Planting a garden can be a wonderful way to relieve stress and enjoy the outdoors while maintaining social distancing. Whether you have a small patio or a larger yard you can create a beautiful and peaceful environment. Not only can being outdoors and soaking up some sunlight improve your mood, the process of planting, tending to and enjoying your plants can provide a great sense of calm and accomplishment. 

Early spring is a great time to get started. If you’re still waiting for the weather to turn and temperatures to warm up you can begin to grow your garden indoors with small starter pots before transferring them outside. This is also a fun way to include the family or friends into your new hobby. Invite them to help start the pots or begin their own garden with you. Share updates and tips with each other along the way. 

A few key things to consider when beginning your garden are:

• Consider your options - What does your sun/shade look like? Are you planting flowers, herbs, or vegetables? All are great choices, but will need certain amounts of light and will require more or less maintenance. 
• Find your desired location - Whether your plants will remain indoors or migrate outdoors once the weather permits. Carve out that perfect spot for your new beauties to grow.
• Prep your soil - If you’re beginning indoors you’ll already be set with fresh nutrient rich soil. If you're starting outdoors you’ll want to prep the soil by tilling it up to oxygenate and allow for healthy root growth.
• Watering - Watering can be tricky and each plant may require different amounts of water. Make sure to take the time to research and set a weekly watering schedule.
• Keeping it up - Now that your garden is beginning to grow make sure it can reach its full potential. Keep up with your watering schedule and provide a healthy environment for healthy growth by wedding and protecting the plants from anything potentially harmful. 

While maintaining your new garden can be meditative and relaxing in itself, be sure to sit back and admire what you’ve created! If you currently have a garden going or are beginning one we’d love to see how it’s going. Share tips and tag us in your photos. 

Team Active content is not medical advice; it's inspiration to live actively!

Andy lives actively with daily runs around the Minneapolis chain of lakes. He's coping with stress by hanging out with wife Emma, cats Louie and Ella as well as staying connected with friends on virtual happy hours and trivia nights.