10 moodboosting ways to garden now
Stay positive and active during the coronavirus outbreak by nurturing a love of plants, gardening and wildlife
Staying at home or selfisolating during the coronavirus outbreak is challenging, especially for people who live on their own. But gardening can help us turn this situation into a positive – we can sow seeds or plant seedlings now, and watch them develop and bloom over the coming weeks and months. And the well-documented benefits of gardening to our mental health and physical wellbeing are more important now than ever.
We’re here for the duration to offer moral support, practical guidance and inspirational ideas. To help get you started, we’ve chosen 10 garden projects you can get on with now. They’ll help you to pass the time in a productive and purposeful way, getting you outdoors to enjoy the fresh air, bird song and a bit of gentle exercise – or even a full-on workout with some major garden DIY.
Build a raised bed
A raised bed makes growing veg easier, particularly if you have heavy soil. It can also be useful if you have mobility issues. You can buy raised bed kits or make your own using old scaffolding planks. Then simply fill with topsoil and start sowing. See gardenersworld.com/raised-beds
Plant up a container display
A pretty container display can really help to lift the spirits. Use mail-order plants or seeds, or phone your local garden centre or nursery to see if they’ll deliver. Or even lift and divide a few perennial plants from your borders. Choose annuals from seed for a quick, seasonal display, or perennial plants that will last for years. See gardenersworld.com/ plant-offers and gardeners world.com/pot-displays
Install a water butt
If you’ve been meaning to install a water butt for a while, then now’s the time to do it. You can buy complete kits online and simply follow instructions on installing it. Wall-mounted water butts are a great way to save space. It’s fairly easy to connect them to a downpipe from your house, shed or greenhouse. See gardenersworld.com/ saving-water
Build a pond
Water will bring all kinds of fascinating wildlife into your garden – amphibians, aquatic insects, birds and mammals. Digging the pond will also give you a workout, if you’re missing your gym! Buy the pond liner and pond plants online or phone local garden centres to see if they stock them and will deliver. Aim for a mix of oxygenating, floating and submerged plants. It’s a fun project and you’ll get years of pleasure watching all the wildlife it attracts. See gardenersworld. com/make-ponds
Clean the greenhouse
A thorough, soapy scrub inside and out will bring more light to the plants inside, as well as getting rid of any lingering pests and pathogens. This is a great, active job that could help you work up a sweat, so get your scrubbing brush, sponge and hosepipe ready and enjoy a mini-workout. See gardenersworld.com/ clean-greenhouse
Grow houseplants
If you don’t have a garden or can’t get into the garden, you can bring a touch of the outdoors inside. Houseplants not only lift our spirits, they can also clean the air in our homes. And there are so many to choose from, to suit every room in the house, and every style of decor. You can buy houseplants, pots, compost and decorative pebbles from many online retailers. For more inspiration see our A-Z of houseplants on p67
Sow seeds
Sowing seeds and watching the plants grow can help to relieve stress and keep you mindful. Sow anything you fancy – annual herbs to use in cooking, flowers such as cosmos and sunflowers to brighten up the garden, or veg to use in nutritious meals. Use a seed tray and propagator if you have one, or simply fill pots with peat-free compost and cover with a clear plastic bag. See gardenersworld.com/ sow-seeds
Make a bee hotel
This will provide a handy nesting place for solitary bees such as red mason bees, which are on the wing from April to June, and leafcutter bees, which are flying from June to August. Rather than forming large nests like honey bees, solitary bees lay individual eggs in cells, stocked with nectar and pollen for the grubs to eat when they hatch. They don’t sting. Fix the completed bee hotel to a south-east facing wall or fence, and keep watch for bee activity all summer. For our step-by-step guide to making a bee hotel, turn to p128. See gardenersworld. com/bee-hotel
Feed the birds
This is a great way to entertain yourself while self-isolating at home. Hang feeders in front of a window where you sit regularly, so you can watch the birds’ antics whenever you like. You can buy feeders and bird food online. Choose a reputable supplier and avoid cheaper seed mixes if possible, as these are less likely to attract garden birds. Sunflower hearts are a great all-round choice, attracting a wide range of species. See gardenersworld. com/feed-birds Why not also take the time to learn all the different bird species that visit your feeders? Order a book or use our garden bird identifier at gardeners world.com/bird-ID
Design a new border
Have you always yearned for a prairie border, woodland corner or gravel garden? Then now is the perfect time to redesign any areas that aren’t living up to their potential. Plan the project carefully before you start, choosing plants that will suit your style and site. Then order plants and any other resources online. See gardenersworld.com/design-borders