Container gardens can enhance many different areas of one’s life, however container gardens also can help rehabilitate people who are suffering from both physical and mental illnesses.

For centuries garden therapy has been known to millions, but lately this type of therapy has become well known and is being used more often. This type of rehab is called horticultural therapy, and according to Dr. Benjamin Rush who is considered the “Father of American Psychiatry”, the garden setting holds curative powers for people with mental illness.

container herb garden
Horticultural therapy has many techniques and a few deal with container gardening ideas. One technique is to construct wide paths that are wheelchair accessible for entrances, exits and mobility of the chair. Also, with this type of therapy, a raised box garden is a type of container garden that can be used to stimulate an individual.

Many of the regular tools that one uses with a planter garden have to be adapted to reflect the disability. This in turn will cause a person who would normally be incapable of doing the gardening task to have the ability to complete something that they previously thought was impossible.

Another thing that is good for therapy is for the planter garden or container gardens to be full of color with various plants. This will in turn cause the stimulation of the individual to be increased promoting more rehabilitation.

flower box garden
Horticultural therapy is taught and practiced throughout the world in a variety of settings and cultures. These highly trained individuals are trained to create garden masterpieces including garden flower box that accommodate everyone with various abilities. Individuals with either physical or mental disabilities will gain benefits from gardening therapy.

They will learn various skills that can be continued at home when they are released from a therapeutic environment. Both ornamental plants and edible plants are used in horticultural therapy which is recommended by doctors, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.

planter garden
Container gardens can be beneficial to many individuals. Horticultural therapy is a way for those with both physical and mental disabilities to learn a new skill and become active in their lives again.

A good example of this was in the 1940’s and 1950’s. During this time, hospitalized war veterans used horticultural therapy to help rehabilitate them. Horticultural therapy and container gardens can help people learn or relearn how to plant items and feel productive again.