No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.
Contents showThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, Voltaire, George Bernard Shaw, and Francis Bacon had at least one thing in common, gardening. As local gardeners, these great men boosted about the positive benefits of cultivating a garden. Physicians and scholars throughout the ages shared their point of view in books and pamphlets. Today, science is backing those claims with data and case studies.
Garden maintenance is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, and the benefits are numerous. From dealing with stubborn weeds to trimming hedges, you will relax your mind while exercising your body. And in this article, we’re going to cover the basics of gardening and let you know about all the advantages of maintaining a garden.
With our gardening tips, you will become an expert gardener in no time!
Location, Location, Location
As a local gardener, you should make sure that your garden is set somewhere where you can enjoy it. The location is essential for the plants and it’s vital for you. If you place your garden somewhere where you can see it every day, the possibility of you forgetting about the fragile plants is little. Thus, you can adequately cultivate your vegetables.
An expert gardener takes pride and joy in his/her ability to grow and nurture plants. In fact, gardening or just looking at nature helps you relax and reduce stress levels. You can give yourself a cognitive rest while you’re planting, rooting, or trimming.
Furthermore, looking at the vegetables or flowers, you grew can keep you mindful and grounded. If you’re working in a fast-paced environment, gardening might be one of the most productive ways for you to unwind.
Everything revolves around the Sun
Garden maintenance takes you out in the sun. And as your plants need the sun to grow, so do you. As we said above, location is significant and that’s not only for the vista. You need to make sure your veggies are getting enough sun because of photosynthesis. Plants convert light energy into chemical energy, which fuels the plants’ growth. Without the sun, they will whiter and die.
On the other hand, humans need the sun because it triggers the production of Vitamin D in the body, which increases your calcium levels. Thus, benefiting your bones and strengthening your immune system. In 2014, an Italian study proved that sunlight stimulated the production of vitamin D in older adults and helped them achieve adequate levels.
Hence, gardening is one of the fun and productive ways for you to get more sun exposure. Just like your plants, you need the sun to stay healthy.
Water is Life
Even if you’re not an expert gardener, you know that plants can’t grow without water. This gives you a couple of different options:
- You can run a hose to your garden site
- You can set your garden next to a water source
- You can water your plants manually
No matter which option you choose, the important thing is you’re going to gardening, and your plants will get the water they need to survive. According to a 2006 study, gardening as an activity lowers the risk of dementia by 36 percent. The researches followed a group of 2,800 people older than 60 for 16 years before they came to this conclusion.
Consider the Soil
Soil is the basis of good gardening.
In fact, proper garden maintenance requires a nutrient-rich and well-drained soil that will provide the perfect environment for your plant’s growth. You can simply buy nutrient-rich soil, or you can DIY it, but take weight and texture into consideration as well.
All this planting and working with soil, it’s considered as a moderate-intensity exercise. And you already know how important exercise is for your overall health. Furthermore, you can burn up to 330 calories for one hour of gardening and yard work. Hence, when you’re working with soil, planting seeds, or replanting veggies, you are actually exercising, keeping your mind calm and enjoying the sun, all at the same time.
Mulch
Mulch is an essential ingredient for successful gardening because it reduces weeds; it blocks out the sun, which reduces moisture loss. When you’re done with the other important steps, you should consider finishing with mulch.
And finally, you can improve your healthy lifestyle by growing your own food. You’ll always have organic vegetables for your dinner table, and the satisfaction that you were the one that helped them grow. Tending a garden provides you and your family with a source of low-cost fresh food at all times.
Keep yourself happy, healthy, and relaxed by cultivating your garden. Become a part of the proud and productive local gardeners’ group!