Home gardening has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals and families have grown trees, shrubs, flowers, and even vegetation in their backyards. A few others have tried indoor planting and set up hydroponic systems (growing plants without soil).
There are some practical reasons many households have turned to this amidst the global health crisis. As they have got stuck at home, they have seen this as the best pastime. Others have thought about improving their personal outdoor spaces. Still, there’s more to home gardening than meets the eye.
That said, here’s why it pays to pursue home gardening during this pandemic:
- For Leisure or Recreation
It’s no secret that many individuals have gone out of work during this global health crisis. A few others have closed their business for good, and even students have gone out of the classrooms. So what better way to do in the pandemic than to make gardening a pastime?
Instead of bumming and sulking at home, try home gardening as it can be productive. No, you don’t necessarily need to have a green thumb. Your sudden knack for growing plants and shrubs with blooms can be your driving force.
- For Mental Therapy
There’s no denying how the pandemic can take a toll on people’s mental health. Home isolation and the lack of social interaction can lead to stress, psychological distress, anxiety, and depression.
The best course of action is to keep yourself busy and preoccupied, and home gardening can be your best approach. For one, communing with nature can be therapeutic. Two, getting exposed to sunlight can release your happy hormones called serotonin. Ultimately, gardening can be your best mental therapy amid the crisis.
- For Physical Activity
The pandemic restrictions have forced families to stay indoors. It can be hard to stay physically active while at home. As such, many family members have ended up with a sedentary lifestyle. They’ve spent most of their time hooked on the internet.
There are ways to have some physical activity during the pandemic. One best approach is to pursue home gardening to get yourself moving around. You can mow your lawn, cultivate your garden, grow new plants, trim your hedges, prune your trees, and get rid of pests. All these will keep you physically active!
- For Property’s Curb Appeal
As many households have got stuck at home during the pandemic, they’ve pursued home improvement projects. Last year, house remodeling was the homeowners’ theme. This year, outdoor landscaping has become the focus. In fact, Forbes called 2021 the ‘year of the yard.’
When it comes to outdoor landscaping, home gardening is your best approach. Sure, you may renovate your house exterior and install new hardscape structures. However, transforming your garden can kick your property’s curb appeal up a notch. Through gardening, you’ll be surprised at how aesthetically beautiful your residential property can become.
- For Food Supply
It’s no secret how the pandemic has led to food insecurity in some parts of the world. It has disrupted the global food supply chain, where basic supplies don’t reach some households. Others have lost their jobs and businesses, where they cannot afford to put food on their table.
For these reasons, some families have ventured into home gardening. They are practical enough to plant herbs, vegetables, and fruits in their backyard. For a self-sustaining approach, consider growing some crops. In time, you can harvest the fresh produce for your family’s food supply.
- For Outdoor Relaxation
One of the challenges in the pandemic is being unable to go outdoors. Last year, there were on-and-off lockdowns so many families stayed at home. This year, authorities have continued to implement restricted movements. Still, many individuals are hesitant to go outdoors due to the continuous threat of the various strains of coronavirus.
It’s good to have a backyard or front yard on your residential property for outdoor relaxation. You can have a sod supply, install natural turf, and turn your lawn as green as possible. From there, you can embellish your garden with blooms, fence it with hedgerows, and grow more plants. Ultimately, you can turn your outdoor space into a paradise—a perfect place for outdoor relaxation.
At this point, we’ve tackled the handful of benefits that come with home gardening. Not only is it for leisure and relaxation, but it is also for your property’s aesthetics and functionality. Plus, it is also for your health and wellness as well as your food supply. With all these benefits, you have the right reasons to venture into home gardening during this pandemic.