Opening
You probably use your garden most days — even if it's just the view through the kitchen window while the kettle boils.
This month, we've been looking at what the research actually says about that daily connection — and what it means for how a garden is designed, built, and maintained. The findings are more interesting (and more practical) than you might expect.
Here's what we've published this month, and why it matters.
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Featured Article
Your Garden Is Already Affecting Your Health — Here's What the Science Says
A hospital study that changed a research field. A theory about why your brain recovers faster in green spaces. And a Finnish daycare experiment that found immune changes in children after just 28 days of contact with forest-floor soil.
The evidence connecting gardens to health is stronger than the wellness industry's oversimplified version suggests — and it has real implications for how outdoor spaces are designed.
We looked at what the research actually supports, where the hype outpaces the evidence, and what it means for your garden.
[Read the full article →]
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Also This Month
What Makes a Garden Design Actually Work?
Scale, proportion, seasonal structure — and fifty years of watching which gardens hold up in January and which look abandoned. Our foundational piece on the design principles that separate gardens which age well from those that don't.
[Read →]
Does Landscaping Actually Add Value to Your Home?
The commonly cited "20% uplift" figure? Untraceable. The "77% ROI" statistic? Based on what homeowners believed, not actual data. We looked at what the evidence genuinely supports — and what it doesn't.
[Read →]
Spring Garden Prep: What Actually Matters (and What You Can Skip)
Not everything on those spring checklists deserves your time. A practical guide to what makes a real difference in Surrey gardens — and the tasks you can safely ignore.
[Read →]
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One Thing Worth Knowing
A study of approximately 20,000 people in England found that spending at least 120 minutes per week in nature was associated with significantly better self-reported health and wellbeing. The 120 minutes could be split any way — one long session or several short ones. That's roughly 17 minutes a day.
Your garden is the easiest place to start.
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From Montrose
We've been designing, building, and looking after gardens across Surrey for over 50 years. If you've been thinking about your outdoor space — whether that's a full redesign, some practical improvements, or just understanding what your garden needs — we're always happy to talk.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation about your garden.
Talk to us about your garden →
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Montrose Landscapes | Woking, Surrey | montrose-landscapes.com
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