Why I Want a Simple Garden and You Might Too

Those of us blessed with a garden know how beautiful and relaxing it can be. But we also know it can require a lot of maintenance. And the larger the garden, the more the maintenance.

But it doesn't have to be. Even a large garden can be simple. I learned this last winter when I got into de-cluttering my house. Once I cleared out the stuff, I was left with only the things I needed along with those that sparked joy. I felt tremendously free. I no longer worried about the messes I constantly saw. All I had to do was lightly maintain the objects I loved. The house felt like it was perfectly balanced and hence, so did my soul.

A Simple House Inspired a Simple Garden

Once I decluttered the house, I realized simplicity was missing in my garden. Now I know a garden is never really simple because plants and weeds grow and create litter and such, but there are ways to cut down on all that. Plus, we all have non-plant stuff in our gardens. And that's what I set about doing: clearing out objects. First I tackled my little greenhouse, and then the garden. I'll tell you about my method for simplifying a garden in a future post, but for now here are the rewards I gained. Rewards you can gain too.

It Feels Great to Declutter

Studies show clutter raises our stress hormones and makes us feel depressed. Unused objects give off a burdensome vibe so in eliminating them, we eliminate the burden of their maintenance and our feelings of failure at not having used them. Though we initially feel like we failed, afterward we feel lighter and more vigorous. With every pot and rusty tool and old chair I tossed, sold or donated, I felt more hopeful. And I felt happy giving items to others who needed them.

Burn Out Disappears

When a garden gets out of control, we often feel anxious and sometimes chastise ourselves for not keeping up. And if we have multiple problem areas, we feel overwhelmed by all there is to do. We don't know where to start, so we don't. But we need to give ourselves a break and tackle things in small bits. I decided to work a few hours every weekend to declutter my garden. It took forever and I was exhausted, but afterward I felt a strange sense of relief. I'd conquered the messes that had been haunting me. I felt in control for the first time in years. My burn out dissolved into a peaceful resolution.

Less Maintenance

When we have fewer things taking up space, we don't have as much to weed, clean, or store. Our home or garden is clearer and more open. This in turn helps our minds feel clearer and more open. We don't have as much to do. When my storage and patio areas were cluttered, I felt a like I could never catch up on my to-do list. Now because what's left to maintain is simpler, I don't beat myself up, I just putter in the garden when it's time to tidy up. Maintenance is a light-hearted ritual.

More Peaceful Time

When we have less to maintain, we of course have more time. More time to think about things we actually enjoy doing. More time to make future plans. Now I have the time to take long moments to sit and soak in the garden's beauty. I read a book, eat dinner with friends, play with the dog, and more. I don't feel rushed, I don't feel like I have a thousand things in my head. Enjoyment is the goal in this pretty natural space.

Do you want a simple garden? I know it's a difficult task to get one, especially if you're a longtime gardener who has a lot of plants and objects. But there's hope. It's never too late to start decluttering. I'll talk more about how in a future post.

If you need gardening advice, chat with me on Threads, Instagram, or BlueSky.