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If you are autistic or support an autistic person, do let us know if you have any extra gardening tips to add. Get in touch by emailing info@thrive.org.uk
If you are autistic, gardening can offer a range of benefits that can help support your mental and physical wellbeing. Discover more in our guide to gardening and autism.
In a Thrive survey, we asked autistic people for their gardening tips. Find advice from the autistic community here.
Your garden can be an enjoyable space designed to suit you. The following tips may be useful:
“(Your garden is) For you and remember it’s your space, haven.”
“Think about what you like best; colour, texture, scent, and whether you want it in squares, rows, or mixed before you start.”
“(I like) Lots of different areas. Safe places to go when I am anxious, as I can't always verbalise.”
“(My ideal garden space is) Calm no clutter.”
“(My ideal garden has) Somewhere to sit, if that’s what you feel like and lots of different sensory plants.”
Planning and preparing
Preparing and planning before you start gardening can be an important part of making it enjoyable. We gathered the following tips:
“I need to be given a limited number of choices.”
“Plan what you are going to do beforehand. Even 10 minutes can achieve something whereas you might think -what’s the point.”
“I try to give the day over to gardening, so I don’t feel stressed having to leave jobs unfinished.”
“Plan a small space to garden. If you complete this early, congratulate yourself. If you feel like doing a bit more, then carry on with the plan.”
“Concentrate on one area and what you mean to achieve, and collect your tools and seeds, etc.”
“Get everything together for the job you plan to do.”
“Break the tasks into smaller bite-sized chunks to make it easier to complete. Put on music to help you feel motivated.”
“Have a set to-do list with steps that need to be ticked off to make sure tasks are completed.”
Staying focused
Gardens are full of distractions, from sounds and sights to the feel of the weather. These tips are all about helping with concentration and focus:
“I always have someone with me to help me focus on the task and to encourage me.”
“I find it hard to get going, then I don’t want to stop.”
Managing time
The following tips are all about managing your time, including giving yourself breaks:
“Set timers for each task.”
“Set an alarm on your phone to start and stop the activity.”
“Don’t try and do too much in one go.”
“Do tasks in short bursts, e.g., 10 minutes on a task, then go and do something else and return for 10 minutes.”
“Take time to stop, sit, and enjoy what you have achieved.
Getting help and support
Gardening can be a great chance to connect. These are tips on getting help and support or working with others:
“I need direction and support, or just time to be myself when things need doing.”
“Work with someone you like and know how long they will stay for.”
Enjoying gardening
Gardening is a wonderful way to constantly have little successes and achievements. These tips are all about celebrating what you’ve done and being kind to yourself:
“Award yourself a cup of tea or beverage when you have completed a section.”
“It doesn’t matter if things go wrong, grow what you like to see, touch and eat.”
“Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do what you had planned.”
“Take a photo before you start and when you finish for the day so you can see what you’ve accomplished.”
If you are autistic or support an autistic person, do let us know if you have any extra gardening tips to add. Get in touch by emailing info@thrive.org.uk
Discover how gardening and autism connect and how time in nature can be beneficial for autistic people. We share advice in this guide, plus practical gardening tips.
