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Are You Thinking About Starting Some Gardening Following Divorce?

If you’re going through a divorce, you’ll no doubt be looking for ways to help you get through such a difficult time. So, why not try gardening?

Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult things anyone is likely to experience. You’ll be forced to contend with the emotional fallout of separating from your partner, as well as having to make arrangements for your children and any shared finances.

If you’re going through a divorce with the help of a Bath, Birmingham or Bristol divorce lawyer, you’ll likely be looking for different ways to help you cope. What better way to do so than to partake in a spot of gardening?

Gardening has a wide range of benefits, both for your mental and physical health, which makes it a great hobby if you’re looking for ways to get through this trying time. But what exactly makes gardening so great? Keep reading to learn more…

How Can Gardening Help You Through Your Divorce?

Reduces Stress

woman gardening

Feeling overwhelmed during all this is completely understandable if you’re going through a divorce. You’ll have a million and one things to organise, and the rest of your life won’t stand still to help you solve them.

That’s where gardening can come in handy. It’s a fantastic stress reliever, as it can help to lower the stress hormone levels in your body. In fact, a research study found that gardening can lower your stress levels more than reading. 

Acts as a Mood Booster

Keeping up appearances is difficult during a divorce. Even if you’re putting on a brave face for your friends and family, you might still be finding your situation difficult to cope with. This can inevitably lead to feelings of anxiety, and sometimes even depression.

Gardening can act as a great mood booster if your divorce has you feeling blue. To back this up, multiple studies have taken place which saw people take part in ‘gardening interventions’, which helped to reduce mental health symptoms, such as depression.

Builds Up Your Self Esteem

Naturally, everyone’s circumstances are different when it comes to divorce, but feelings of low self-esteem are pretty universal. Your confidence may have been set back by experiencing such a difficult event, and you’ll need a bit of building back up.

That’s where gardening comes in handy. Taking part in simple forms of outdoor work can help you to build your confidence, as it allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment whilst also broadening your own skills. You don’t even have to be a green-fingered wizard to get started!

Gives You The Perfect Distraction

gardening

Divorces have the tendency to take over your life. So, if you don’t have the sort of job or personal life that allows you to regularly take your mind off your divorce, then you’re going to want to enjoy a hobby that gives you a much-needed distraction.

Gardening is great for that very reason. You’ll have the distraction of working to achieve a goal, as well as being able to embrace the outdoors.

Gives You A Sense Of Agency And Empowerment

Divorce can leave you feeling powerless, especially if the way everything has transpired is beyond your control. So, why not find a way of empowering yourself?

If you start gardening, you’ll have full control over your very own project. Want to plant a batch of carrots? Go for it. Always wanted to impress your neighbours with an extravagant flower bed? You’re the boss.

You get the picture – these small wins can go a long way when it comes to giving you back a sense of agency.

A Great Way To Get Physical Exercise

digging the ground

For some people, the last thing they are worried about following a divorce is physical exercise. Shying away from a jog around the block is understandable if you’re feeling low, but gardening can help to combine a stimulating hobby with great physical exercise!

It might seem a little cliché, but physical exercise is one of the best ways of helping to improve your mental health, which may have taken a big knock following your divorce. So, what better way to combine the two.

Helps You To Find A Community To Talk To

Feelings of isolation are completely natural following a divorce. To combat this, this new life chapter could mean that you have the chance to make a fresh start and get to know a whole new bunch of people.

There are bound to be a number of different gardening communities in your local area who can help you to get started if you’re a gardening newbie. Don’t be afraid to reach out; they’ll be more than happy to lend a hand!

Can Give You The Chance To Connect With Children

If you’re struggling to cope with your divorce, then your children are likely to be finding the situation even more difficult to come to terms with. This will mean that you’ll have to find ways of reaching out and connecting with them wherever you can.

Gardening is perfect for just that. It can give you the chance to work on a project together and to have natural conversations that can improve your bond with one another.

Are You Thinking About Starting Some Gardening Following Divorce?

plant

So, how does gardening sound now? If you don’t have any prior gardening experience, then it’s much easier than you might think to get started. All you need is a green space, a few simple tools and a bit of enthusiasm!

