Garden Advice for the Covid 19 Quarantine: The therapeutic relief of the outdoors soothes our minds, bodies and souls.

Cardinal enjoying a bath in my waterfall.

Mandatory self isolation may not bother introverts, but for the rest of us, we are wrestling with  feeling claustrophobic, scared, anxious, worried and exhausted. That is OK. We are all feeling stressed. While toilet paper, homeschooling and video conferencing jokes abound, the humor only offers temporary relief.  We have no control of the virus (outside of our small orbit) or the outcome, but we can control how we spend our time and manage our response to these unpredictable times. ​

In a spirit of positivity, I thought….If someone offered me the opportunity to self isolate in my garden for a few weeks, I’d say, “sure!”  I have enjoyed daily walks and taking a more relaxed approach to my mornings, and in time, these pleasures will come to an end. So what better place to vary a routine than by spending time in a garden?  ​

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The therapeutic relief of the outdoors soothes our minds, bodies and souls. While the stress of quarantine, isolation, joblessness, loss of business, and worry about the health of our loved ones can be paralyzing, now is the time to benefit from the gift of our gardens...even if you only have a balcony or plot in a community garden. The mark of a gardener is a person who does not see a finished landscape, but sees a series of tasks to tackle. While attending to the chores of the garden, you are also cultivating your mental health.

Rain or shine, pull on your boots, and take advantage of this time to:

1. Walk and notice the buds and new growth.  
2. Enjoy the scents of spring and the flowers that bloom.
3. Walk in the rain.
4. Enjoy the sounds of birds and watch as they build nests.
5. Feed birds and notice their habits.
6. Protect Birds from disease by cleaning your bird feeders.
7. Sharpen and clean tools. 
8. Now is a good time to prune plants that bloom on new wood, like hydrangea paniculata and some fruiting trees.
9. Take advantage of wet soil and edge beds and pull weeds. 
10. Divide perennials and transplant shrubs.
11. Put out any necessary supports like trellises and stakes.
12. Do a spring clean by cutting back last year’s perennials and raking up leaves.
13. Order seeds and commit a planter or garden patch to grow herbs or vegetables.
14. Research and plan for garden improvements by reading our past blogs.
15. Consider adding a themed garden:  Pollinator, cutting, scented, or moon garden (April 15 Blog).
16. Feed lawns with organic compost and consider using corn gluten as a weed seed pre-emergent.

Keeping focused on what May and June will look like in my garden.

You may have noticed that arts organizations, museums, and zoos are now offering virtual tours as an option while they’ve had to temporarily close. Likewise, you can still take advantage of public gardens by taking a virtual tour.  These tours can also serve as inspiration for your own gardens. Take special note of plant or color combinations you might like to introduce into your home landscape.

Take A Virtual Garden Tour

Monet's Garden in Giverny, France
Chicago’s Botanical Garden
Waddesdon Manor in Waddesdon, England
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Kew Gardens in Richmond, England
Hidcote Manor Gardens
Birmingham Botanic Gardens
United States Botanic Garden

Fortunately, air and soil temperatures are on the rise, and we can get a start on our list of springtime garden chores.  Awakening the senses with the fresh air and warm sun on our skin...activating our muscles to rake and dig...greeting and checking in with our neighbors...and feeling accomplished with the results of our labor.  One day at a time. Be safe and well, gardening friends.