gardening health Archives - Western Garden Centers

Utah gardeners enjoy breath the “fresh air” in the yard and watching nature in the garden or patio. We find it adds to a healthy living. But have you thought about the 6-8 hours that pass in the night? Can we get better sleep with plants in our bedrooms? The answer is yes!

I used to think that the mattress, the sheets, and pillow I used was what affected my sleep. I later learned that room temperature and personal stress are also factors to the quality of my sleep. But now I consider another one, plants!

Have you ever linked the tradition of taking a flowering plant to a hospital patient in recovery? Now I understand why. Flowering plants have significant benefits for patients. If it can help patients with their recovery, then logically, and biologically, placing plants in your bedroom can make a difference.

Houseplant Studies

Many comprehensive studies have been conducted by NASA and others to explore this phenomenon. Scientists have discovered individual plants can clean the air more than others. Some plants help people sleep longer, and different plants are better at cleaning certain toxins from the air. Toxins like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. For example, one “study suggests Gardenia is as effective as valium.”

I read several articles about getting better sleep, including 10 Plants That’ll Help You Sleep Better by Martha Stewart, 7 Bedroom Plants that Improve Your Sleep, and my favorite article on the topic – 10 Plants that Help Sleep by Tuck. Tuck is a very comprehensive resource on sleep. They are worth the read. The articles discuss the qualities of several houseplants and how they can influence your rest. Did you know that English Ivy is known to help with sleep apnea or reduce allergens like airborne mold! Some of the tests could be great science projects for young ones.

Care and Access to Houseplants

Most of these houseplants are easy to care for inside a home or apartment. Of course, remember the general rule of the Finger Tester. Water your plant when you can stick your finger in the soil and it comes out dry. Over watering is often the culprit for disaster. Find houseplants for sleeping at your local garden center like Western Gardens. They have a fantastic selection of these and other houseplants.

Better Sleep is Around Corner

We gardeners realize the immense satisfaction of getting our hands dirty to create a piece of heaven to view or taste the fresh grown foods all summer. That endorphin created with labor are real and do help us be more healthy. Therefore, this fall, while you are putting your Utah garden to bed, consider what you can bring into your bedroom to help with your winter sleeping hours! Outdoor gardens and indoor houseplants truly can be medicine for the soul and body all year round.

Recommendations of Houseplants for Better Sleep

TipsBulletin.com has another list of wonderful hanging houseplants.

Author: Maria Cannon (HobbyJr.org)

When many people think of getting fit or staying healthy, gardening probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, working in the garden can be hugely beneficial to one’s health, in many ways. Not only is it great physical exercise, it also helps people who don’t get a lot of time outdoors connect to nature, enjoy the sun and fresh air, and spend time doing something that helps them feel fulfilled.

“When you sit at a desk all day, there’s something about literally putting your hands in the dirt, digging and actually creating something that’s really beautiful. There’s something about just being out there that feels kind of elemental,” says gardener Gillian Aldrich.

In short, working in a garden can help you feel better and improve your emotional and mental health. Want to learn more? Read on to find out how you can boost your health in a variety of ways just by digging in the dirt.

Gardening Can Boost Your Mood

Gardening has been linked in several studies to lessening depression. Although there have been no conclusive answers as to why, some experts believe it’s simply the ability to connect with something larger than ourselves without having to think about it too hard. It also involves physical work and being outdoors, both of which have been shown to improve mood and self esteem.

Healthy gardening means you'll be in a better more cheery mood.

Photo Credit via Pixabay by Vijayanarasimha

Gardening Can Relieve Stress

It can be difficult these days to enjoy the moment. With all the distractions from smartphones, laptops, tablets, email, and social media, it can be hard to direct your energy to something for longer than a few minutes. Gardening requires a bit of focus but allows your mind to go where it wants, which can help you feel more positive and de-stressed. Stress relief and activity can help prevent heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, among other things.

A healthy gardening habit helps you destress and realize the beauty of a simple flower.

Photo Credit via Pixabay by Alexas Fotos

Gardening Can Be Good Exercise

There are several types of gardening and many different ways you can get in a workout. Kneeling on the ground and bending over to weed, digging in the dirt to plant, and hauling dirt, mulch and fertilizer are all ways to feel the burn. You can take off several calories by working in the garden a few times a week.

Gardening helps with exercise. Now that is healthy gardening!

Photo Credit via Pixabay by Mojpe

Gardening Promotes Healthy Eating

Gardening can help promote healthy eating, especially if you’re putting on the table what you are taking what you grow from the ground. Plant produce you enjoy using to cook with–tomatoes, herbs, cabbage, carrots–so you’ll be more inclined to eat them and keep your diet healthy and nutritious.

Another wonderful benefit of growing food is that you can share it. If you don’t have family nearby, consider taking what you’re not going to use and donating it to food banks or shelters or neighbors. Be a good neighbor!

Photo Credit via Pixabay by CongerDesign

Gardening Can Help You Sleep Better

Working outdoors and getting active several times a week helps you tire out physically, and keeps stress and anxiety at bay so you can have a restful night. If you’re a restless sleeper, consider working in the garden a few additional times.

sleeping in the garden or sleeping better because you worked in the garden

Photo Credit via Pixabay by Dawidx

Gardening Gets You Out in the Sun

Working and playing in the sun exposes you to vitamin D, which can help boost your immune system and help improve your skin and bone health. Just be sure to wear plenty of sunblock to protect yourself from all those UV rays.

Photo Credit via Pixabay by AKA Ralph

Gardening is one of the best ways you can get in a workout, improve your brain function, boost your mood, and get healthy overall. If you feel you don’t have a big enough space on your own property for a garden, consider many other options like vertical gardening, container gardening, raised bed gardens. Western Gardens can help you be successful in growing your own food or just enjoying the beautiful blooms you cultivated. You can also consider seeking out a community garden project where you can work on your own little patch of land.

About the Author: Maria has suffered from fibromyalgia along with depression and anxiety associated with the chronic illness for years. Her hobbies–gardening, quilting, sewing, and knitting–play a major role in maintaining her mental health. She enjoys writing about her hobby adventures on Hobbyjr.org.

Get Better Sleep with Houseplants