It will always take some time to get through a divorce, but getting stuck into some outdoor work can be the perfect way to start the next chapter in your life.

Are you already a keen gardener? Do you know any other ways that gardening might help someone to get through their divorce? Feel free to leave a comment below so we can get as much useful advice out there as possible!
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Beginner Tips For Successful Gardening

Gardening is an interesting pastime for many people, and it can also be a very relaxing activity, but what if you're a complete beginner to gardening, where do you start? Whether you've just bought your first home, or have decided you'd like to become more green-fingered there is a wealth of knowledge out there.  
Of course, having a budget helps to convert your unloved garden into a beautiful area you can be proud of and having a basic tool kit is essential. To find these items check out your local garden centre or online gardening store,  but then how does a complete novice use these tools to create a garden to be proud of? If you are looking for advice for a beginner gardener then read on.

Tools

Having the right tools for any job in life is a game-changer. This is especially true for gardening as if you don't have the right tools, then every task you undertake will be more awkward, delay your productivity and affect the overall outcome. 

 Tools for a beginner include a spade, rake, fork, trowel, garden brush, small petrol fuelled lawnmower, and any pots that you may need to plant your flowers in. Obviously, it does depend on what you are doing. If you have a garden with trees you would need pruning shears, if you are looking to plant vegetables a hoe would be useful.  Of course, you don't need to be buying power tools, to keep your garden looking tidy as there are plenty of hand tools to get the work done and make life easier. Check out the best garden tools to make like easier here.

Advice

You may already know of many gardeners who enjoy this pastime, so ask family, friends, and even neighbours how they are managing to keep on top of their own gardening. Try to build a sustainable garden without chemicals or pesticides as that is better for the environment.

 People always like others asking them for advice. There are also vlogs, articles, and blog posts outlining precisely what you need to do, and more importantly when! Gardening advice doesn't really change year to year either so a well-written gardening book like those by the Royal Horticultural Society is also a lifesaver and a great reference tool for advice.

Some tips - you can only plant certain seeds at different times of the year, so it's always a good idea to keep track of exactly what you are putting in the ground and the date. Also, don't forget to cover seeds from the birds as otherwise they will be eaten pretty quickly. 

 Preparation is key

When you think about renovating or making over your garden, there are many variables at play,  and one of the best things you can do for yourself and your garden is to prepare everything you can in advance.  If you are doing it yourself, get design inspiration from gardening magazines, garden websites and Pinterest, and get sketching and measuring. 

Take into account the sunlight that your garden gets into what areas you are planning, as certain plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. At the end of every season, you need to take up weeds, tidy up, and prep for the next season.

Ornaments


You can match your personal style to your garden, so let your creativity loose, and see what you can produce.  Why not shape your bushes and hedges into unusual shapes if you are creative? There is also no shame in paying a professional to help with this, or to help you in areas you haven't got the time or skills.

Regarding statues and ornaments, garden centres sell some interesting ones that you can use in your garden. Popular garden ornaments include animals, angels, cherubs, fairies, and of course, gnomes which are THE traditional garden ornament.  Check out the complete range of garden ornaments at your local garden centre.  

Don't overdo it

Don't overdo it

If you are new to gardening it's easy to get the bug and fall in love with it, but don't overdo it. Why? Well digging the ground, hoeing, pruning and generally looking after a garden is great exercise but can be hard work. It's probably worth doing some stretching exercises before you start to warm up and to start slowly before you do any big renovations. That way you won't pull your back or strain a muscle and won't get put off your new hobby. In addition, by searching online for a company offering 'tree service near me' for example, you can hire contractors to take care of any strenuous tasks that require holding heavy equipment or climbing up a ladder.


Gardening can be a lot of work but think about how you will feel when you're sat in your garden, in the sun next summer, with your garden in full bloom.  You might not be entering the Chelsea Garden Show competitions just yet, but once you get started, many people find it therapeutic and relaxing. Gardening like anything else in life is a simple case of the effort you put in equals the results you get out. Enjoy!

