Maintaining a garden is a great way to spend your free time. In fact, gardening is recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a therapeutic activity. This means that a garden can help you to stay mentally healthy and emotionally balanced. You might consider implementing a few of the following tips for improving your garden, so you can get the most out of your outdoor haven.

Use Containers to Your Advantage

Plants can be just as useful and attractive in containers as they are when they are planted in the ground. Having several decorative pots of different sizes available is not a bad idea if you have the storage space for them. If someone gives you a plant, or you want to transplant something you found on a nature walk, all you need to do is fill a pot with soil and position your new plant accordingly.

One of the top benefits of using containers is that they are generally portable, so you can easily move them from one spot to another. If a plant is not doing very well in one section of your yard, you can move it to another. You might even decide to move an outdoor plant indoors if doing so will not harm it.

Grow Some Food   

In addition to being a tranquil place to spend time, your garden can supply you with nutritious foods. You can devote one or two sections of it entirely to vegetables. If you have enough room, you could also plant a few fruit trees. The trees will provide you with shade from the sun, and they will add a new visual dimension to your residential landscape.

Plant Some Healing Herbs

If you haven’t included herbs in your garden, you could be depriving yourself of a valuable resource for medicinal herbs. The U.S. National Library of Medicine provides a list of several herbs that you might grow at home. The list includes details on how these herbs might be used to treat various health conditions. You should always discuss the use of herbs with your healthcare practitioner, especially if you have existing medical conditions and are currently taking any medications.

Experiment with Color

Take a few minutes to walk around your yard, and observe the variety of colors that you have on display. Green is always gorgeous, but too much of it can be offset beautifully with colorful flowers, such as poppies or lavender. You can use color in a variety of ways, from clustering plants of one hue together to scattering flowers of several different hues throughout the yard.

Add a New Feature to Your Yard

You might love the arrangement of plants in your garden but still feel that something is missing. The problem may not be with your garden but with its surroundings. Try adding a walkway that leads from the house to the garden. A cobblestone path can give the area a rustic feel and complete the look you are trying to achieve. Trellises adorned with vines could make your garden look like a scene from a fairytale. Adding a fountain can instantly create an outdoor refuge from the stress of everyday living. According to Fathom Fountains, certain art galleries and retailers sell fountains that are actually works of art.

Your garden should reflect your preferences and your lifestyle. You can also let this area evolve as your needs and interests change. Don’t be afraid to have some fun with the layout of your garden and yard.