Create a sensory garden with Dobbies for Mental Health Awareness Week
This Mental Health Awareness Week we've designed a sensory garden to help you create moments of calm in an otherwise busy life and improve your wellbeing, all from the comfort of your outdoor space.
Everyday life can overload us with information, especially with our busy phones being so easily accessible. To escape, many people find that spending time in nature or gardening at home helps reduce stress and calms their mind. A sensory garden can be the perfect soothing escape from these everyday worries.
Creating a sensory garden is all about awakening the 5 basic senses by laying out your garden in a way that engages multiple senses at once. Our senses are everywhere in our gardens, from pollinating insects passing by or a bright blooming flower catching our eye. By mixing these different elements, you’re able to deepen your connection to nature and become more aware of your surroundings. Not only can you use this space as a relaxing sanctuary to practice being mindful in, but the act of creating a sensory garden is also incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable.
So, learn how to satisfy your senses by creating an outdoor space that looks, feels, tastes, smells and sounds great.
What is a sensory garden?
A sensory garden is an area in your outdoors dedicated to engaging all 5 senses: sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. This is done through landscaping and including plants with certain scents and textures in the design of your garden to maximise the way your senses engage with the space.
A sensory garden can have many uses and benefits. Interacting with the senses can help children learn. It can also have a positive effect on your emotions, wellbeing and health, while positively impacting those with cognitive impairments.
You don't need a large space to create a sensory garden either. Whether you’re dedicating a corner or transforming your whole garden, it’s easy to start incorporating the senses into your outdoors through decor, plants and furniture.
Sight
Gardens are all about appearance, so prioritising sight is one of the easiest ways to heighten the senses. Keep your garden tidy and taking care of your plants so they thrive is one way to do this, but if you want to elevate the look of your garden then try and diversify the colours, shapes, sizes and textures of your plants.
You can achieve varying heights with your plants by planting some in pots and others in the ground in beds and borders or in troughs. A hanging basket is effective in decorating a bare wall or fence, especially in you’re working with limited space. The shapes and textures of the plants you choose will also have a visual impact. For example, the short flower clusters of hydrangeas will contrast nicely with leafy, thin, tall stems.
The colours of your plants are useful in creating the desired mood of your sensory garden. Since the aim is to create a space to relax in, choosing plants with light, cool tones are best. Whites, purples and greens will create a calm and soothing space.
Finally, add festoon lighting to create a safe, warm atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy your sensory garden long into the evening.
Smell
A simple way of incorporating scent to your sensory garden is by choosing various aromatic plants with strong smells.
The smell of deliciously scented herbs, like fresh spearmint, planted in a hanging basket will sway with the wind and send its aroma across your garden. Plants with beautiful fragrances, such as fresh flowers, will also stimulate your sense of smell. A border of white hydrangeas and purple lavender planted together will complement one another, as well as attract pollinating insects like bees and butterflies to add another layer of depth to your sensory garden design.
Sound
Sound has a positive effect on mindfulness, as soothing noises help create a serene atmosphere. While it’s not always apparent, the materials, plants and decorations you add to your garden all contribute to creating soft sounds that will help you relax and be mindful.
Consider adding elements that create sound in your sensory garden. Plants and foliage are great at enhancing the sound of your outdoors. The whisper of the wind through bamboo leaves and the rustle of tall grasses combined with the gentle knocking of stems helps create a calming mood.
Wildlife travelling through your garden can also bring an interesting atmosphere. The sound of buzzing bees travelling from flower to flower and singing birds resting in your trees brings you closure to nature, deepening your connection to your surroundings and environment. Attract wildlife to your outdoors by making sure you include wildlife friendly plants, water features, birdhouses and birdfeeders in your garden.
Finally, the finer details and finishing touches to your decor can be some of the most effective ways to integrate sound, such as the trickling from our Cheltenham water feature which brings a sense of tranquillity and zen. Even the crunch of gravel under your feet will add an extra layer of satisfaction to your sensory garden.
Touch
Make the most of different textures and surfaces in your garden, from soft furnishings to unique plants.
Did you know that physically touching grass can help ground you and reset your mind? Reconnecting with nature is a powerful way to combat the stresses of everyday life and unwind. When spending time outdoors in your garden, you might feel your worries simply melt away!
Enjoy the different textures your plants and foliage have to offer. Running your hands through soft grasses can feel satisfying and soothing. Plants like Senecio or lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) have silky leaves that are covered in small hairs that make them feel like soft felt. Just remember to always choose plants that are not toxic when touched.
A bench or seating area provides the perfect place to sit back, relax and admire your plants and surroundings. Our Textilene outdoor double sofa is made from a plush cushion fabric, providing the ultimate comfort when lounging with your favourite book.
Taste
Don’t forget to include your tastebuds when designing your sensory garden! There are so many options of fruit, veg and herb plants you can grow at home then enjoy in meals, drinks, or eaten fresh from the vine.
A vegetable planter growing fresh beans, broccoli, carrots and cabbage not only provide you an edible reward, but are perfect for sharing with your friends, family and neighbours. Don’t worry if you’re short on space. Herbs, tomatoes, strawberries and other fruit bushes like blueberries can be grown in pots or hanging baskets. All you need is a dedicated area on a balcony or even a sunny windowsill. Many of these plants have strong, delicious aromas too, tingling your tastebuds through multiple senses at once.
No matter what you choose to grow, make sure you choose flavours and tastes that you truly love and enjoy.
Once you’ve created your sensory garden space, you can use it to tune into your surroundings and connect to nature. A common mindfulness practice to help yourself stay present is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique. To do this, take deep breaths and focus on 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. Give it a go in your outdoor sensory space and observe the effects it has on your mood, mind and wellbeing.
Many people also find that performing regular gardening tasks can ease their worries, especially methodical gardening jobs like deadheading, mowing lawns, and weeding. These jobs are also great for a spot of light physical exercise. They’re fun to do solo, but getting your children and loved ones involved too can increase the amount of quality time spent together with those who bring you joy, improving your mood as a result.
At Dobbies, we have everything you need to plan and design a sensory garden, from plants and pots to furniture and finishing features, plus all the tools to put it all together. Shop online today or pop into your local store to explore our full range and chat to a member of our Green Team for any gardening advice. Don’t forget to browse our inspiration page to discover more ideas on what you can do to transform your outdoor space this season.