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Ways To Cheat On Your Gardening Chores


Not all of us love to garden but no matter what type of outdoor space you have, making the effort to maintain it so it looks clean and presentable can give you a great sense of satisfaction. Here are a few ways to cheat on your garden chores.


Use Artificial Grass

The grass is a staple in many front or back gardens but it can be difficult to maintain over time. There’s a risk of it yellowing from lack of sun or flooding from a particularly bad storm, which leaves your garden looking like a swamp. So why not use something like artificial grass? It always looks like you have a brand new lawn and it will take very little maintenance to keep up. It’ll likely work out a lot cheaper over the long run compared to purchasing grass which you then have to spend time and money in keeping nice.

Put In Extra Paving

The more space you take up with things like decking and paving, the less room you’ll have for plants and flowers. This can actually be a blessing because paving simply needs sweeping or washing down every now again but that’s much easier than having to water plants and do the weeding. Decking is probably a little bit more work but it’s nothing compared to having to deal with the upkeep of plants! Think about creating a garden path using tiling and stones. That’s even more space that you can use up.

Contain Your Plants In One Area

Rather than planting your flowers and plants all over the garden, it’s much less time-consuming to plant your flowers in a pot. You can then strategically place them around the garden to add a burst of colour from where you look to sit in the garden and from what you can see from inside your home. That way you will know where everything is so the risk of them dying is minimised. You can also then change them out and replace them with new coloured plants to suit each season. Hanging baskets are also a great way of containing your flowers and they look really pretty placed along fencing or hanging off the exterior walls of your property.

Choose Hard To Kill Plants


The best way of saving time in the garden is to pick out the plants and flowers that need very little care or attention. These are ones like cacti which basically need very little water and will likely get what they need from the weather around them. Fencing is better than bordering your garden with bushes. They’ll need pruning every so often and fencing will only ever need a lick of paint occasionally.

Gardening can be made a lot easier, it's just knowing what alternatives are going to save you time that you can spend doing something you enjoy rather than something that's a chore. Artificial grass is certainly a top hack and choosing plants that take little care are going to be your best bet of enjoying the outdoor space but not needing to do much to it.

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The Ultimate Guide To Developing Green Fingers

Just because you are a gardening novice doesn’t mean that you can’t learn how to deadhead your rose bush, weed the lawn and plant some potatoes. While you may be nervous about setting foot into your back garden, it’s never too late to begin developing your green fingers. You may not have a horticultural bone in your body, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t learn. If your back garden area has seen better days and looks more like a jungle than a well-coiffed outside space for you and your brood to enjoy, it might be time to read on to discover how you can get your garden looking ship-shape while enhancing your gardening credentials.

Go to the garden centre



If you haven’t ever ventured to a garden centre, now is the time to set foot in one. An area dedicated to all things plant-based, a garden centre is a source of inspiration to many gardening novices. Ask advice from the staff looking after the plants and discover the sorts of flowers that are great for beginners because they are so easy to maintain and care for. Succulents and lavender just need the gentlest of trims and don’t need too much care as they can be left to their own devices. If you fancy a more sculptural area for your garden, an alpine style rockery can be ideal, as these hardier plants can cope with winds and rain and all temperatures, making them a good choice for the gardening novice.

Water

Gardens don’t have to be all greenery and plants. Why not consider adding a water feature to your garden design? A pond could be ideal to entice wildlife to your garden. By heading to a site like https://www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-filters-24/  you can check out the sorts of pond filters available to ensure the highest quality environment for frogs and water-dwelling insects. Alternatively, you may prefer a simple water orb, fountain or waterfall cascade feature in your outside space. A water feature effectively creates another element to your garden that is aesthetically pleasing and very calming when you are simply outside and relaxing.

Vegetables



If plants and water aren’t really your style, why not consider going a little more self-sufficient by starting your own vegetable patch like the ones on the Sarah Raven website. Sowing potatoes, carrots and pumpkin is relatively easy if you check your soil type, adhere to the label instructions and feed your veg every day. You might want to start off small by sowing a few vegetables before expanding to a greenhouse for tomatoes and a small potted herb garden for oregano, basil and coriander. Whatever it is you want to grow, you can grow it in your back garden. Think about the food you love cooking and take this as your inspiration.

