From a ‘love drug’ to a mental boost – 5 health benefits of hugging trees
There’s a reason why people hug trees. Not only do they provide grace and beauty to your outdoor space, and a vital home for wildlife, they are also great for your mental health.
In fact, a study earlier this year provided “robust evidence” that we could improve our mental well-being by spending more time looking at trees and other elements of nature.
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Previous research has also shown that hanging out with our green friends can improve immunity, lower blood pressure and speed recovery from illness or trauma.
And hugging a tree also releases the hormone Ocytocin, known as the ‘love drug’, which can make you feel sticky and warm inside.
Additionally, trees can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes: willow bark contains salicin, which is similar to aspirin and can help with aches and pains.
Hawthorn extract can lower blood pressure, and witch hazel can be used to treat everything from damaged skin and bruises to insect bites.
Currently, British forests cover just 12 percent of our land area – which is considerably low compared to much of Europe – and it’s time to do our bit.
So today is the beginning of National Tree Week – and across Britain fans are gathering to celebrate the beginning of the tree planting era.
Dr. Elisabeth Karlstad Larsen works in the RHS Environmental Horticulture team. Her current research involves understanding the benefits of trees to British gardens, particularly in urban and surrounding areas.
She told Sun Gardening: “Trees can be essential in providing habitat and food for wildlife, a benefit that is increasingly necessary in tackling the biodiversity crisis we face – and is especially necessary in urban environments.
“They protect the soil below from excess runoff and erosion, and they retain carbon stored in the soil for longer, by keeping the soil undisturbed – and tree roots can further improve soil structure and nutrient recycling.”
“Trees can help reduce air pollution, either by creating physical barriers if a plant is between you and a busy road, to separate yourself from those particles, but also by absorbing air pollution through the leaves.”
TOP PLANTING TIPS
The best tips from RHS head horticulturist Guy Barter…
- Dig a square, not round, hole large enough to hold the roots.
- Do not add fertilizer or compost and do not break up the bottom of the planting hole.
- Soak the root ball in a bucket of water for an hour if it is dry
- Place the roots deep enough in the hole so that the root shoot is just below soil level.
- Install a stake first – use as short a stake as possible – and a well-padded tree tie – loosen this in subsequent years.
- Don’t ram the ground. Do not plant when the soil is very wet.
- Mulch three feet around the tree and water the following early summer. Do the same in the second summer.
“Trees are also good for people: they have a calming and regulating effect on people’s stress levels and create a restorative effect, while people often have a strong emotional relationship with trees.”
TREES FOR SMALL GARDENS
Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Obelisk’
Cornus controversies ‘Variegata’
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’
TREES FOR LARGE GARDENS
ALSO IN VERONICA’S COLUMN THIS WEEK
Advent calendars for gardeners, a great competition and top tips.
There are some fantastic seed-filled advertising calendars available.
She grows vegetables (£65) contains 24 envelopes of heirloom seeds in a pretty, hang-up bag.
Edge in a box (€49.99) comes beautifully packaged with pegs so you can hang your 24 seed packets.
Blooming memories (£32.99) contains 24 beautifully presented seed envelopes – with twine and pegs.
Little Green Book Shop offer a beautiful plantable seed calendar for children for only € 14.95
Own Grown (17.99) offers 24 packs of vegetables, flowers and herbs.
WIN! Sustainable plant pot innovator elho is giving four lucky winners the opportunity to bring beautiful greenery into their home with its stylish jazz collection and self-watering innovations. Each winner will receive 1 jazz bowl, 1 30 cm jazz pot and a self-watering insert. Fill in to enter THIS FORM or for more information visit www.thesun.co.uk/Elhopots. Or write to Sun Elho Pot Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Please include your name, age, email address or telephone number. UK residents 18+ only. Ends at 30.59 GMT. 7.12.24 General terms and conditions apply.
TO RESCUE! Avoid the backache of bending over to collect all those leaves. Garland heavy duty leaf collectors from Amazon cost £35.75 or Robert Dyas has something similar for £16.49
TOP TIP! Ryobi’s 12 Tools of Christmas offer gives you a FREE great tool when you purchase an 18V ONE+™ Starter Kit – see their website for more details
VACANCY OF THE WEEK! You can still plant your bulbs. If you have black spots on your roses, throw away any fallen leaves. Plant bare root raspberry plants.
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