The many Benefits of Gardening

Garden Therapy

” We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.”

– Jenny Uglow –

Welcome to February – the month of love and loving!  Take a moment to also look inward and nurture your physical and mental well-being.  And what better way to achieve this than through the therapeutic joys of gardening?

The most immediate benefit from tending the garden is on a physical level.  Digging, bending, lifting, picking up, planting, pruning and mowing engages a wide range of muscles and burn a lot of energy.  Gardening is a perfect form of exercise – it’s out in the sunshine and fresh air; you can do it at your convenience and for as long as you allow yourself to. It requires no expensive gym membership or trendy outfit (though dressing up or not at all is always an option!) and age or fitness level plays no role. 

If you’re a calorie counter, you can burn more than 400 calories per hour, depending on your activity – digging can burn up 200 calories per half hour, planting a tree around 180 calories and the simple act of watering the garden will earn you a well-deserved cappuccino!  So, not only will you build a strong, healthy body, but you will manage your weight while growing a beautiful garden.

Gardening has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve cardiac health, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. 

By working outside you expose your skin to the sun (always with proper protection), our main and best source of vitamin D, which is vital for strong bone formation.

Interestingly, the fresh smell of recently turned garden soil can boost your immune system.  Soil contains beneficial bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae, which we absorb through inhalation.  These microbes have been found to help with respiratory issues such as asthma and allergies.

Gardening also enhances fine motor skills. Digging and planting activities build the muscles of the hands and improve hand dexterity and grip strength – this might seem trivial, but it does become important as we age.

Additionally, using complex muscles and hand-eye coordination as well as the planning and forward thinking involved in planting and laying out a garden is stimulating and boosts our brain health.   

A DEEPER HEALING

The deeper benefits of gardening reveal themselves in its impact on our mental and emotional well-being.

The earthy scent of fresh soil, the feeling of the warm sun on our skins and the physical effort and exercise of gardening help reduce cortisol levels – the dreaded stress hormone – while boosting the secretion of serotonin – the “feel-good” hormone.  This leads to improved mood, reduced anxiety, and better overall mental health.  Gardening has also been found to have a positive effect on depression and insomnia. 

Planting a seed or plant, caring for it and tending to its every need, and seeing it grow and thrive, instills a feeling of responsibility, pride and accomplishment. Ultimately harvesting the fruits of your labor, whether flowers, herbs or vegetables, boosts the self-esteem and brings immense satisfaction.

The sight of a familiar flower or the smell of a shrub as you brush against it, can evoke fond memories of treasured moments shared with a family member or friend, triggering a comforting sense of nostalgia – that warm fuzzy feeling all over again! 

Gardening is a wonderful family activity, offering an opportunity for bonding across generations. All members of the family can participate in planting flowers, growing vegetables or simply digging and spending time together in and with nature to create a space to play and visit in.   

Gardening keeps us focused and in-the-moment – this helps to bring our scattered thoughts back in line. For a while we forget the hustle and bustle and demands of the world outside.  Tasks like pruning and weeding, similar to packing and clearing cupboards, can be surprisingly therapeutic and liberating as we remove the old to make space for new and fresh growth in our lives. 

We also have to exercise patience when gardening since Nature’s pace is set, and it cannot be rushed. The rewards of our hard work are great, but not instant.  This is a valuable lesson in a world of instant gratification.

There are so many great reasons to go gardening – whether you garden in a sprawling yard or in your little townhouse haven, on your balcony or the windowsill of your pad. Just garden wherever you can place a pot or create a bed to dig your hands in and lose yourself a little. 

Dig in, reach for green and go gardening – it might be addictive, but it won’t harm your health!