Gardening is a great way to beat the blues.
By Kari Smith Do you want to increase your happiness, contentment and overall well-being? Grab a trowel and head outside. Numerous studies document the positive impact of gardening on human health and emotion.
Most people benefit from horticultural therapy, or HT, which is defined by the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association as the process of using plants and the natural world to improve the social, spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of individuals who participate in it.
Get going with your own HT program by creating a flower or landscape bed filled with colourful and fragrant plants that will stimulate your senses. Anchor the corner of your flower beds with an eye-catching shrub or climbing vine. Frame the bed with a great border that will keep mulch in place and prevent weeds from spoiling your handiwork.
Easy Gardener Products, Inc. makes a wide variety of edging. Their pound-in installation borders like Emerald Edge are top sellers. Edging information is available online at www.easygardener.com or toll-free at 800-327-9462.
Many landscape contractors across North America choose Fiber Edge because of its incredible durability. Made of UV resistant fiberglass, Fiber Edge bends easily and conforms to almost any landscape design. Install by pounding into the ground with a rubber mallet. Once it's in, it will stay put and won't rust, warp or rot.
With an attractive border, your new flower or landscape bed will look great. And the next time you need a little horticultural therapy, all you have to do is step into your yard. (NC)