The History and Practice of Horticultural Therapy

What is Horticultural Therapy?

Horticultural Therapy is a professional discipline that utilizes the cultivation of plans, plant material, and gardening to improve a persons overall health and well being.

Therapeutic gardening can be traced back to antiquity. Beginning in the 1800s, hospital and rehabilitation facilities began implementing horticulture programs. Today, horticultural therapy is used successfully with people whose lives have been disrupted by physical, mental, and/or developmental challenges. In addition, horticultural therapy can be beneficial to a variety of participants to enhance social, psychological and physical functioning.

Where can Horticultural Therapy be used?

Horticultural therapy programs take place in a wide variety of settings. Horticultural therapists identify specific goals to develop unique programs designed to meet the needs of each special population or individual. The settings are diverse.
Here are some examples:

Community Gardens, Hospitals, Correctional Facilities, Public Garden, Homeless Shelters, Homes, Park & Recreation, Schools, Rehabilitation Centers, Social Services, Residential Facilities, Youth Services, Vocational Training and Senior Center.

How can Horticultural Therapy be utilized?

When working with plants and participating in horticultural activities, a person benefits both psychological and physiologically. The horticulture environment is adaptable and easily designed for accessibility to meet the needs of each population or individual.
Here are a few examples:

Enabling Gardens, Indoor Gardens, Sensory Gardens, Water Gardens, Mobile Gardens, Healing Gardens, Home Gardens, Organic Gardens, Container Gardens, Roof Gardens and Small-scale Farms