{"id":194012,"date":"2025-09-02T11:46:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T11:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/194012\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T11:46:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T11:46:15","slug":"gardening-has-hidden-benefits-can-bolster-mental-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/194012\/","title":{"rendered":"Gardening has hidden benefits, can bolster mental wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you spend any time gardening, you probably understand what I mean when I say it feels good \u2014 despite the lifting, sweating and straining involved. Yes, exercise is good for our bodies, but there\u2019s something about digging in the dirt while listening to a bird soundtrack that lifts my spirits. Even the scent of the soil and mulch makes me happy.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, there are scientific reasons<\/a> for this.<\/p>\n

In fact, there\u2019s an entire field called horticultural therapy that\u2019s dedicated to using \u201cplant-based and garden-based activities to support people who have identified treatment needs,\u201d according to Karen Haney, a horticultural therapy instructor at UCLA Extension in Long Beach, California.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch suggests 20-30 minutes (of gardening) a few times a week can reduce stress and lift mood, with benefits increasing the more regularly one gardens,\u201d says Sarah Thompson, a professionally registered horticultural therapist in Boise, Idaho.<\/p>\n

\"ThisThis Aug. 21, 2025, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows a woman gardening on Long Island, N.Y. (Jessica Damiano via AP)
\nIt\u2019s not just about being outdoors<\/p>\n

Yes, the simple act of being in nature can improve mood and restore focus, she said, but \u201cthe active engagement of nurturing plants, making decisions and seeing results over time adds a unique layer of meaning and satisfaction that passive time outdoors does not.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, Thompson said gardening has been shown to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and fosters a sense of calm, purpose and accomplishment.<\/p>\n

A recent study<\/a> at the University of Colorado-Boulder backs this up.<\/p>\n

The researchers there provided one group of participants with an instructional gardening class, seeds, starter plants and a community gardening plot. They had a second group refrain from gardening for two years.<\/p>\n

The gardening cohorts reported stronger social connections, lower stress levels and about a 7% increase in fiber intake, which have been shown to reduce risk factors for some physical and mental illnesses, including depression, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cancer. They also reported a 42-minute weekly increase in physical activity, which the non-gardeners did not.<\/p>\n

A mindful, rewarding and versatile activity<\/p>\n

Previous studies have arrived at similar findings. In 2020, for instance, researchers at the University of Exeter and the Royal Horticultural Society in the U.K. found the health and well-being of gardeners over non-gardeners<\/a> to be similar to that of residents of wealthy communities over those who live in poorer areas.<\/p>\n

In addition to encouraging mindfulness, grounding people in the present moment and providing a sense of achievement, Thompson said, \u201cresearch has also shown that exposure to sunlight can boost serotonin levels, while contact with soil introduces beneficial microbes linked to mood enhancement.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, it seems you just can\u2019t go wrong with gardening.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysically, gardening improves strength, flexibility and balance. Socially, it can foster connection. Cognitively, it engages problem solving and creativity,\u201d Thompson said, adding that it\u2019s a highly adaptable activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cGardening can be scaled to any space, ability or age, and its benefits are accessible to everyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Deep down, we gardeners have always believed this. Now, we have the science to prove it.<\/p>\n

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here<\/a> for weekly gardening tips and advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press If you spend any time gardening, you probably understand what I mean when…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":194013,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[9449,108246,210,517,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-194012","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-gardening","9":"tag-gardening-health-benefits","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-mental-health","12":"tag-united-states","13":"tag-unitedstates","14":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/194013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}