A sensory garden is more than just a beautiful outdoor space — it’s a carefully designed sanctuary that engages all five senses, offering a therapeutic and immersive experience for children, adults, and even pets.
Whether you’re working with a large garden or a small patio, creating a sensory garden is both achievable and rewarding.
What is a sensory garden?
A sensory garden is designed to stimulate the senses — sight, smell, sound, touch and taste — through a combination of plants, textures, sounds and natural materials. Unlike traditional gardens focused mainly on aesthetics, a sensory garden encourages interaction, mindfulness and play.
These gardens are particularly beneficial for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and anyone seeking a calming environment to unwind.
Benefits of a sensory garden
1. Stress relief and mental wellness
Spending time in a garden that engages the senses has been shown to reduce anxiety and promote mindfulness. It offers a grounding experience that helps you disconnect from screens and daily stressors.
2. Supports child development
Sensory gardens are ideal for young children. Exploring different textures, smells and colours helps improve motor skills, vocabulary and sensory processing.
3. Therapeutic for people with special needs
Sensory gardens are frequently used in therapy centres, elderly care homes and schools. They can be calming for people with autism, dementia or visual impairments.
4. Encourages pollinators and biodiversity
These gardens often include aromatic herbs, textured grasses and flowering plants that attract bees, butterflies and birds — which, in turn, help your garden thrive naturally.
Image: Unsplash
How to create a sensory garden
1. Choose the right location
Pick a sunny area with partial shade where you can spend time comfortably year-round. If you’re working with a balcony or small courtyard, use pots and vertical planters to maximise space.
2. Incorporate all five senses
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Sight: Use a mix of bright blooms, indigenous succulents and ornamental grasses. Try colour themes or seasonal palettes.
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Smell: Add aromatic herbs like lavender, rosemary, mint or indigenous buchu for a natural fragrance.
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Sound: Install wind chimes, water features or plant rustling grasses.
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Touch: Use a range of textures — soft lamb’s ear, rough bark, smooth stones or even a pebble path for barefoot walking.
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Taste: Plant edibles like strawberries, cherry tomatoes, spekboom or leafy greens in raised beds or containers.
3. Use natural materials
Incorporate wooden benches, gravel paths or mulch for a more grounded look and feel. Avoid overly artificial features and focus on sensory stimulation through nature.
4. Add interactive elements
Install raised planters for easy access, especially for children or elderly gardeners. Include items like a sandpit, mud kitchen or herb-snipping station for play and exploration.
5. Make it accessible
Design your garden with pathways wide enough for prams or wheelchairs. Use sensory-friendly signage and encourage all family members to participate in upkeep.
ALSO SEE: Ways to use old newspapers in your garden
Feature Image: Unsplash
