It’s summertime in Ontario. The vibrant sunny weather has made plant and animal activities come to life. When you set your eyes on the wonderful that’s enveloping the province you’ll almost forget the world is in the middle of a pandemic.

Being one with nature is one of the best ways to break free from the stress of the health crisis if only for a brief moment. Nature has strong connections to our health, whether mental or physical. According to studies, unplugging from our daily routines to spend at least 10 minutes in nature lowers stress. Staying outdoors for a little while allows you to be still and pay attention to your surroundings. It’s a helpful way to recalibrate your senses.

You don’t need to go far to be connected with nature; just walking around your yard for a few minutes will give you the stress relief you need. Below are some tips to reconnect with nature and recharge no matter the crisis:

A few minutes in nature can relieve physical and mental stress

  1. Start a new hobby

Looking for a new hobby that allows you to be more acquainted with plants? Summer is an ideal time to get started with gardening. Growing native plants is also a rewarding experience. Consider planting scarlet sage, a perennial native plant popular for its white, red, or pink blooms. You can purchase scarlet sage seeds online.

The native plant grows well in shady areas and is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. You can also try partridge pea if you want to have yellow flowers in your garden. There are other species of native flowers that can grow in Canadian soil which you can explore in the summertime.

  1. Get into container gardening

You can grow anything you want in a container!

If you don’t have a garden, you can add colour to your apartment balcony. Container gardening is the way to go. It solves the problem of not having soil beds when you badly want to start growing your own plants.

Since container gardens are mobile, you can always move them anywhere you like without affecting their root system. Container gardening also allows you the liberty to grow different flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables even if you have limited space.

  1. Weed out woes

If you need more reasons to be in your garden more often, weeding might be a good pastime. Many people may not instantly see the fun in weeding, but many consider it a calming and enjoyable exercise. Others also find pulling out unwanted plants and trimming leaves and stems to be a meditative activity.

Here are some tips and tricks for successful weeding:

  • Use the right tools to make the job faster and more efficient.
  • Weed after watering your plants (or after the rain). Moist soil is soft and loose, which makes it easier to pull out weeds.
  • Don’t leave roots behind. Uprooting the entire plant and its roots prevents the chances of regrowth.
  • After pulling the weeds, apply composted mulch or wood chips over your plants. Uprooting unwanted plants usually disturbs the buried weeds underneath the soil, and this causes the seeds to surface at the top where they get sunlight. In effect, more weeds are germinated and weed regrowth happens. Spreading ample amounts of mulch over the soil prevents this from happening.
  • Clean as you go.
  1. Keep a nature journal

Regular journaling is a great way to ease anxiety.

Journaling helps you recenter yourself. Sit on your patio and take a notebook with you. Feel free to scribble away any passing thoughts or feelings. If you prefer drawing sketches, take a sketchbook instead. Draw the plants you see and make notes of your observations. Check how they change or grow over time.

  1. Make your own compost

Composting helps minimize waste production and provides soil with the vital nutrients that support plant growth. Compost also boosts soil structure, enabling it to hold sufficient amounts of air, moisture, and nutrients.

There are plenty of materials you can add to your home compost pile. You can fill it with dead leaves, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, shredded paper, or grass cuttings.

  1. Take a walk (if you’re allowed to).

Go for regular walks to stay active even while on lockdown

If doing outdoor exercises is still an option in your area, take advantage of it by going for a daily walk (or run) in your local park or nature reserve. Get some sun and fresh air to get energized.

Make sure to wear a facemask, avoid crowded areas, maintain at least a 1 to 2-metre distance from others, and wash your hands as soon as you arrive home.

  1. Create a bird feeder

Looking for a DIY project you can do with the kids? Making a bird feeder might stoke their passion for wildlife and stave off boredom. A bird feeder can also attract native birds to your property.

Prepare bird seeds, cooking fat, and a coconut shell or pine cone. Using a string, hang the feeder outside your window or balcony (at a spot where you can easily see the birds without disturbing them).

  1. Just take in the view

Nature helps you relax and center yourself

Connecting with nature has its benefits even if you’re simply taking in the view. It’s perfectly fine to pull yourself away from your desk for a few minutes and sit in your garden, patio, or balcony. Listen to some music or read a book. Listen to the birds chirping and watch the butterflies flutter about.

Amid all the pressures from work and the ongoing developments related to the pandemic, it’s important to silence all the noise and to be still. Take a walk around your house; pay attention to your surroundings.

  1. Plant a tree

Even in the midst of a global health crisis, our planet continues to suffer from the effects of climate change. While you have plenty of time in your hands during this lockdown, you might want to participate in reducing carbon emissions by growing a tree in your property.

Addressing climate change is also a way to reduce the likelihood of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19. Some studies associate increased numbers of infectious diseases to worsening global warming. Planting more trees is the best solution to alleviating its effects. Take up the cause by planting a tree in your own garden.

Here are important things to remember to help you get the most out of your tree planting:

  • If you have enough space, group miniature trees together in their own bed.
  • Put trees in the background so that other plants can have their own space where they can grow freely.
  • If you’re short on space, use your trees as lawn or stand-alone trees.
  • Trees with open canopies can fit in the garden bed.
  • Trees with more dense canopies make it hard to grow anything under them.

To achieve desirable results, seek the assistance of a licensed arborist. They can help you choose a tree that’s suited in the specific conditions of your garden. Every tree species has unique needs, so it would be best to get the advice of a professional regarding which tree would grow well in your property.

For a complete range of tree care services in Bradford and Richmond Hill, call Dave Lund Tree Service & Forestry Co. Ltd. at (905) 884-0511. We offer diverse services to help you with all your tree-related needs and make your garden become a tranquil haven for you and your family during this pandemic.