Why Gardening is good for mental health?

Nature has long been known for its relaxing qualities, as a place for humans to find tranquility and healing. Gardening in particular is associated with mental clarity and feelings of reward, and it has many physical benefits as well. Food gardening can particularly be gratifying and an excellent source of fresh produce. From soil preparation to the joy of harvesting, there is always a task, big or small, during the growing season! If you have ever spent a summer gardening, you know that these tasks can serve as great exercise. With many community leaders in Michigan, such as Michigan State University Extension, working to promote private gardens as well as urban agriculture opportunities such as community gardens, there has never been a better time to use gardening for exercise. But just how beneficial to your health is this age-old agricultural tradition?

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate-intensity level activity for 2.5 hours each week can reduce the risk for obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer and premature death. The CDC considers gardening a moderate-intensity level activity, and can help you to achieve that 2.5 hour goal each week. Additionally, those that choose gardening as their moderate-intensity exercise are more likely to exercise 40-50 minutes longer on average than those that choose activities like walking or biking. By venturing outdoors to various community garden spaces around Michigan, you not only assist in keeping their community vibrant, but become healthier in the process. For example:
• “A ten percent increase in nearby green space was found to decrease a person’s health complaints in an amount equivalent to a five year reduction in that person’s age” according to the Gardening Matters nonprofit of Minneapolis’ page, “Multiple Benefits of Community Gardens.”
• Exercising both the arms and legs is recommended to help prevent illnesses like coronary disease. With most everyday activities only involving the arms, gardening is a great way to incorporate the entire body while exercising.
• According to the journal Biological Psychiatry, some experts even say the fresh air can help prevent Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and result in higher test scores among students.

Gardening has also emerged in recent years as a scientifically proven stress reliever. Stress can cause irritability, headaches, stomach aches, heart attacks and worsen pre-existing conditions in the body. An experiment published in the Journal of Health Psychology compared gardening to reading as a stress-relieving activity; test subjects that gardened experienced a more significant decrease in stress when compared to the subjects that were assigned to read.

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In addition to health benefits, gardens are also known to increase property values and save money when grocery shopping. With so many options and resources for both community and personal garden development available in Michigan there is no reason not to enjoy the outdoors this season by growing a vibrant, beneficial garden and getting your exercise in the process!

“That’s all very well put,” says Candide, in the final line of Voltaire’s novel of the same name, “but we must go and work our garden.”
I studied this text at high school before I became a gardener and professional horticulturist. We were taught that Candide’s gardening imperative was metaphorical not literal; a command for finding an authentic vocation, not a call to take up trowels and secateurs.
In fact, Voltaire himself really believed that active gardening was a great way to stay sane, healthy and free from stress. That was 300 years ago.

As it turns out, the science suggests he was right.

The science of therapeutic horticulture
Gardens and landscapes have long been designed as sanctuaries and retreats from the stresses of life – from great urban green spaces such as Central Park in New York to the humblest suburban backyard. But beyond the passive enjoyment of a garden or of being in nature more generally, researchers have also studied the role of actively caring for plants as a therapeutic and educational tool.

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“Therapeutic horticulture” and “horticultural therapy” have become recognised treatments for stress and depression, which have served as a healing aid in settings ranging from prisons and mental health treatment facilities to schools and hospitals.

Having a gorgeous garden that you’ve worked hard on is very rewarding. Every day you can look out of your window or sit outside and enjoy the fruits of your labour. The sights, smells and sounds of a thriving garden are pretty hard to beat.

On the other hand, gardening can be frustrating when things start to go wrong. While your plants can’t exactly speak to you, most of them give off warning signs that they’re unhappy. Familiarize yourself with some of these common gardening problems and find out how to fix them!

Choose Plants According to Your Hardiness Zone
Have you struggled and struggled with a perennial, biennial or annual, only to have no luck despite giving the plant everything it needs? You might not be in the right hardiness zone. Hardiness zones are divided geographically depending on climate, and each zone works best for certain plants depending on the average high and low temperatures and amount of rainfall. Make sure you know which hardiness zone you’re located in, then read the labels on plants before you buy them to make sure they’ll thrive in your zone.

Overwatering Your Plants

Every plant has different water requirements, and sometimes it can be difficult to find a balance between too much and too little. If you’re noticing that your plants have stopped growing, and leaves are turning yellow, brown or wilting, this may be a sign of overwatering. If you have mold on the top of your soil, this is a telltale sign. Always make sure you read the instructions for your plants carefully, and pay attention to the amount of rainfall.

Under-Watering Your Plants

Under-watered plants often exhibit curled, burnt and brittle leaves, and can begin to turn yellow or brown. While the symptoms are similar to overwatering, it’s much easier to tell if your plants aren’t getting enough water. Check the soil for cracks and dryness, and consider setting up an irrigation system if you can’t water your plants more often yourself. If you have a garden bed located in the sun that is constantly dry, top it with mulch to help keep the roots and soil moist for longer periods.

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Plants Are Taking Over

Plants need their own space, but sometimes an invasive species will take over and begin to choke out the other plants. Invasive species are those that aren’t native to the area, and they can do a lot of damage to native species. Try to plant more native species in your garden beds, and if you really like certain invasive species, keep them in containers so they don’t impact your other plants.

Garden Beds Are Over- or Under-Fertilized

Just like they need water and sunlight, your plants also need fertilizer. But like water, there is such a thing as too much or too little. Too much fertilizer has similar effects as too much water, including wilting, and other symptoms including burnt-looking leaves. Severely fertilizer-burned plants will never recover, but if you catch it early enough, you can try dowsing the area with water to push the fertilizer further down into the soil. Under-fertilized plants, on the other hand, will be weak or produce fewer flowers than they should. Try using natural or organic fertilizers and composts.

Too Much Mulch

Mulch is an excellent way to keep your garden beds moist, warm and will also help to keep your plants’ roots out of the sun. But too much mulch can get in the way of your plants’ ability to get the water and sunlight that they need. If you’re watering your plants often but they still aren’t getting the water they need, check the depth of your mulch. Mulch should always be layered one to two inches thick for vegetables and flower beds, while shrubs and trees can take up to four inches.