Benefits of Gardening

By John Johnston

Greta Thunberg, climate change, Australian wildfires, and deforestation. Everywhere you look, the global environment is in the news. It’s often worrying.

If it’s not the environment, it’s our health. Stay fit, eat well, avoid stress, and save the planet. It’s a big ask!  

But one surprising and easy way is to have better health is to take advantage from the benefits of gardening. 

You don’t need to be an expert gardener in Glasgow. You don’t need to be a Sir David Attenborough or an Alan Titchmarsh.

You can enjoy the many health benefits of gardening. We will reveal them in a moment.

All it takes is a few basic tools and some know-how or study, and you’ll find yourself away!

So, if you want to help the environment or get some exercise back, check out our top ten reasons for the importance of gardening. Then, get those fingers green!

Quick Summary

  • Gardening provides numerous physical and mental health benefits, such as reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood and self-esteem, increasing physical activity, and promoting a healthier diet by encouraging the consumption of homegrown fruits and vegetables.

 

  • Regular gardening can be an effective low-cost preventive health measure that improves overall well-being and quality of life for people of all ages

Regular time spent in the garden can help relieve stress and boost self-esteem.

Gardening also improves your immunity, heart health, brain health and physical health.

old man doing handstand in garden

It can even lower the risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s, and significantly improve your mental wellbeing. Gardening is a labour of love that benefits all areas of life.

Gardening Reduces Stress & Anxiety

Researchers have shown that even just half-hour spent time in the garden can help lower cortisol levels.

Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone, so having a little less of it in our bodies can only be good for our mental health and wellbeing.

Become immersed in activities;

  1. Like digging to replace garden turf
  2. Sowing seeds for the new season
  3. Planting your favourite spring flowers
  4. Pruning overgrown stems

Whatever else you need to do can also promote mindfulness, live in the moment, help with mental health, and forget about day-to-day worries in your memory.

 

Gardening Keeps You Fit

Gardening is a great way to stay fit and healthy.

Studies have shown that frequent garden sessions can reduce stress and anxiety levels, improve mental clarity, and even help prevent coronary disease and the risk of some cancers, including colon cancer.

Additionally, having an interest in gardening can help maintain a healthy weight and support a healthy immune system.

Gardening has many mental benefits. It can help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as improve mood and cognitive function.

Working productively in the garden increases serotonin levels, causing people to be happier throughout the day and improving their mental health and well-being overall.

Gardening is also an excellent activity for practising mindfulness, which benefits overall well-being.

Gardening can also help keep you physically fit.

Studies have shown that gardening activities can help improve strength, flexibility, and balance.

Working in the garden can also help increase your heart rate, which can help you burn calories and improve your overall fitness level.

Additionally, gardens can help you get the recommended amount of daily physical activity, which can help you stay fit and healthy.

Finally, gardening can help you get the nutrients you need from fresh produce.

small orange fruit growing on plant

Growing your fruits and vegetables can help you get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy.

Eating fresh produce can also help reduce your risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

 

Gardening Replaces the Gym!

Is gardening good exercise? In short, Yes.

Gardening may generally be considered a passive pursuit for older generations, but mowing the lawn, digging, planting, and handling a wheelbarrow are all excellent ways to burn a few calories and keep your heart in good condition.

The American National Institutes of Health have suggested that 30-45 minutes of gardening three to five times per week in nature’s gym is as good as working out in a ‘proper’ gym.

Gardening Reduces Risks of Heart Attacks

There are a whole host of diseases and health risks that gardens can help lower.

Research has shown that getting just 30 minutes of gardening can help with heart attack recovery and prevent heart disease. 

Gardens are Good for Bone Health

Something else that getting into gardening can minimise is the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that leads to weaker bones.

Regularly using your hands, arms, and legs as you tend to your garden will give you a good workout and keep your bones stronger for longer. 

Your Garden Reconnects You to Nature

Suppose you’re living in a densely populated area or a social city. In that case, finding opportunities to connect with nature can be challenging.

Fortunately, gardening can be an effective form of horticultural therapy that allows you to create a natural space to surround yourself with grass, flowers, and earth.

Through horticultural therapy, gardening allows people to engage with nature and find peace in its beauty and elemental form.

