6 Reasons Why Gardening Is Good for You

There’s something truly uplifting about spending time in the garden: the sound of birds singing, the scent of flowers, and the gentle buzz of bees going about their day. Studies have shown that time outdoors can boost your mood, strengthen your body, support your immune system and even help you live longer. In short, gardening might be one of ‌the healthiest hobbies you can have.

1. Positively improves your physical health

Caring for a garden is extremely rewarding, and it’s a surprisingly effective way to stay active, too.

If you’re wondering, “Is gardening exercise?”, then we have great news. Studies have shown that gardening encourages ‘non-exercise activity thermogenesis’ (NEAT) which promotes everyday physical activity that modern life (hello, office workers!) lacks. So, if you spend most of your time indoors, a bit of pottering about in the garden is a great way to get moving and help maintain a healthy weight.

Even light gardening tasks like planting, potting, or weeding can burn between 100 and 200 calories in just half an hour, depending on your weight. More physical jobs such as digging, filling wheelbarrows, or using power tools can burn between 150 and 300 calories - about the same as a run or a gym workout! Plus, you’ll be strengthening muscles, improving flexibility and supporting bone health at the same time.

Research also shows that spending time in gardens and green spaces is linked to lower rates of major health issues like heart disease and cancer, meaning gardening doesn’t just do wonders for your waistline, it’s great for your heart too.

2. A natural mood booster

So, gardening can help keep your body healthy, but it's also an amazing way to keep your mental health in tip-top shape, too. 

In today’s fast-paced world, in which many of us often suffer from sensory overload, gardening offers a calming retreat. Studies have found that spending time in green spaces and gardens can help reduce mental health symptoms across a range of disorders like anxiety, depression and stress. There’s also something deeply satisfying about nurturing plants and watching your garden grow. 

Across the UK, the NHS has been encouraging the use of green social prescribing, where people take part in nature-based activities like gardening to improve mental and physical wellbeing.

3. Better sleep

Are you struggling to switch off at night and get a good night’s sleep? Spending more time gardening, or even just being outdoors, could help. Exposure to natural light during the day - especially in the morning - signals your body to produce melatonin at night, which helps the body relax and settle into a state of sleep. The physical exertion and calming nature of gardening further aid relaxation, helping you wind down for a restful night.

4. Increases fruit and veg intake

The health benefits we’ve discussed so far around gardening can also work in tandem with increasing your fruit and veg intake.

In 2023, studies by Sheffield University found that people who grew their own fruit and vegetables ate 6.3 portions per day - 70% higher than the national average. Eating more fruit and veg, packed with vitamins, fibre, antioxidants, can lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, and contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. 

Growing your own also gives you full control over what you grow and how you grow it, meaning you can cut back or avoid pesticides altogether. Plus, homegrown veggies can help you save money in the long run. If you’ve got children, it’s also a fun and educational way to show them where their food really comes from.

If you’re not sure where to start with your vegetable patch, there are plenty of handy videos to guide you. Leafy herbs are a great place to start, as these take up little room and grow profusely.

5. Grows community spirit

As well as being a lovely solo pursuit, research has also shown that gardening builds a sense of community and helps individuals feel part of a collective effort.

Gardening in shared spaces or allotments can help to build relationships, reduce loneliness and encourage social support. It also encourages a neighbourly spirit; such as in this Glasgow tenement flat where neighbours bonded over neglected land.

6. Great for the planet

As well as being good for our own minds and bodies, gardening is also great for the planet. 

By planting flowers, shrubs and trees, you create an ecosystem for insects, bees, butterflies and birds. Gardens with diverse native plants can increase local pollinator populations by up to 30%, helping to counter declines seen in recent years. You can also do your part for the bees by adding a bee hotel or opting for a green living roof on your garden room as this provides a good forage source for bees. 

Creating wildlife-friendly features, such as hedgehog corridors or bird feeders, further supports local fauna, while avoiding chemical pesticides protects soil microbiomes and waterways. Even simple choices, like leaving a patch of lawn to grow wild or introducing a compost bin, can make an enormous difference for biodiversity. 

And don’t feel put off if you haven’t got acres of land. You can still do plenty with balcony pots, raised beds, window boxes or houseplants.

Enhance your garden with a garden room?

If you’d like to enjoy your garden all year round, have you thought about adding a garden room? With a beautiful garden and a garden room to relax in, you’ll have the perfect place to enjoy it, rain or shine.