do in smaller containers instead of a plot of land or yard. Container gardening is helpful for those who live in senior residences that lack individual yards or garden beds for planting. Even if you live at home, container gardening can allow you to tend to a garden next to your pool or front door as opposed to getting down and dirty in the dirt.
Expert studies show a link between tending to garden plants and a wide range of health benefits, such as reduced stress and lower blood pressure. Physical benefits like improved strength and dexterity have also been observed. Because gardening and caring for plants can be an enriching activity, seniors who do not enjoy exercising or cannot walk for long distances can benefit from the small amount of exercise they partake in during the plant maintenance process.
Gardening For Seniors
The best part about container gardening is the creativity it allows you to express. When times get rough or life is not going your way, finding new meaning through gardening and design is a fantastic way to beat the blues. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when purchasing plants, containers, and other materials for your new container garden.
Container Options – In container gardening, the choice of container is often just as important to the overall look and feel of the space as the plant. Containers can be so much more than just terracotta pots. Rustic wood, industrial metal, or biodegradable pots made of coconut husk can be matched with plants that match the aesthetic and overhaul the entire experience. You should be careful when selecting certain materials, as they can break down over time, leech toxins into the soil, or crack. Plastic containers, while beautiful and often creative visually, might even melt in the hot Florida summer.
Flower and Plant Options – No two container gardens will be identical. Different plants require different levels of sunlight that your living situation may or may not allow. Furthermore, when building a garden, be intentional about the choices you make. Start with the plants necessary in your preferred design and plan around them. Some may want daffodils and roses to be the star of the show, while others wish to grow a functional garden cultivating herbs and spices. Choosing plants first also allows you to provide them with a container that fits their space requirements for roots and branches.
Soil and Water – Healthy soil and pure water are critical ingredients in robust plants. Soil designed for container garden use from a local supplier will be your best choice in most cases. They absorb moisture and keep roots supplied with healthy minerals. Container gardens need proper drainage in all pots to ensure water is retained but not pooling in the bottom and killing roots. When drainage is present, container garden plants require more water than traditional garden plants.
Container gardening can be a new outlet for creativity in your life, no matter your living situation. Our assisted living facility residents can personalize their new space through container gardening, with assistance provided by our outstanding staff members.
If you or a loved one are considering assisted living or memory care, we invite you to consider A Banyan Residence in Venice. We are dedicated to providing a fulfilling lifestyle to each of our residents.