Even though you may be a gardening novice, you shouldn’t let the overgrown bushes, trees and shrubbery in your outside space put you off from getting outdoors and sorting it out. Use this guide to develop your green fingers and develop your new passion for gardening.

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Top 3 Tips To Get The Most Of Your Polytunnel This Summer

If you have invested in a polytunnel, then chances are that you are going to want to make the most of the money that you have paid out. But, if you are new to gardening and growing your own food, you may find that it isn’t as straightforward as that.

Polytunnels are an incredibly useful addition to any garden. They make sure that your crops, no matter what it is that you have decided to grow, are protected against pests and the weather too. They are the ideal alternative to buying a greenhouse and because they come in so many shapes and sizes, you can make sure that you find one that is going to fit in perfectly with your garden.

Another great thing about polytunnels is that they don’t always have to be expensive. Of course, there are those that are going to cost more, yet this isn’t always the case and you can find one that works perfectly for your garden.

To help you out, we have put together our guide to the top 3 tips on how to get the most from your polytunnel this Summer.

Always have a plan


Before you even start popping plants in your polytunnel, you need to make sure that you have a plan for how you are going to use the space. You need to know exactly where you are going to put particular plants, as well as when you need to sow them. It also makes sense to place plants that are going to be planted and then harvested at the same time together, as this makes taking care of them easier. However, you don’t always have to take a “uniform” approach to your gardening. Instead, you can put together different plants that grow well together such as onions and carrots, or basil and tomato. In no time at all, you will have a plan for how you want to use the space.

Think about your layout

When it comes to planning out how a polytunnel is going to look and the layout that you are going to use, the most common approach is to have one path down the middle of the tunnel, with beds found on each side of the path. Of course, if your polytunnel is on the wider side then you might be able to have two paths and more beds.

Another great idea when it comes to layout is to have one path to the side, then smaller paths branching off of it. Not only is this great for making the most of the space that you have, but it also gives you the opportunity to try out diverse growing too.

Don’t forget to use your vertical space too 


We all too easily only plan for the floor space that we have, failing to consider the rest of the polytunnel. This is a big mistake to make, as vertical space can be incredibly valuable when it comes to growing plants and crops.

The shape of your polytunnel is what makes a difference here. Whilst it may not be particularly tall at the sides, where your beds are, it will rise higher in the middle. Which will mean that you have plenty of space to grow upwards. There are a number of ways that you can use your vertical space, you could opt for plants that grow upwards (known as vining plants) as well as buying vertical garden structures which are designed for growing vertically.

A good plant to try and grow in one of these vertical gardens are salad leaves or herbs.

As you can see, a polytunnel is an incredibly useful tool for your garden. Not only does it give you a space to garden year round, but it also provides a variety of plants with the ideal base to grow.

Best of all, if you find them from a good quality supplier, then you can be sure that your polytunnel is going to stand tall, no matter what the weather throws at it. Keeping those all important plants inside perfectly safe and growing well.

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A Guide To The Easiest Fruit And Vegetables To Grow

There are plenty of reasons why you may want to grow fruits and vegetables at home. Not only is it incredibly satisfying growing something that you can then eat, but you can also enjoy the process of growing something too.

Growing fruit and vegetables can even help you with money too, as it means that you will need to spend less money at the supermarket, but that you will still get to eat some delicious and healthy treats too.

The only trouble with fruits and vegetables is that they are not always an easy thing to grow. Particularly if you are new to gardening. With this in mind, we have put together our guide to the easiest fruit and vegetables to grow in your garden.

Before you start, invest in a fruit cage



If you want to try and grow your own fruit and vegetables then you are going to want to make sure that you have the right equipment. Fruit cages are a great place to start. They offer protection for those crops whilst they grow and are going to give your chosen fruit or vegetables a fighting chance to make it onto your plate.

The great thing about fruit cages is that they don’t have to cost the Earth and they come in a wide range of shapes and sizes too. This means that no matter the space that you have, you will be able to harvest yourself some crops that you can then take indoors and enjoy.

