How to design an energising garden - turn your outdoor space into the ultimate recharging zone

We know that gardens are good for our wellbeing. From the benefits of nature to the effects of sunlight on our mood, there are countless scientific studies to prove what we instinctively know – that spending time outdoors makes us feel better.

Often, that feelgood vibe is associated with calm gardens, Zen gardens and healing gardens – where the planting and design create a tranquil outdoor oasis. But wellbeing isn't just about calming us down; sometimes we want a boost, to feel more vibrant and alive. And that's where energising gardens come in.

How to design an energising garden

Just as choosing happy colours for your decorating can make your interiors more uplifting, or selecting scents to wake you up in the morning can give your day a boost, picking brightly-hued plants and fragrant blooms can give vitality to your outdoor space. 

We spoke to experts to discover more secrets to designing an energising garden.

1. Create a sense of surprise

There's nothing that says 'blah' like a garden you can see all in one go – it's the mystery of not knowing what's around a corner or on the other side of a flower bed that makes our gardens feel more interesting and dynamic.

'Make sure you have plenty of surprises – paths, hedges, arches, pergolas, statues or large pots can give a element of surprise to even the smallest space and ensures you don't experience the garden all at once,' explains Bridget Saunders, co-founder of The Garden House in Brighton, a former derelict market garden that has been restored and now offers garden courses and visits. 

'When we open for the National Garden Scheme, you hear the delight from people discovering a "secret" garden behind a row of terraced houses.'

2. Pick an energising plant palette

Invigorating, feelgood gardens use plants colours as a pick-me-up – think dopamine brights colour-drenched across your garden borders.

'Colour is an essential way to create a garden full of energy and life. The key is to avoid a busy liquorice all-sorts look, where all colours are thrown together fighting for the limelight,' says plant expert, Sarah Raven.

'Separating your colour palettes to create different atmospheres in your outside space can be an effective approach. A rich family of colours like deep brown, copper, and deep purple offer an earthy yet refined look – I often think of these as the velvet colours you want to wrap yourself in,' she says.

'Alternatively, the "boiled sweet" palette of bright and brilliant colours, such as strawberry red, vivid orange, zingy lemon and lime, can bring uplifting and invigorating energy. To avoid too much razzamatazz in the garden, you should only select complementary or contrasting colours and stick to them.'

Take a look at the colour wheel to help you decide which colours will work best together in your garden.

3. Add a playful water feature

A still and tranquil pool can be a mindful feature of a wellbeing garden, where its reflective surface can promote a restful mood. But if you want a more energising effect in your garden, then look for a water feature idea where the sound, movement and sparkle of water all play their part.

'One of the more popular ways of introducing a playful, captivating feature into a garden is by positioning a water feature,' says Travers Nettleton, founder of Garden Art Plus.

'The intriguing interaction of light on falling water and a gentle background trickle can engage and absorb the onlooker while offering a pleasing addition to the look of the garden.'

You can easily convert a pond or still water feature already in your garden with something like the smart solar pond water pump, available for £79.99 at Very.co.uk. 

4. Building a buzz with pollinators

An energising garden needs lots of life in it – and not just of the plant variety.

'A garden thriving with pollinators and wildlife is energising and an important way to bring your space to life. A truly energised garden should have a healthy and abundant ecosystem,' claims Sarah Raven.

'Gardens with diverse plant species attract a wide range of insects, birds and other wildlife that contribute to pollination, seed dispersal and pest control. 

'Bees play such an important role in a healthy and thriving garden, so you should have plenty of pollinator-friendly plants and flowers in your outside space. Providing shelter and water will help you to create a bee-friendly garden, as they need plenty to drink and somewhere safe to rest.'

5. Energise your mood with fragrant plants

'Scent is also a important factor in an energising garden,' confirms Bridget Saunders from The Garden House, which has a wide range of fragrant plants in its beds and borders. 

When you're planning a garden with all-year interest, don't forget to factor in scented plants to uplift you through the seasons. When creating a fragrant garden bulbs, blossom and lilac flowers will fill your garden with scent in the springtime. Roses, sweet peas and lavender bring a fragrance fest in summer. Autumn-scented options include Nicotiana, mint and Daphne. While winter-flowering jasmine and honeysuckle will enliven the colder months.

6. Bring in birdlife

There’s nothing like birdsong to energise and revitalise your outside space. But if you want the birds, you'll need to tempt them with lots of bugs.

'Parent finches and tits need to feed their young protein-rich forage, so are always on the lookout for caterpillars, small slugs and even snails, as well as aphids in all shapes and sizes,' says Sarah Raven. 

'Insect patches in the corner of a garden are brilliant, using a few pots in a sunny spot to create a wildlife haven that makes it easy for birds to source food.'

Consider building a bug hotel to attract insects. Alternative you can invest in an RSPB-approved bird feeder to directly attract birds to your outdoor space.

7. Champion diversity in your plot

A great room scheme has points of interest that attract our attention – a brilliant combo of colourful cushions, a curated display, a standout vase, or a talking point feature wall. Our gardens are no different. They need a range of features, a spectrum of colours, focal points to attract the eye, and plants in different scales, colours and shapes.

'Gardens should be as diverse as possible in the plants that we grow,' agrees Bridget Saunders from The Garden House. 'We try to grow as many different species as possible as this attracts a wide variety of pollinators. We also welcome the use of repurposed materials which always gets a vote from visitors and creates an energetic display in the garden.'

8. Add power-pops with pots

We all know the dopamine boost of wearing a colourful jacket or the perfect pink sofa in your living room. And we can get that same energising pop of positivity in our gardens, too.

'I love the impact that a single plant in multiple pots creates,' says Sarah Raven. 'Placing the pots in a prominent corner packs a real punch, energising otherwise dull areas. This works best if you choose a showy form, such as the lipstick-red tulip Pretty Woman.'

Try these ideas and create your own energising garden, so you can boost your mood and vitality every time you step outside your back door.