It will enable individuals to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and create a peaceful sanctuary in their backyard.

Gardening can also provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment as you watch your plants grow and thrive under your care.

By incorporating the therapy as family medicine into your lives, you can find a renewed connection that links the natural world.

Gardening can be a powerful tool for reducing stress, improving mood, and promoting overall well-being.

So, if you’re looking to escape the concrete jungle and find a way to connect with nature, consider starting your garden today.

Gardening is Very Satisfying Work

Creating something from scratch by yourself or with family always feels good.

Millions of people and their families spend their spare time flexing their creative muscles through social activities, baking, knitting, and gardening.

Your garden is yours to design and bring to life.

Gardening can help grow many things, including senses of satisfaction, purpose, pride, and responsibility.

Not only are you taking a barren space and filling your gardens with colourful life, but you’re also responsible for the upkeep of that life.

Lean How to Be More Patient

If you’re looking to find ways to be more patient in life, gardening can be a great place to start.

When you grow a garden, you quickly realise it will only increase for a while.

However, this is part of the appeal, as it allows you to witness nature’s slow and steady progress.

In our fast-paced society, having your own garden space can be a valuable escape from the hustle and bustle of daily living.

It provides an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.

Additionally, watching your hard work come to fruition can be a priceless experience, as it teaches you the value of patience and persistence.

Through gardening, you can find peace and tranquillity that is often hard to come by in our busy lives. It allows you to connect with nature and enjoy simple things.

So, if you’re looking to find ways to be more patient, consider starting your garden and enjoying the many benefits it has to offer.

Good Source of Vitamin D

Getting out outdoors in Glasgow has one big natural benefit for our bodies: vitamin D.

We get it from the sun, and, as well as being another way to help prevent osteoporosis, it can help keep everything from our teeth to our immune system and lungs working well.

As vitamin D deficiency has been linked to sleep problems, getting it from doing some gardening can also assist in getting a good night’s rest.

It Benefits the Environment

Maintaining gardens can benefit your local environment despite being just one person on a planet of billions.

The more plants, shrubs, bushes, and trees you have, the cleaner the air around you.

Plants breathe in carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen, which can significantly reduce air pollution.

Gardens can also help maintain your local ecosystem, attracting and sustaining wildlife, from birds to earthworms.

Suppose you are concerned about the threat of honeybee extinction. In that case, planting a few pollen-and-nectar-rich plants in your garden can attract honeybees, helping them to survive.

This can be a simple yet effective way to support the local ecosystem and enhance the beauty of your garden.

If you live in a loud, built-up area filled with traffic noise, schools, and other noise pollution sources, gardens can help form a natural noise barrier.

Trees and bushes can significantly reduce noise levels, making your house quieter and more relaxed.

By maintaining gardens, you can help improve the local environment and positively impact the world around you 

Add Value to Your House

The benefits of having a good-looking garden teeming with life and colour are numerous, including increasing the overall value of your property.

money growing on a tree

Depending on where you live, a well-kept garden can add up to £2500 to your property’s value, providing a significant return on investment.

well-maintained garden can generally offer a three or fourfold return on your investment, making it a smart financial decision.

So, not only does having a beautiful garden provide aesthetic benefits, but it can also offer economic benefits.

Conclusion 

Wow, who knew that spending time outdoors  in your garden could have such incredible health benefits?

It’s amazing to think that by just getting your hands dirty and tending to your plants.

You could be lowering your risk of serious conditions—for example, heart disease and stroke. Gardening is truly the best workout for your body and to improve mental health.

Not only do you get to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while burning calories, but you also reap the stress-busting and mood-boosting rewards.

It’s like nature’s own little gym and therapy session in one!

So, next time you feel overwhelmed or need a pick-me-up, why not head to your garden with a rake?

Even if you only have a small patch of earth or a few pots on a balcony, you can still experience the joys and health perks of gardening.

Get those seeds planted, pull on your gloves, and let the magic of gardening work its wonders and have a positive impact.

Your heart will thank you, your mind will be clearer, and you’ll have a beautiful outdoor space to show for all your efforts.

Enjoy gardening, my green-thumbed friends! The secret to a healthier, happier you could be right there in your back garden.

So there you have ten surprisingly enormous physical and mental health benefits just from pottering around in your garden.