The serenity and peacefulness of being surrounded by flowers, trees, and shrubs contribute to improving physical, mental, and spiritual health. Being in the gardens provides an opportunity to focus on beauty as it inspires us to experience feelings of calmness, gratitude, and stress relief. When you enter a garden, your mind and body relax as you step away from the daily routine and welcome an escape from the news and other stressors that infiltrate our lives.

In the garden, you breathe in fresh air and are exposed to sunlight. Getting regular and safe exposure to sunlight a few times a week is important in providing your body with a sufficient amount of vitamin D which plays a vital role in warding off diseases. Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium, which can strengthen your bones and help prevent osteoporosis. Walking, lifting, twisting, and using gardening tools while gardening gives an individual an aerobic workout. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 330 calories can be burned during just one hour of light gardening and yard work.

There are several mental health benefits to gardening. Gardening increases levels of serotonin and dopamine (hormones that make us feel good) and the level of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) is lowered. The sound of birds, the smell of flowers, or simply unplugging from technology is a perfect way to unwind and relax. A session in the garden can aid in lowering blood pressure, reducing muscle tension, and be an aid in improved sleep.

The American Psychological Association reports that gardening can help manage ecological anxiety. Eco-anxiety is an emotional response to climate change and other environmental issues. For many people, watching the gradual, unchecked effects of climate change is increasing daily stress levels and creating a burdensome sense of guilt. To combat the negative health effects of eco-anxiety, one can garden with the goal of mitigating climate change. The National Wildlife Foundation recommends several actions to cut carbon, and in doing so, lessen environmental anxiety. Consider using manual tools instead of gas-powered ones; use drip lines, rain barrels, and mulch to decrease water consumption; compost to reduce waste and decrease methane production; turn your property into a Certified Wildlife Habitat; and plant trees to absorb carbon dioxide.

When growing fruits and vegetables, the entire family can benefit by increasing the intake of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that can help fight diseases. Vegetables that ripen in the garden have more nutrients than some store-bought vegetables that must be harvested early. Another important factor is that the gardener can control the use of fertilizers and pesticides that come in contact with your food. A garden is a cost-efficient way to grow fruits and vegetables and also preserve them for the winter months.

Gardening provides social interaction with others. While working in your gardens, you are likely to see your neighbors or other passersby and have a chance to interact. Becoming a Penn State Master Gardener or joining a community garden club provides an opportunity to make new friends and learn about horticulture. These organizations stimulate interaction and education. The act of gardening, whether on a small scale or a larger scale, requires a multi-step thinking process. Senior gardeners are given the opportunity to practice cognitive skills such as planning, judgment skills, and critical thinking. Having the chance to use these cognitive skills on a regular basis through gardening can be therapeutic for aging adults.

Exposure to nature and wildlife increases a person’s compassion for one another as it increases appreciation for the environment in which we live. Being around plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees can help to improve relationships between people and increase their concern and empathy toward others. In a world of instant gratification, gardening forces us to be patient and accepting because we must depend on nature, which is largely out of our control. We are forced to accept whatever nature sends our way and accept the outcome.

Gardening improves the quality of a person’s life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, encourages social interaction, produces nutritious food, enhances cognitive skills, reduces anxiety, and creates opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education.

"Look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better"
~ Albert Einstein