Mini Series: Easy Gardening Projects to Kick off Spring

Being confined to staying at home is unknown territory for most of us, as well as challenging, especially for people who live on their own. For starters, there’s no problem social distancing when it’s just you, the squirrels and the sparrows out there.

But for those of us who do have access to green space; why not spend that time growing and maintaining nature in your garden - however big or small. Lying low for a few weeks is the perfect reason to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. It’s the best thing for you! Gardening can help us turn this situation into a positive - we can sow seeds or plant seedlings and watch them develop and bloom over the coming weeks and months - even just tending to a few pots, there are creative projects that can keep you happily occupied and help pass the time productively and purposefully. You may find that during this mandatory slow-down period you have the best-kept garden you've ever had. Trust us: Digging in the dirt will take your mind off the craziness, having a positive effect on your mental health and physical wellbeing. To help get you started we’ve chosen 5 garden jobs you can get on with now. 

DESIGN YOUR GARDEN

Image Credit (left to right) - Pinterest

Of course, now is also a great time to plan the productive and beautiful garden you’ve always dreamed of - this can be as simple as sketching out where you’d like things to grow. Whether that be in pots, raised beds or in the ground; there are easy tips and tricks for how to transform your garden in simple ways - the more you think ahead and plan for your garden the better it will be for you. The most admirable gardens are those that are most relaxing, easy to move through, and not too hard to maintain.

SOW SEEDS

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It’s a great time to start sowing seeds. Watching the plants grow is an excellent stress reliever and a useful way to remain mindful of your surroundings. You could sow anything you fancy - annual herbs to use in cooking, flowers such as cosmos and sunflowers to brighten up the garden, or vegetables to use in nutritious meals later in the season. Not only that, growing your own flowers, fruit, vegetables, salads or herbs is a cost-effective way to fill your outdoor space with colour, scent and delicious food. You can grow seeds almost anywhere, you don’t need a huge outdoor space to have a go. You can create vertical gardens inside your home if you are limited to outdoor space. You will need a seed tray and propagator if you have one, but pots filled with peat-free compost and covered with a clear plastic bag or cling film will work just as well.

CREATE A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN

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You may have noticed some new visitors to your neighbourhood since the streets or green spaces around your home have fallen quiet. Wildlife can make its home in our gardens in many different ways - you might be surprised what animals are living there. There are lots of things we can do, from planting to maintenance, that will make them as welcome as possible. 

Hang feeders in front of a window where you sit regularly, so you can watch the antics of the birds from your sofa. Feeding the birds is a great way to entertain and educate yourself and the kids while self-isolating at home. Why not take the time to learn the different species that visit the feeders while you’re at it? A bee hotel is another way to draw wildlife into your garden, it provides nesting habitat for solitary bees. Rather than forming large nests like bumblebees and honeybee, solitary bees lay individual eggs in cells, stocked with nectar and pollen for the grubs to eat when they hatch. Oh and they don’t sting! Fix your bee hotel to a south-east facing wall or fence, and keep an eye out for bee activity throughout summer.

GROW HOUSEPLANTS

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If you don’t have a garden, or can’t get into the garden, you can bring a touch of the outdoors, in. Planting a few houseplants will not only keep you occupied but will provide you with a long season of interest too. Houseplants have been shown to clean the air in our homes, as well as lift our spirits, so spend a bit of time thinking about where each of your plants might be better off. There are plenty of online houseplant retailers, and you can buy pots, compost and decorative pebbles online, too. Check out our tips for the best house plants here. 

DECORATIVE SPRUCING

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If you don’t back your gardening skills but would like to spruce up your outdoor space - why not think about including some Kilim rugs as suitable outdoor patio pieces; they’re thin and can be shaken out with ease - and now that summer is approaching they are a colourful and eye-catching addition for your communal area. Take a look at our picks below:

Featured Rugs (left to right) - UNIQUE, TRIXI, STARLA, JAZZ

So make a promise to nature - From building a bee hotel to reducing your carbon footprint, we're inviting you to make simple promises to help nature and wildlife thrive during this pause.