hobby essay on gardening

Gardening As A Hobby – A Detailed Guide

Gardening is a fun and relaxing hobby that get you out in nature, provides exercise and even provides food for local insects and stimulates your brain. Keep reading to learn more about choosing gardening as a hobby.

People look forward to gardening since it’s a rewarding hobby. Anyone who loves to be in nature can benefit from this hobby. You get to raise plants from seeds and enjoy the fruits of your labor after the harvest. 

You may spend a couple of hours a day taking care of the plants depending on the size of your garden. If you are wondering how gardening can be a rewarding hobby, you have come to the right place. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how you can benefit by choosing gardening as a hobby.

What Is Gardening?

Gardening is the practice of growing plants and flowers as a part of horticulture. Plants are usually grown for ornamental and consumption purposes. Gardening can range in scale from small fruit orchards and ornamental flowers to long boulevard plantings, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. 

There are different types of gardening projects, such as residential and commercial projects. They are also categorized as indoor gardening, native plant gardening, container gardening, water plant gardening, garden sharing, organic gardening, biodynamic gardening, and more.

Can Gardening Be A Hobby?

YES. Gardening could be a fun and relaxing way to be in touch with nature. It also has plenty of health benefits both to the mind and body. The best thing about choosing gardening as a hobby is that it can be enjoyed by people of all age groups.

Gardening is a very pleasant and rewarding hobby. Some people choose gardening as a hobby because they love nature’s scenic beauty. Plants and trees are essential components of human life. You can opt to grow different types of plants, trees, shrubs, and bushes where flowers blossom when you choose gardening as a hobby.

What Types Of People Like Gardening?

Gardening is loved by different types of people including:

• People who love to be in nature
• People who love growing and nurturing plants including flowers, fruits, and vegetables
• People who want to work out while performing their favorite hobby
• People who want to express their creative side through various gardening projects
• People who want to meet like-minded people by joining gardening hobby groups

The Benefits – Why Is Gardening A Great Hobby? 

There are many benefits of choosing gardening as a hobby. Here are some of the most important benefits of choosing gardening as a hobby:

Plants Clean The Air

You already know that trees filter CO2 out of the air. Plants exchange CO2 for oxygen. In fact, they absorb CO2 and exchange it for fresh oxygen, which is essential for human life. Even smaller plants help clean the atmosphere a little bit at a time. That is why you need to choose gardening as a hobby, even if it means growing smaller plants in your backyard.

You Get A Better Heart

The latest studies show that gardening could improve your heart health. In fact, gardening is a moderate-intensity exercise that helps reduce your risk of heart attack by at least 30%. Gardening is a great hobby for older people who cannot jog on a treadmill or access a gym.

Stress Relief

Many people have reported that they felt better after taking care of their gardens for the day. In fact, physical activity and working outdoors are great for both your mind and body. It helps relieve stress and calm your mind.

As per a recent Dutch study , gardening was found to be a great stress-relieving activity, even better than reading. The gardeners experienced lower cortisol levels, which is the primary hormone related to stress. 

Improved Self-Esteem

Anyone who has nurtured a successful garden knows how it feels when they harvest crops or see the flowers bloom. These people have reported feeling good about themselves and more confident about their gardening skills. Introducing new plants to your garden to challenge your skills is a great way to experience even more self-esteem and confidence over time.

Reduce The Carbon Footprint

Gardening helps the planet in more than one way. Gardening also helps reduce your carbon footprint since plants absorb CO2 and release oxygen. On the other hand, when you consume fruits and veggies from your own backyard, you spend less money on pre-packaged foods. It also reduces toxins released from vehicles transporting food to your home from the grocery. 

You Are Helping Local Wildlife

Native plants play an important role in propagating the animal and human species by providing food. For example, gardens encourage bees to pollinate local plants and improve the atmosphere for local wildlife.

A good garden will also provide shelter for small insects from the summer sun and predators. On the other hand, when you grow more native plants in your garden, you are promoting the overall well-being of your local environment.

Gardens Help Stimulate Your Brain

Your brain is able to adapt to your gardening habits more than you expect. For example, people who garden regularly experience a decreased risk of dementia . That is because gardening requires people to regularly practice skills like dexterity, strength, and problem-solving. These skills help avoid brain diseases & delay their progression.

Are There Drawbacks To Choosing Gardening As A Hobby?

Yes, there are a few drawbacks to gardening when choosing a hobby . Some of these disadvantages include:

• Gardening takes a lot of time and energy.
• If you don’t know what you are doing, gardening is a good way to waste both your time and money.
• Did you know that gardening can get you in trouble with the law at times? Yes, some municipal authorities ban front or backyard vegetable gardens when neighbors complain. 
• You can easily contract a serious infection if you garden without protective equipment. Gardening exposes you to dirt, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens in the soil. Digging in the dirt without protective equipment can expose you to conditions like Legionnaires disease, fungal infections, and tetanus.
• Gardening hurts and can injure you if you don’t follow the required safety measures.
• Gardening is not cheap. You should spend money on plants, gardening equipment, soil amendments, and fertilizer.

How to Start Gardening As A Hobby?

There are a few things you need to do to get started with gardening. First, you should decide what you are going to grow. Then, choose the ideal gardening location to grow your plants. Test the soil and purchase the necessary gardening tools. Make the garden beds and plant the seeds with care.

Equipment Needed 

• Pruning shears
• Watering can and hose
• Garden rake
• Kneeling pads
• Gardening gloves
• Wheelbarrow
• Hand-held weeder

Start-Up & Ongoing Costs

Gardening is not an expensive hobby. You should be innovative with your gardening techniques to keep costs low. Even though getting started will cost you some money, growing fruits and veggies in your hobby garden can help save money or even earn profits in the long run.

In order to calculate the actual cost of starting a garden and maintaining it throughout the year, you need to add together the following factors:

• The cost of plants or seeds
• The cost of providing nutrient-rich soil (dirt, worms, and fertilizer)
• The cost of protecting and structuring the plants (Such as cages, coverings, and fences)
• The cost involved in watering the plants
• The cost of garden tools & accessories

Can You Make Money From Gardening?

Yes. Even though bringing in a full-time income from gardening can be a bit tricky, making a side income from your garden is easier than you’d think. 

Read our full guide to making money with a gardening hobby for more details .

Similar Hobbies To Gardening

• Woodworking

Alternative Hobbies To Gardening

If you love gardening, you may also love these alternative hobbies:

• Collecting items for recycling
• Joining an environmental activist group
• Cleaning up beaches
• Vegan cooking

Where To Learn More?

There are different places where you can learn about Gardening, including online resources such as websites, blogs, YouTube videos, and online classes.

There are also various books that teach you the basics of gardening. Finally, local gardening centers may also be able to provide information about home gardening.

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