Gardening was a popular hobby long before the pandemic and by the looks of it, this will still be the case long after COVID-19 becomes history.
1. Increase In The Popularity Of Gardening
COVID-19 propelled gardening to new heights as the pandemic's early stages coincided with spring, causing a planting frenzy unseen for generations.
The coronavirus set off a global gardening boom that’s been compared to the Victory Gardens of both World Wars during which American and British citizens grew food to to feed their families and support their soldiers. As this year’s pandemic caused temporary shortages of food locally, more people desired to have greater control over their food supply and gardening was the way to do it. However, this wasn't the only reason as people have turned to the soil in times of trouble throughout history. As COVID-19 brought on social distancing, gardening provided contact with something real. The smell of soil and flowers, the taste of herbs and the feel of warm sunshine on our skin provided stability and relief in an otherwise unreal world. Our gardens, even indoor ones, became our haven during these shaky and scary times.
2. Benefits of Gardening
Gardening is much more than a hobby or a fun pastime as it comes with many proven benefits. If you’re more of a practical person, just know that gardening can help you to lower your TXU Energy bill if you plant certain plants by the windows to protect your home from the sun and keep it cooler. But, the benefits from gardening go beyond money savings and understanding them is a great way to feel even better about what you’re doing and enjoy it even more.
It makes us feel better
In these anxious and stressful times, gardening can boost our mood while increasing our self-esteem levels. By lowering stress level, gardening can help lower our blood pressure and that translates to reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. It just feels great to accomplish new tasks as you have all these endless opportunities to learn new skills.
When you make time to go out and work in your garden, your anxiety levels can go down and you could start to feel less depressed. However, unlike eating chocolate, this effect is long-lasting and not fattening.
It strengthens our immune system
Our body is just as capable of photosynthesis as plants. Our skin absorbs vitamin D that helps strengthen our bones, boost our immune system while also lowering the risk of developing multiple sclerosis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Your immune system will also benefit from you eating fresh foods that you’ll grow in your garden. Moreover, by being worn out from all that work in the garden, you will both clear your head of negative thoughts and fall asleep faster. The immune system and the brain need quality sleep to detox and regenerate.
It helps us build up strength
Although it is not an aerobics class, it is still an exercise as you cut, dig, shovel and chop wood. Gardening requires you to make precise movements which helps you build your hand strength and dexterity which naturally occurs as we get older. The more you do garden, the more flexible and stronger you'll be.
It brings us mental clarity and protects our memory
Gardening improves our mindfulness and such an exercise can improve how our brains function because the brain is like a muscle- it needs exercise. Researchers also proved that gardening helps to protect our memory.
3. Spring Gardening Tips
Here are a few tips that will help you create a welcoming garden that's filled with picturesque colors and enchanting fragrances.
Fill gaps
Choose new plants such as perennials, trees, and shrubs for any parts of the garden that feel bare.
Prune shrubs
Remove dead, damaged, and diseased branches. Thin and trim summer-blooming shrubs such as butterfly bush. Although this applies to most roses, old-fashioned once bloomers are the exception. Make sure you prune cold-damaged wood after plants resume spring growth. You should also prune spring-blooming shrubs and trees after flowering.
Prepare new beds
Where one doesn’t exist, create one! Dig the soil, add oxygen and relieve compaction. Add amendments-like compost to jumpstart the creation of a rich and living soil. Clear the planting area as soon as the soil is workable by removing weeds and debris. Spread a 4-inch layer of compost and cultivate it to a depth of up to 12 inches with a spading fork. Make sure you rake it smooth before planting.
Be brave enough to plant from bare-root
Just make sure it’s a cool and cloudy day. As intimidating as it may sound to take care of a plant that is not in a soil filed container, this approach takes full advantage of the best planting time for many plants, such as fruit trees, roses and day lilies.
Add plant-containers
Containers are great when you are limited with space because you can control the environment, easily move the pots to adjust their sunlight needs and they make a beautiful outdoor décor. The best part is you can transplant them anytime except during the heat. Keep in mind that they need to be watered before and after they go in the ground.
When you don’t what to do – add a fresh layer of mulch
Wood chips, straw and even finished compos all give your garden a clean, tidied-up look while helping to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Takeaway
Gardening made history this spring but its benefits are old news. Through the pandemics and past wars, we've needed all the help we can get — and gardening always did the job beautifully as it was always there for us in a way no other hobby can match.
