Gardening … A Labor of Love for Mental Health
There’s something about one’s hand in the dirt that heightens the senses, relaxes the mind, reduces stress, and boosts the immune system.
The health benefits –– both mental and physical –– of gardening have been well documented. In January 2023, the University of Colorado-Boulder found that “those who started gardening ate more fiber and got more physical activity — two known ways to reduce risk of cancer and chronic diseases. They also saw their levels of stress and anxiety significantly decrease.”
Here are five ways the love of gardening bolsters mental and physical health.
Exercise
Carrying bags of mulch or potting mix, digging, raking, bending over to plant or harvest, weeding, and watering all take motions. Physical exercise is known to have a positive impact on mental health.
Hefting heavy loads builds muscles. Gardening also improves balance, strength, flexibility, and stamina. Even mowing the lawn has health benefits. Gardening tasks burn calories.
Gardening can be a group effort and exercise, too. Set up a group of gardeners who can meet and work together in each other’s gardens, a community or neighborhood garden, or a public garden or park in your town.
Spend time in nature
Whether working in the garden or sitting and enjoying the view, you’ll lighten your mood, breathe in fresh air, relax muscles, de-stress, and reduce your blood pressure. The outdoor environment increases exposure to Vitamin D and boosts the body’s auto-immune response.
Improve your diet
Growing your own vegetables and fruits improves access to fresh produce and encourages people to eat what they grow. Tomatoes, for instance, contain antioxidants, which boost the immune system. Peppers help fight inflammation. Broccoli protects against damage to your body’s cells.
Don’t have space in your backyard for a garden? Many vegetables can be grown in pots on patios, balconies, or decks. Look for plants labeled for containers or dwarf varieties.
Feeling of accomplishment
The feeling of success or accomplishment is easy to come by when growing a plant or two in the garden or in a container. Whether sowing a seed or planting a transplant, there’s a wonderful feeling of success as you watch it grow. There’s even more pleasure when you harvest the tomato or sprig of basil to enjoy at dinner.
Feel-good flowers
Even if you don’t want to grow vegetables or fruits, nurture a few flowers. Sunflowers, daffodils, zinnias, and peonies can be appreciated outdoors or cut for indoor enjoyment. Select plants that attract and support pollinators for an even more rewarding experience with nature.
Social interactions
Gardeners are known for sharing their produce or flowers with family, neighbors, and friends. Working in a community or neighborhood garden puts you with other gardeners for conversations, sharing successes (and failures) of gardening, family news, and more.
Now that you know the many benefits of gardening, what are you waiting for? Start small and gradually grow your garden as you get more comfortable. Dig in the dirt, get some Vitamin D, and move your muscles. Then, later, you can adorn your dining table with a bouquet of flowers from your garden while you eat your fresh tomato basil salad. What could be better!
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp is an award-winning garden writer, editor, and speaker. Known as a hortiholic, she frequently says her eyes are too big for her yard. She blogs at hoosiergardener.com.