7 Reasons to Invest Time and Money into Your Garden

Have you ever thought of your garden as an investment? With so many bills to pay, is it worthwhile to spend money on garden supplies and spend time caring for a garden? The answer is yes – and here are some reasons why:

1. Improve Your Health

Gardening provides regular exercise. Studies have also shown fresh air can improve your respiratory function. Gardening also lowers your blood pressure and boosts your immune system.

Gardening also relieves anxiety and depression. There’s something about the smell of soil and planting seeds that brings peace. Gardening also allows you to focus on the tasks of gardening, which provides stress relief.

2. Provide Special Spaces

Gardening helps you create unique spaces in your backyard. Planting bushes around your grill will set that area apart and add a festive air to your next barbecue. You could also create a secluded space for ‘me time’ or design a living wall near your children’s play area.

Gardening can also benefit your family. When gardening becomes a family project, it provides opportunities for family bonding. You can let each child tend a plot in the garden. Your children will gain skills and feel pride in the plants they grow in ‘their’ garden.

3. Discover New Hobbies

You can begin gardening with just a few tools. You’ll need a digging fork to make holes for seeds. For pruning, you’ll need a pair of shears. You’ll also need a spade and a rake. Plants need rich soil, so you’ll need good fertilizer. Your gardening store can suggest the best product for your garden. Since you’ll need to water the plants, you’ll be glad to know a quality garden hose should last five to 10 years. To protect your hands, buy a pair of garden gloves. You should also shield your eyes from sun with a brimmed hat. Cover yourself with an apron to protect your clothes.

4. Learn More Each Year

With your first garden, you might choose simple plants and use basic techniques. However, as you gain experience and talk to other gardeners, you’ll discover new plants and gardening tips to produce more elaborate plant spaces. Asking for suggestions also improves your communication with neighbors.

There are many garden tips to learn from magazine articles. For example, the Old Farmer’s Almanac advises you should prune plants while they’re dormant. Pruning at that time will allow you to spring back more quickly, producing a better garden next year.

5. Enjoy the Earth

If you’re cultivating the earth to plant seeds, it improves the environment in that area. That improvement helps you fight climate change and provides a sustainable spot for birds and insects. If your garden includes a retaining wall, this helps prevent soil erosion.

6. Reap Delicious Produce

One benefit of gardening is delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. Experienced gardeners say the taste of produce grown in their gardens is better than other vegetables. Many gardeners decide to grow herbs to enhance the flavor of their meals.

Dining on the harvest from your garden will save money on groceries. In addition, by enjoying delicious meals from your garden, you won’t need to call a food delivery service. Reports have shown almost half of Americans used Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, or Uber Eats during 2020, but eating fresh produce can eliminate those expenses.

7. Boost Your Home

Studies show a well-tended garden can increase your property value by up to 20%. Most prospective homebuyers appreciate seeing a garden when looking for a home. You’ll work hard to tend your garden, but those efforts will pay off when you want to sell your home.

A garden brings a bright spot to your yard and a wealth of experience for your family. Investing time and money creates lasting memories and beautiful results. Once you experience your first garden, you’ll find a lifelong hobby that will reap lifelong rewards.