The fruits and vegetables that you can try and grow



So, want to start growing your own fruit and vegetables at home? Not sure what is going to work best for your ability? Salad leaves are a great place to start, not only are they great to eat during the summer months, but they are incredibly fast growing too, in fact, if you look after them well, you may find that you can cut off leaves in as little as 3 weeks, ready for you to enjoy.

Tomatoes are another great thing to grow yourself. You can sow these in the early spring and in no time at all you will have tomatoes that are ready to eat. They are simple to grow, which is ideal for children and if you are short on space then you can grow them in hanging baskets and window containers as well as planted in your garden too!

Fruit wise, strawberries are a great starting point. Strawberries are incredibly versatile and like tomatoes, they can be grown in pots or baskets as well as grown in your garden. They should be grown in April or May and in a few weeks you will have the ideal treat after tea. Not only this, but strawberries are a fruit that will also produce beautiful flowers too.

Herbs are a popular thing for people to grow, one of the most fragrant, useful and easiest to grow has to be mint. Mint is often bought as a young plant straight from a garden centre and will often grow all year round if you bring it inside during the colder weather. Not only does mint smell great, but mint also works in a wide range of recipes and drinks.

The benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables



Now you know some of the fruits and vegetables that you can try and grow yourself, what are the reasons behind giving this a go? When you grow your own fruit and vegetables you are going to have the satisfaction that you have been able to produce your own food and feed your family a healthy and delicious meal. It is also a great family activity too, you can involve your kids and teach them how valuable it is to try and grow things yourself.

You can also save yourself some money too, which for any of us is a good enough reason to get out there and get planting.

There are so many reasons why it pays to grow your own, whether you are a seasoned pro at gardening or a complete novice who is just starting out. Make sure that you not only think about all of the things that you are going to need, but also think about which fruits or vegetables are going to be easiest to grow, giving you the experience, knowledge and confidence to then go on and try your newly green fingers on something that is altogether more challenging.

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5 Time Saving Tips To Take Care Of Your Garden


Taking care of your garden can be a long and arduous task. If you don’t keep on top of it, then the jobs you need to do can become so big that you are reluctant to get started on it. Work, family, life, in general, can often get in the way and certain jobs around the house and garden fall by the wayside. Perhaps you need some tips to help you take care of your garden whilst also saving you some time. Here are five top time-saving tips to help you to take care of your garden.

1. Ditch the lawn



Well, maybe not entirely. So many people are now opting for the best grass solutions for their needs and this often includes getting rid of their real grass and opting for an artificial alternative. It is becoming ever more popular as artificial grass requires such little care, attention and time spent on it compared to real grass - no mowing needed, no hydration or food for the grass. Many artificial kinds of grass these days look more realistic than ever. All you need to do is choose the best solution for you and your household.

2. Make it smaller



Whilst a large space may be just what you wanted when you moved in, sometimes our needs and requirements change. If you are finding it hard to keep on top of your garden, perhaps consider adding a patio or a bricked area to break it up a little. Or create a seating area for you and your family to enjoy, knowing that you haven’t got so much garden to look after.

3. Choose plants that need limited TLC


Be picky about the plants and flowers that you choose. Choose flowers that don’t require dead-heading or pick those that have long bloom seasons to minimise the amount of upkeep you need to do, aside from the general watering. Consider planting disease resistant plants. If you are not sure which ones are, nursery employees and fellow gardeners can help you identify the best or most resistant varieties of many plants. Succulent plants are long-lasting and can be the perfect plant for the non-gardener.

A simple way to save time is to water less often but for longer - a deep soak once a week is better than frequent more shallow waterings but this can depend on the soil. You can even grow perennials that return year upon year, saving you time replanting.

4. Make sure your tools are easy to access


When it comes to gardening, the worst thing is when you’ve made a start on it and have to keep stopping to go and get something else. Ensure your garden tools are organised and easy to access when actually in the garden and make sure they are stored together. You don’t want to be running all around the house or searching the shed constantly for those different tools you require.

