There are many wonderful benefits of gardening.

What are the benefits of gardening? Why should we start a garden?

Gardening is a great God gift. It refreshes our minds to get away from the cares of the world. Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine is healthy, plus we get some exercise. It gives us a sense of fulfillment and joy.

That's not even mentioning the delicious fruits and vegetables for our dinner table.

What about the lovely flowers, the birds, the bees, the butterflies and other wildlife that come to visit our garden? There are so many beauties and wonders of nature.

The sense of fulfillment and the fruits of our labors all add to our joy of gardening.

There are many wonderful benefits of gardening for the whole family.

Everyone enjoys the garden. Image by liggraphy

let's explore the benefits of gardening

A beautiful garden will increase the value of our property.
Gardening relieves stress, refreshes our mind and is healthy.
Garden flowers are a wonderful joy of gardening.
A garden invites butterflies, hummingbirds and other wildlife.
Growing fruit and vegetables puts food on the table.
Gardens can save us money and stock our larder.

gardening increases our property value

We have all heard of curb appeal. An attractive yard is pleasing to people.

Some real estate people say a well landscaped property (garden) can increase the home's value by as much as twenty percent.

Not only that, the landscape will grow and mature. A well maintained yard does not decrease in value. The trees get larger, the flowers flourish and it only gets better.

gardening relieves stress

Getting out into nature is refreshing. We can leave the cares of the world behind. It gives us clarity of mind.

The world looks different when we take time to enjoy the birds and butterflies. The world seems to slow down, when we take time admire the beauty of our flowers and enjoy their sweet fragrances.

Gardening makes us feel good. It lifts our spirits.

When we are gardening and inhale the scent of the soil, we breathe in Mycobacterium vaccae.

This friendly soil bacteria increases the level of serotonin in our body. It fights stress and depression. It lifts us up and makes us feel good.

Gardening is great for the entire family.

Gardening is good for both adults and children.

Fresh air is good for our lungs and our whole body. Sunshine on our skin produces vitamin D that helps build our bones and boost our immune system.

Scientists now say that vitamin D has a huge effect on increasing our immunity. Gardening helps us stay healthy.

The gift of gardening is great for the children.

Share the joys of gardening with the children.
Image by dandelion_tea

Some experts say fresh air can help prevent Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and result in better grades for students.

Studies have shown that children exposed to soil early on have reduced allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Children like to play in dirt for a reason. So why not share the benefits of gardening with them?

what can we grow in our gardens?

We have the options of choosing different plants for our gardens.

Trees probably add more enjoyment and value to our property than any other plants.

If we live in town, we should check with the city before planting a tree on our property. They may have restrictions on certain trees. They should be able to recommend what trees would be suitable for the size of your property.

Also, check before removing any mature trees from your property. Heritage trees are protected and may only be removed for certain reasons and with previous permission.

Shrubs are the next largest plants in our landscape.

It's good to plant shrubs around the foundation of the house. They look good and will give some protection to the house from sun and strong winds.

Inquire about the mature height and width of a shrub. We don't want to have to prune it from in front of the windows every year.

Plant shrubs away from the house, half the distance of their mature spread. So if the shrub will be 6' wide in maturity, plant it 3' away from the side of the house.

Flowers are a special joy of gardening. They are my favorites.

Look around your area to see what flowers seem to grow well. We may choose perennial flowers that come back every year. Or we may want to plant annual flowers each year.

Our best bet is to select easy to grow flowers.

No matter is we choose annual or perennial flowers, make sure they grow in our area. Unfortunately, we sometimes see plants for sale that look good, but they are not suited for our growing zone.

We may plant fruit and vegetables for our family to enjoy.

It used to be to prepare the vegetable garden, I would turn the earth with a shovel. Then for years a rototiller got a workout every gardening season.

Nowadays, I have graduated to growing vegetables in containers. Vegetable are easy to water, weed and fertilize. I even have a fig tree in a container.

enjoy the wildlife in our gardens

One reason garden flowers are so popular is because they attract butterflies and birds.

Butterflies like flowers where they land to comfortably feast on the pollen.

Hummingbirds enjoy the flowers rich in nectar. The long, thin bills allow them access to nectar deep in the flowers.

Will other wildlife come to our gardens?

Our trees and shrubs provide cover and food for more birds and wildlife. They enjoy berries and places to build their nests.

Water is a great way to attract additional wildlife to our gardens.

gardening gives us a sense of fulfillment

Gardening lifts our spirits and gives us a sense of accomplishment.

We don't have to have a green thumb. Anyone can learn the basics of gardening and have the fulfillment and joy of gardening.

It makes us feel good to see a fresh mowed lawn or a newly pruned hedge.

It fills our heart with joy when we see hummingbirds and butterflies coming to the flowers we have planted and nurtured.

Learning new things and putting them to practice in our garden is great for our self-esteem.

enjoy the many benefits of gardening

We may pick an apple or a fresh tomato from our garden.
We can share some fresh flowers with a shut-in neighbor.
We can cook a family dinner with pesticide-free fruit and vegetables from our garden.
We may photograph the wildlife that visit our garden.
We enjoy the benefits of gardening with a healthier body, a clear mind and a refreshed spirit.