Horticultural therapists prescribe activities to suit the needs of the patient. For instance, activities for the mentally ill seek to aid with cognition, independent behavior, and social development to help them towards normal lives; for stroke victims, therapy emphasizes reviving sensation and promoting mental calm in order to help the person rehabilitate their body; nursing home residents are shown ways to reinvigorate themselves and discover new interests and pleasures.
治療師需針對不同對象和目標設計不同的活動，例如培養精神病患的認知、自主行為、社交適應力，讓他們早日回到正常生活；對中風患者的治療則在刺激感覺、穩定情緒並促進肢體復健；安養老人則著重在重建生活樂趣，讓他們重新與生命連結。