AN HOUR IN THE GARDEN A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!

Better Homes and Gardens celebrity landscaper and four-time Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) Gold medalist, Jason Hodges shares a few ideas on how to reap the physical benefits of gardening at home whilst improving your backyard.

“Spending time in the garden proves to be beneficial for a number of reasons including health and wellbeing, minimising screen time, engaging your senses and spending valuable time with the kids,” says Jason.

Snip the lawn and a few inches off your waistline

Gardening at home is a great way to include exercise into your routine, boost your mood and improve your general wellbeing. Whether it’s a large backyard oasis or a small garden sanctuary, you can incorporate an hour per day of exercise through maintenance.

According to TreeHugger, mowing the lawn for an hour can burn between 250-350 calories, while weeding can burn 200-400 cals and raking leaves can burn between 350-450 cals. Heavy landscaping is estimated at 400-600 burnt calories, so why not pressure clean your pavers, install garden edging or place down some stepping-stones to improve your physical health and increase the value of your home at the same time!

Spend quality time with your family

Planet Ark research suggests that the nature of childhood has changed significantly over the last 20 years. This is caused by dramatic shifts in lifestyle trends such as urban design of houses and gardens, working hours of parents, the use of child and afterschool care, time pressures on families and increased uptake of electronic entertainment.

“A veggie garden is a great activity that you and your children can tend to for an hour each day. By watching fruit, vegetables and herbs grow; it will encourage and educate the younger generations about harvesting fresh produce and preparing homemade meals,” explains Jason.

You can build many styles of veggies gardens at home using Adbri Masonry’s straight, curved or circular retaining walls that add a little bit of flair to your backyard. For best results in your garden, use quality soil and choose easy to-grow produce such as carrots, tomatoes, beans and strawberries – all foods that the kids will love to help maintain and snack on.

Create a stylish entertaining area

An outdoor dining and entertaining area is a staple for every Australian home – it adds to the enjoyment of entertaining in a space you’re proud of and enhances the appeal of your home.

Prepare your place for summer gatherings by building a patio area and including low-maintenance built-in furniture. This way you won’t have to on-sell the furniture or worry about seasonal style changes, simply swap cushions or add another design element such as a citronella candle to light up your space and keep the mozzies at bay or at Christmas consider adding fairy lights! Check out these retaining walls from Adbri Masonry that double as seats for your guests and extra outdoor storage.

For more inspiration on masonry projects, check out our social media channels or give us a call on 1300230633.