Gardening has many benefits that can improve your physical health, quality of life and benefit the environment.
I’ve created an infographic listing the top 10 benefits of gardening and in the article below I’ve listed a few extra gardening benefits to inspire you to get outside and start planting.
BENEFITS OF GARDENING
1. Gardening can improve your physical health
Gardening is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air and it can help to improve your strength, flexibility and coordination.
Gardening involves a lot of different activities including bending, squatting and digging, which helps to tone the muscles, improves flexibility and burns up to 300 calories per hour. [1]
Gardening is a low-impact form of exercise, meaning it’s gentle on your joints and muscles.
It’s also a weight-bearing exercise, which means it helps to strengthen the bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
The more you garden the more you’ll build up your strength, stamina, coordination and balance, eventually leading to better overall physical fitness.
Regular gardening can also help to reduce the risk of developing obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Gardening is a great way to get your recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
2. Gardening can boost your mood and mental health
Gardening has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health, well-being and happiness.
Studies have shown that gardening can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. [2]
Getting your hands dirty in the soil has a calming and therapeutic effect which can help to clear your mind, improve your mood and give you a sense of achievement.
3. Gardening can help you connect with nature
In today’s modern world, we often spend a lot of time indoors staring at screens.
This can lead to feelings of disconnection and loneliness.
Gardening gets you outside in nature, surrounded by the sights and smells of plants and flowers.
This can help you feel more connected to the natural world and improve your mood.
4. Gardening can improve your diet
Studies show that home gardeners typically consume more fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners.
Eating more fruits and vegetables has been linked with many health benefits including a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and obesity.
Growing your own food is a great way to get more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet.
You can grow your own healthy food in your backyard, in containers or even indoors.
5.Increased Nutrients
Home grown produce is typically richer in vitamins and minerals than produce that is grown through intensive farming practices and then transported long distances.
6. Reduces Waste
Organic matter such as food scraps and yard waste can be composted and used as a natural fertilizer for your garden.
This reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill, and it also saves you money on purchasing store-bought fertilizers.
7. Gardening can reduce stress
Spending time in the garden has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health.
Gardening decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, leading to a decrease in stress and anxiety, helping you to feel more relaxed.
Getting your hands dirty in the soil can have a calming effect and help to clear your mind.
8. Gardening can improve your memory and cognitive function
Gardening has been shown to improve memory and cognitive function in older adults. [4]
Regular gardeners also have a reduced risk of developing dementia later in life.
9. Gardening can improve your sleep
Getting outside in the sunshine and fresh air can help to improve your sleep quality because exposure to sunlight helps to regulate your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
Gardening can also be a great form of exercise which can help to tire you out and make you sleepy at night.
10. Gardening can make you happier
Mycobacterium vaccae, a type of bacteria found in soil has been shown to boost the feel-good chemical serotonin, which helps to improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression. [3]
Another reason to get your hands dirty in the garden!
11. Gardening boosts Vitamin D
Gardening in the sunshine several times a week can help boost vitamin D levels, which benefits your bones, muscles, heart and immune system.
To get enough vitamin D you’ll need to spend around 20 minutes in the sunshine several times a week without sunscreen, just be careful not to get sunburned.
12. Mindfulness
Gardening can be a form of mindfulness meditation, where you focus your attention on the present moment and on your senses.
This can help to clear your mind, helping you to forget about your worries and be present in the moment.
13. Less Food Miles
Growing your own food reduces the amount of fossil fuels consumed to transport food over long distances.
14. Saves Money
Homegrown fruits and vegetables cost a fraction of the price of store-bought produce, especially organic produce.
Every fruit, vegetable or bunch of herbs you harvest from your garden is one less item you need to purchase from the supermarket, helping you to save money.
15. Gardening can increase self-esteem and confidence
Gardening can be a great way to boost your self-esteem and confidence.
Growing your own plants and vegetables can give you a sense of pride and achievement.
RELATED ARTICLES
- 15 Frost Tolerant Vegetable Plants
- 12 Easy Vegetables To Grow Indoors
- 12 Edible Vines For Small Gardens
So, there you have it – 15 great reasons to start gardening today!
Whether you want to improve your health, connect with nature or boost your mood, gardening can help. So get outside and get growing.
What other gardening benefits can you think of? Let me know in the comments below.
Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Vegetable Gardens and Gardening Tips that you may enjoy. You can also find me on Facebook.
It’s great that you mentioned how gardening is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air and it could help to improve your strength, flexibility, and coordination. I recently got a lot of free time so I am thinking of spending that time by starting a garden in our property. But before that, I should stop by a plant nursery first and get some plants for the garden.