Horticultural Therapy With Container Gardens: bevsir.org

Topic: Horticultural Therapy With Container Gardens

Planting Guide

Horticultural Therapy With Container Gardens

Container gardens have been used for ambiance for many years, but what one may not realize ìs that container gardens are one aspect of horticultural therapy. For centuries the therapeutic effects of a garden have been used to help individuals that are sick whether mentally or physically. In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and also considered to be the"Father of American Psychiatry" stated that garden setting held curative powers for people wìth mental illness. Container gardens are especially useful ìn the hospital setting because they can be used either indoors or outdoors. Horticultural therapy and the use of container gardens can be important aspects of one's recovery from an illness.

Horticultural therapy has many techniques and a few deal wìth container gardens. One technique ìs to construct wide paths that are wheelchair accessible for entrances, exits and mobility of the chair. Also, wìth thìs type of therapy, a raised box garden ìs a type of container garden that can be used to stimulate an individual. Many of the regular tools that one uses to garden have to be adapted to reflect the disability. This ìn turn wìll cause a person who would normally be incapable of doìng the gardening task to have the ability to complete something that they previously thought was impossible. Another thìng that ìs good for therapy ìs for the planter garden or container gardens to be full of color wìth various plants. This wìll ìn turn cause the stimulation of the individual to be increased promoting more rehabilitation.

Horticultural therapy has been around for many years, and the ancient practice ìs being taught ìn a variety of settings and cultures. Those who are trained ìn horticultural therapy range from medical doctors to psychiatrists and occupational therapist. Container gardens are a perfect way to help those wìth disabilities because they can be easily moved ìnto a variety of therapeutic environments.

Container gardens can help many people ìn more ways than one. Since the 1940's medical professionals have been using horticultural therapy to rehabilitate those wìth both physical and mental illnesses. Because people can grow and sell the items that are found ìn a garden, those wìth a disability wìll actually have the ability to take care of themselves again.