Cohen Mansfield (2007) noted that one of the main reasons people did not use gardens was because of the weather. It may be too hot, too cold, too windy etc. In a therapeutic garden one should be able to enjoy the space in any weather, although clearly every effort needs to be made to maximize shelter from sun, wind or rain and this must be a key consideration in any layout. Shelters need to be provided either by the building or by built features such as walls, trellises with planting, pergolas, green houses and tunnels of vegetation.
In some places it can be helpful to have some sorts of “in between” transition space linking inside to outside so that people can go out in any weather and be able to change or to acclimatize to the light and the weather. This “in between” space may take a form of a verandah, lobby or roofed area just beyond the exit doors. It is interesting to consider these spaces for populations who are especially fragile as they allow:
- Visibility of the outdoors
- A sheltered place to decide whether to go out or not
- A space for undertaking outdoor activities such as potting plants if the weather is bad
- A place for putting on and taking off outdoor clothes and shoes
The following are recommendations and references of types of protection for each weather condition.
Sun- creating shade
For many southern region countries this is a key issue. It is recommended to investigate how the shade moves in the space before thinking of the lay out of the design. Mid-day might not be the most important shade while it is usually the hottest time of the day and nobody is using the garden anyway. It might be more import to think of morning and afternoon shade. The shade in the garden will be planned in three steps:
- Study the existing shaded areas in the morning and in the afternoon (AM and PM).
- Plan where to create shade during spring and summer. Do not forget to leave space for sunny spots during winter.
- Choose tree varieties or structures that create shade.
In a therapeutic garden one tends to plan the need for shade after the activities that have been planned for the users of the garden. Each therapy/activity can have a different solution for shade. For example
Walking: Arches, pergolas, Trees
Horticulture: Sails, Parasols
Crafts: Pergolas, Parasols, canopies
Relax: Trees, pergolas
Social gathering: Pergolas, Parasols, canopies
Sports: Trees
There is a mix of what we call a permanent solution and a temporary solution for shade. Both should be considered while, for example, the horticulture zone might need all the sun it can get during winter and spring but might need to be partly protected when working there in summer.
References and recommendations to the different varieties of shade:
Trees are wonderful sun protectors but take time to become big enough for a good shade and sometimes the size of the garden will not allow a good shade tree. Deciduous trees are especially good for places with movements such as sport and walking*. Trees give a large area under the canopy to move around and in winter it is nice to feel the heat of the sun even when doing exercise. Remember to plant trees calculating the shade you want! For recommendations of trees that create shade please see the chapter Planting.
*Remember that it is very important to clean up the leaves in autumn to avoid fall risks. If this is an issue, it is better to plan for perennial trees.
Pergolas are easy and cheap to build. The structure could be wood, or metal and it has to be fixed in the ground with a concrete footing. Be careful when choosing the shade material so it doesn´t create an undesired shadow with uncomfortable patterns. See picture. Some recommended material for pergolas used only for shadow (not complete roof structure) are heather, cane or canvas, pictured below. When planning the pergola, make sure to leave space around so it is possible to move furniture when the shade moves throughout the day See picture.
Image 31. Uncomfortable pattern on the ground instead of a protecting shade.
a) Heather protection
b) Sails out on special treated canvas
c) Cane protection
d) Arches to create shadow
e) Leaving space around the pergola “to catch” the shadow all day.
Arches Mainly for decoration but they can be installed along a pathway to give a feeling of shade. It is not always easy to find arches in the right size, as most gardens do not ask for a width of the path of 1.80. Consider “designing” your own archway. This could be a quicker option. The advantage of the arches is that you can obtain immediate results with fast growing climbers.
Temperature and Precipitation
There is very little to be done against heat and the best tip is to create a microclimate with plants. Using as much green as possible is the most effective way to lower the temperature in your Healing Garden.
Extreme cold temperature is also a difficult condition for garden use. The use of a heated greenhouse is in many ways a good solution to avoid the cold. The greenhouse can be built away from the buildings and have a garden surrounding it. This way the users will only have to do a short walk outside while still having the feeling of “being in the garden”, as well as still being protected from the harsh temperatures. When planning a greenhouse for therapies the following should be considered:
1. Size. If a group of 8-10 people is going to sit and work comfortably in the house it should have a minimum size of 22-25 m2 (4,2 x 5,6 meters).
2. The light in the green house could be strong, even if it is cold outside. Canopies/adjustable canvases should be placed in the ceiling to protect from strong light.
3. The glass should be security glass (tempered glass) to avoid any danger of cutting glass in case of accident.
4. Electricity outlet to have an electrical socket to be able to connect a small heater/light etc. This way the house is useable for dark winter days when no natural sun light is available to heat the house up.
5. Plan for a floor that is easy to clean such as paving stone.
6. Check that the green house has sliding doors that are easy to open and wide enough for wheelchairs users.
Most green houses on the market are not considered to be used by persons with physical limitations. Most likely there will be delivered with a typical edge to climb over when entering the green house door. Consider place for a ramp when choosing the location for the green house.
Although not related to the therapeutic use, certain considerations should be kept in mind with regards to the location site. Choose a site with solid, well-drained soil, and consider a concrete base for a good pavement. Place your greenhouse 10 meters away from larger trees if you have the possibility to do so. This is not only important from a shade point of view, but also because trees drop branches which can cause damage to roofs and walls. Most trees drop their leaves in the autumn which means you will need to clean the gutters much more often. Also bear in mind that some types of trees secrete sticky sap which causes anything in their vicinity to get it on them. You will then have to wash the glass more often to prevent mold and fungi from growing and to reduce the amount of light.
Recommended good quality green houses for therapy use:
- “Green room”, willab garden
- dining/orangerie, Dancover
- ACD
Viento
Depending on the geographical situation, the wind could become an important issue to be able to spend time outside. Some considerations were mentioned in “climate conditions”, when planning the site of the therapeutic garden.
There are really two basic approaches to modify wind:
-Deflect wind flows to provide shelter
– Dissipate wind energy by frictional processes to reduce wind velocity.
If it is not possible to change building or landform, one can still provide shelter with trees, shrubs and fences. The denser the shelter, the greater effect in the wind speed, but the smaller is the area affected. Solid windbreaks can generate excessive turbulence in their wake. The result on the wind speed when using a more porous windbreak, like a hedge, will be less, but the area affected is larger. A combination of permeable barrier and planting may be the most effective solution.