When Mum could still get outside, gardening was one of her favourite things, she loved to grow tomatoes and cherished this huge lavender plant that was in the back garden. Growing together and doing simple gardening activities with dementia shouldn’t be hard. She wasn’t planting full beds or digging up soil, but just being out there – hands in compost, watering a pot, sitting in the breeze, made such a difference and always brighten her mood.
I wasn’t a gardener, not really. I was just looking for a way to keep mum doing the things she loved. Over time, we found a rhythm. A few small pots of tomatoes and courgettes, a bed of strawberries. Some herbs. Nothing grand. But it gave her a reason to go outside, to notice the seasons again and cook with what we grew. And it changed something in me too.
Here are some of the gardening activities we did that you might also enjoy with your loved ones living with dementia. You don’t need a big garden or raised beds. Many can be done from a chair but what they gave us was time together outside of the house, lovely fresh air, and something to gently tend that we actually grew!
Starting With Pots and Containers
I started by bringing home a few small pots – terracotta, plastic, recycled plastic fruit containers, anything easy to hold and not too heavy. Mum liked choosing which pot to use. We’d fill them with soil together, scooping by hand, or with an old spoon to keep her fingers clean (gardening gloves still manage to get dirt in them.)
Sometimes we planted seeds. Sometimes, I’d help her transfer little bedding plants that you can always find discounted at supermarket shops. She didn’t always know what they were, but she liked touching the leaves, breaking up the roots gently, and patting down the soil around them.
We kept the containers small so they were manageable.
Herbs on the Windowsill
One of the easiest things we did was grow herbs indoors. Basil, mint, parsley. You don’t need much space – just a sunny spot, a few small pots, and a bit of water every day or so.
Mum loved brushing her fingers over the leaves and smelling them. The scent of mint in particular seemed to stir something in her. I think it reminded her of tea she used to drink when she was younger.
We didn’t always use the herbs for cooking, sometimes we just picked a leaf and used it as stencil for painting.
Watering Routine
We had a simple watering routine. A jug by the sink. A few labelled pots. One day I’d water them, the next I’d invite Mum to help. Sometimes I had to guide her hand if she needed help, or which plants needed more.
I kept a soft cloth nearby too, in case of spills. And we always kept the watering light, so it didn’t soak everything.
Planting Bulbs for Later
Autumn became one of our quiet rituals. We’d sit at the kitchen table and plant spring bulbs into pots. Tulips, daffodils, crocus. I’d write the names on little wooden sticks, and Mum would help tuck the bulbs in.
Then in spring, when they started to grow, I’d take her to the window and say, “Look, remember the tulips we planted are coming up” Sometimes she did. Sometimes she didn’t. But she always smiled.
Touch and Texture Trays
On days when going outside wasn’t possible, I made little trays of garden textures. Dry soil, sand, smooth stones, and seed packets. Mum would explore them with her hands while we talked about the garden, and planted up more seeds.
It wasn’t a sensory activity for the sake of stimulation. It was about keeping her in touch – literally – with things that once felt familiar. And it helped keep our conversations going.
We also used these gentle sensory activity ideas when she seemed more anxious or withdrawn indoors.
Seated Gardening Tasks
Later on, when mobility was more limited, I brought everything to her. We planted up trays of cress or mustard seeds in shallow dishes. We made little succulent pots using dry soil and pebbles.
The key was to keep everything within easy reach – a towel on her lap, a tray of materials in front of her, and no need to stretch or bend. I’d set it up, sit beside her, and we’d do it together.
Decorating Plant Pots
When we couldn’t do any gardening at all – in the deep winter, or when she was too tired – we decorated pots. We used paint pens, stickers, bits of tissue paper and glue. She didn’t always follow a plan, but she liked choosing colours.
The pots didn’t have to be perfect. They just had to feel like hers.
Bringing the Garden Indoors
There were times I’d clip herbs or flowers from the garden and bring them inside. I placed them in jars on the table. I loved having fresh flowers in the house, before we got the cats, and let Mum explore the shapes and smells. Sometimes we’d talk about what they reminded her of. Other times, she’d just admired them.
When Things Didn’t Go to Plan
We had days when plants wilted, pots fell over, and Mum poured soil everywhere. Once she took a bite out of a plant that tasted disgusting, and I’ll never forget the face she made! I laughed. She laughed.
It’s okay if things go wrong. The garden forgives you. And in dementia care, that’s a rare kind of comfort.
I learned not to push for tasks to be completed. If we only got as far as filling a pot with soil, that was fine. If she just sat and watched me work, that counted too.
Final Thoughts
Gardening with Mum wasn’t about doing things “right.” It was about being present. Letting the seasons in.
Some days we planted. Some days we just touched the soil. But every time we went out there or brought the garden inside. It grounded us both.
If you’re caring for someone, doing simple gardening activities with dementia should be part of your routine, don’t overlook the garden.
You don’t need experience or equipment. Just a pot, a plant, and time to do it together.
