GARDEN YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
WITH MELINDA MYERS
REDUCE YOUR STRESS , lower your blood pressure , improve your mood , and save some money while working on your green thumb . Research shows gardening can do all this and more .
Gardening can help you lose weight , tone your muscles , and increase your flexibility . Improve your fitness . Burn calories and increase muscle tone and flexibility . The Arthritis Foundation encourages movement , and gardening is one great way to stay active .
And don ’ t worry if your skills and space are limited . Everyone can increase the beauty in his or her environment , whether just a balcony or several acres , without a big increase in the budget .
START SMALL
This is especially true if you ’ re new to gardening . It is better to build for the future than become overwhelmed and give up gardening . And seasoned gardeners can look for new ways to increase their satisfaction and fun .
Convert underutilized and overlooked areas into beautiful spaces to be used as small outdoor living spaces , entertainment areas , or quiet getaways . Container gardens , green walls , and window boxes add planting space to once unplantable areas .
BRIGHTEN THE INDOORS
Everyone , especially someone with no access to the outdoors , should consider windowsill gardens and planters filled with herbs , greens , and houseplants . Not only will they feed your gardening desires and add life to your décor , they ’ ll also help cleanse the air , removing harmful , volatile organic compounds .
SHARE WITH A FRIEND
Find friends and family members that share your love for , or budding interest in , gardening . Experienced gardeners will swap advice and plants while new gardeners can benefit from the experience and new perspectives of others . And since everyone has a busy schedule these days , it ’ s a great way to combine a friendly visit with improving your landscape .
MAKE IT AN EVENT
A plant swap , weeding round-robin , or garden tour makes gardening fun and lightens everyone ’ s workload as you help each other with planning , planting , and weeding . And be sure to include some light refreshments , table decorations , and recipes using your homegrown produce .
INCLUDE SOME HERBS
Add flavor to your meals and fun to your dining experience . Have friends pluck fresh mint to flavor their iced tea or mojito . And grow some lovage . Its celery flavor and hollow stem make this the perfect straw for your tomato juice or Bloody Mary .
GROW SOME FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Not only can you save money on your grocery bill but you can ’ t beat the flavor or nutritional content of fresh-from-your-garden produce . And you control the chemicals , if any , used on your plants .
MIX IT UP A BIT
Add flowers to your edible containers to create an attractive display . Add bulbs to your perennial plantings to increase the flower power and reduce your workload . The perennial foliage will mask the unsightly fading leaves of the bulbs . And don ’ t hesitate to include a few annuals with your perennials . They provide continuous bloom while temporarily filling in space caused by new plantings or voids in established gardens .
MAKE IT CONVENIENT
If your garden tools and gloves are handy , you are more likely to take a few minutes to weed or deadhead your garden . Spending 10 or 15 minutes everyday in your garden not only keeps it looking good but also improves your mood and lowers your blood pressure .
And most importantly , relax and have fun .
Gardening expert , TV / radio host , and author Melinda Myers has written over20 gardening books , including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener ’ s Handbook . She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda ’ s Garden Moment TV and radio segments . Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine . Myers ’ website , melindamyers . com , features how-to gardening videos , monthly gardening advice , podcasts , and much more .
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