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Two people including a stroke survivor plant up a container at a table
Choosing manageable gardening activities can help support your rehabilitation, recovery, health and wellbeing after a stroke.

Because there is always something to do in the garden, or enjoy in nature, this can help you over weeks, months and years.

You may want to start with gentle activities. As you gain in strength in confidence, you may gradually choose to do more physical ones.

Take the time to warm up with some gentle exercises or stretching before you start. It is also a good idea to warm down with stretching after you’ve finished. It doesn’t take long, and your muscles will thank you for it.

Gardening again has raised my morale … the pleasure of seeing the seeds grow and actively participating is most rewarding.

Rita, gardener, stroke survivor

You may find it best to wait for mild, dry days to get out in the garden. You can always take advantage of a rainy day to plan what you would like to do next.

Important advice

Be sensible about how much you can manage. Do little and often rather than all at once. Try not to feel frustrated about leaving things for another day!

Gardens can inspire no end of activities. This can range from seated activities requiring fine motor skills to more physical maintenance. Or, you can simply spend time in nature.

We have suggested a number of activities you could try depending on your energy levels, mood, space and what you feel able to do.

Table top gardening

Stephen London stroke survivor potting up
Potting up plants at Thrive Battersea

These activities can all be enjoyed sitting at a table. Most of them can be done inside if preferred.

  • Sowing seeds in trays. This provides gentle exercise and can build strength and coordination. Nurturing seeds creates hope for the future. Timing – most of the year (check seed packet for recommended sowing time)
  • Pricking out / potting on. Moving small seedlings into bigger pots uses fine motor skills. It is satisfying to see plants growing and thriving. Timing – most of the year
  • Plant containers. Whatever your outdoor or indoor space, you can grow plants in containers. This is generally less effort than growing in the ground and allows you to be creative with your choices. Timing – all year round (you may prefer to rest in winter)
  • Create a bird feeder. Use all natural items to make a homemade meal for your feathered visitors. Timing – all year around
  • Press flowers. There are thousands of different flowers and leaves that can be pressed and dried throughout the year. Timing – all year round
  • Make your own bouquet garni. This is a calm activity, involving fine motor skills. If you grow your own herbs, you can use these in it. Timing - all year round

Top tip

You could try placing your equipment further away than usual. This will help with stretching and relaxing muscles.

Light gardening tasks

Watering a gooseberry plant indoors
A person waters their houseplants

These activities involve a fairly light level of activity.

  • Watering plants indoors. This is a regular task that offers physical activity and helps you understand your plants. You can enjoy seeing a droopy plant pick up before your eyes! Timing – all year around
  • Deadheading. This is a simple but important task. In many cases, in can be done just by using your hands. Timing – spring through to autumn. Timing - all year around (rarely needed in winter)
  • Make a flower arrangement. Gather seasonal cut flowers and foliage, then arrange in a vase or container. Find a guide to making an autumnal arrangement here. Timing - all year around
  • Weeding. This is a frequent activity. It can involve a lot of digging, although in raised beds and planters it can be done fairly easily by hand. It can be a good time for reflection, quickly seeing the difference you can make to a space. Timing - all year around (rarely needed in winter)

More physical gardening tasks

A person rakes leaves using a green leaf rake
A person rakes leaves across the lawn

If you feel you would like to and are able to manage some more physical tasks, pick from one of these.

  • Pruning. Some trees and shrubs benefit from being pruned to keep them more manageable. Doing this provides movement and exercise for the whole body, along with time in nature. Timing – varies by plant

Cutting things and moving things around are good physical exercise. It gets the blood flowing.

Participant, Thrive Just 30! Initiative
  • Raking. Raking lawns and beds can be a good workout. It can use all the major muscle groups in the arms, shoulders, back and legs. It’s a great excuse to get outside in autumn especially. Timing - spring, summer, autumn (especially when leaves fall)

Raking helps me maintain my balance and get lots of fresh air.

Participant, Thrive Just 30! Initiative
  • Mowing the lawn. Regular lawn mowing is a good physical workout. It can quickly make your garden space look tended to. Timing - spring, summer, autumn
  • Create your own compost. This is a satisfying activity that helps the environment as well as providing valuable nutrients for your plants. It can involve the physical act of digging when you turn your compost. Timing – all year around

Appreciate nature

A hand gently holds some pure white spring blossom growing on a tree in a garden
A hand gently holds some pure white spring blossom

The beauty of the garden and nature are the many opportunities they offer for enjoyment. You don’t always have to be doing tasks, you could simply be inspired by your surroundings.

  • Take a short stroll outside in a green space. You could try spending five minutes outside in silence, just having time with nature and your thoughts
  • Write a simple poem about nature. This could take any form. If you fancy trying your hand at a haiku, follow our guide
  • Take photos of plants or animals of interest outside. This could be a close up of a leaf, a bee gathering pollen or frost on a plant
  • Engage your senses. Gardens and nature can make our sense of touch, taste, smell, sight and sound come alive. This could be done indoors with houseplants / kitchen herbs or outdoors, letting your senses be your guide
Why Gardens Matter 1 of 3
Joanna Geyer-Kordesch, author of Why Gardens Matter and stroke survivor

In 2012 Joanna, a retired Professor of European Natural History and History of Medicine at Glasgow University, suffered a stroke. It left her with no movement in the right side of her body.

It was her garden in East Lothian that provided a focus for her recovery. ‘My garden is very important I don’t know how I could have lived without it,’ says Joanna. ‘Early in the morning I look at the plants in my pots, like the Woolly lip fern, and they look the same but of course they are growing all the time. You have to pay attention.’

For Joanna, plants and gardens have been a way to find enrichment, peace and creativity. This included learning to paint scenes from nature left-handed, which required plenty of persistence.

In 2020 she published ‘Why Gardens Matter’. The book draws on her personal experience and shows how the outdoors can help us find moments of calm.

Read more of Joanna’s story

Why Gardens Matter is published by Luath Press

Help us continue to make gardening accessible for all. Make a donation to Thrive today. Thank you.

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