Caring for plants yields more than beautiful flowers and tasty produce. As they plan, dig, prune and harvest, gardeners are cultivating better physical and mental health. It’s good news that interest in gardening surged during the pandemic. That trend may continue to bloom and bear fruit.
Nature Therapy
Ever experience a stir of pleasant, calming feelings when looking at a garden or pretty view? There’s a reason for that. Countless studies have linked exposure to nature with compelling physical and mental health benefits. Reduction in inflammation and anxiety, a strengthened immune system, an increase in productivity, and even greater creativity are among the benefits.
Digging, hauling, weeding and harvesting provide a full body, functional workout. Associated benefits include increasing body strength, improving heart health and the immune system, reducing stress and sleeping better. Digging around in healthy dirt releases microbes that, when inhaled, can stimulate serotonin production.
The very act of caring for another creature can give a person a sense of purpose. Nurturing a plant from seedling to a mature specimen is a process filled with a series of small tasks that occupy the mind and set an achievable goal. Numerous studies have connected gardening to improved life satisfaction and mood.
Gardening in All Sizes
There are gorgeous, mind-blowing botanical retreats and gardens capable of outfitting a restaurant or florist with their bounty. That’s the extreme. For regular people, gardening can be as simple as a few houseplants or containers on the outdoor patio.
For tiny garden boxes, balconies and patios, experts recommend using trellises and plants that drape or climb. With this strategy, a gardener can increase the amount of foliage per square foot in the small area. Aim to attract pollinators if you want to grow edible plants.
Planting It Forward
Growing plants that produce a tasty bite is a great way to get children involved and interested in gardening. Hanging strawberry plants can be grown in tight spaces. For those with a bit more space, raspberries and blueberries make good options.
Harvesting those treats can give children a tangible and delicious reward for their efforts. Beyond providing natural treats, gardening gives youths and adults an activity that brings them together. It also pulls people off their screens while proving that fun can be had outside.
Gardening also helps children channel energy. Similar to adults, the physical act of gardening and the mental act of thinking about caring for another living organism can give children a greater sense of purpose and pride.
Staying Grounded
For all its benefits, it can be discouraging when a garden is overrun by weeds and a person does not really understand how to manage the challenge. For natural weed control, mixing veggies with perennials to crowd out weeds — such as planting purple coneflowers and daisies with tomato plants and several pepper plants — can help.
More important, it’s essential that a person start small and realistically consider how much time they have to dedicate to their garden in order to ensure success.