5. Make it simpler for yourself by taking advice



See what your neighbours do in their gardens - do they only plant certain flowers? Do they have decking and a limited amount of garden space? Have they switched to an artificial lawn? Taking advice from family, friends and neighbours who love gardening will surely help you come up with some ideas to keep your garden to a standard that you enjoy but that doesn’t take you too long to maintain. Neighbours with gardens will know what the soil is like and the best plants to nurture and grow, so ask their advice.

Knowing what works and doesn’t work in a garden for someone who doesn’t want to take too much time out of their day is important. Make it simpler on yourself by asking those in the know.

Tell me, do you have a garden? Do you have any top tips on taking care of your garden?

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Here’s How Gardening Can Help Your Child’s Development

Gardeners have long known the pleasant side effects of gardening –keeping active, the planning it takes, the thought process of what vegetable will grow better in the shade of trees and so on.


Yet gardening is more than just a pleasant past time. Cultivating, planning and growing your own food, for example, affects mind, body and soul. For parents, this is great news.

Always looking to give your children new experiences, the greatest resource that nature provides could be right on your doorstep. So, rent an allotment or get out in the garden, enjoy the temperate climes of the greenhouse or enjoy the growing space of domestic polytunnels because all offer unparalleled abilities to expand and nurture your child’s development.

Gardening and the brain


There are a number of scientific concepts involved in the entire process of gardening. What do plants need to grow and why? Why do some plants thrive in damp, boggy soil but others prefer free-draining? How does the colour of the plant's flowers help to determine the best place for it? How do plants drink?

The questions could go on and on but they are all scientific concepts that at some point in their formal education, children and young people will come across. Gardening in effect gives them a head start because they have already seen these concepts in action.

Also, there are the mathematical concepts to understand from measuring to counting to spatial awareness. A simple activity that links to the National Curriculum for science and maths, could be to estimate the growth of a plant, like a sunflower for example.

Gardening and the Body

This is a two-fold development for children: firstly, there is the physical activity of gardening and secondly, the healthy eating aspect.

Physical Activity

Hardly a day goes by when the amount of time that youngsters spend glued to a screen, be that their uber-smart phone or a gaming console is criticised. As parents, this concerns us and so we try to introduce activities that pull them away from their gadgets.

This increasingly sedentary lifestyle is causing health problems too and so an afternoon spent in the garden is a great way to get active and get some fresh air. From half an hour weeding and hoeing to planting seeds and seedlings, there are all kinds of physical activity that get kids moving (and you too!).

Healthy Eating

Getting kids to eat their greens or anything other than highly processed, sugar-laden and salty foods can seem like a never-ending battle. Children’s tastes and willingness to try different things will change with time but, in the meantime, you are battling every meal time to get anything on the plate, never mind in their mouths, that resembles a vegetable.

Growing your own has been one way that some parents have been able to introduce their children to vegetables and fruit, so why not give it a whirl? Start with easy-to-grow vegetables and enjoy raw, straight off the plant for the best flavour. Pots make great growing containers, as does the flower border and cress grown in egg shells on the kitchen window ledge is the stuff of childhood memories.

Gardening and the Soul


In the digital age, we tend to ‘relax’ by tweeting, posting, surfin’, gamin’, you name it but you have to ask the question, is this really downtime? Are we really teaching our children how to disconnect and relax?

Gardeners, from prize-winning ones to those that enjoy ‘pottering’ amongst the flowers and the buzzing bees have long known that the garden is the ideal place to relax. The garden is not just about growing things and all the hard work that comes with that, but gardening is also about enjoying how to work in harmony with nature.


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Once you have planted and nurtured, freed your plants from weeds and staked the pea plants to climb high, once you have dead-headed the violas to encourage new growth and gently watered the tomato plants, once you have seen that all is right in the garden, you should enjoy time admiring your handy work.

There is a satisfaction in watching your garden blossom, bloom and grow knowing that you had a hand in it. You too can pass on this appreciation to your children, pointing what has changed and what you will do differently next year.

Who would have thought that the garden, that small plot of land in front, at the side or behind your home, the allotment or the polytunnel could be such a powerful force in the development of mind, body and soul?

First Tunnels has long known that gardening, growing your own food in polytunnels along with brightly coloured flowers and fruits has many beneficial side effects, for adults and children alike.

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