April is National Gardening Month, and today – April 14 – is National Gardening Day. What better way to celebrate than by working in your yard to plant a new flower garden or start planning for a vegetable garden? Even if you don’t have much space and use pots, planters, and raised beds, you can create your own gardens.
Still trying to figure out where to start? The University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center has a wealth of information for beginners and experts alike. They provide reliable, easy-to-understand articles and videos to inspire you. Most importantly, they tailor all of their information to the Maryland-DC area.
Many longtime gardeners know of the many benefits of gardening. But if you’re new to the idea, you may be interested to know how gardening can help children and adults lead healthier lives. Some of the top benefits include:
A busy day creating a new garden bed or planting a garden can burn as many calories as a gym workout. You may be doing lunges and squats and getting aerobic exercise by digging, raking, or mowing. Moving and distributing wheelbarrows full of mulch can be quite a workout, too!
The exercise you get from gardening can reduce stress. But many experienced gardeners will also tell you that simply being outside and away from work and screens relaxes the mind, and you can focus on the task at hand. Also, pulling weeds can be therapeutic!
If you plant an herb garden or vegetable garden, you’ll find yourself eating more produce, and your food will have more flavor. Young children may also be more likely to try new foods if they help grow them!
If you get a plot in a community garden or have questions about your backyard garden, there are Master Gardener Programs in local counties and other experts willing to help you learn the ropes. While you can ask a question online in a forum, you can also attend workshops and ask questions in person.Â
For added measure, whether you have a green thumb or a brown thumb, you can get a lot of enjoyment and inspiration by visiting one or more of Maryland’s many wonderful public gardens. Some of our favorites include:
Be sure to visit the websites for hours, admissions information, events, and what’s in bloom.
If you’re dreaming about turning your property into an outdoor oasis full of plant life and functional yet beautiful outdoor living spaces, we can help. We design and build custom pools, patios, and other hardscape elements and create beautiful and innovative landscape design plans for our clients.Â
Check out our Portfolio for examples of our work and to gain inspiration, and then contact us for a design consultation. We work with homeowners throughout the Capital Region, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.Â
