9 Hottest Reasons To Start Gardening and Landscaping Today! {I was 😲 by #2}

Get motivated to start your gardening journey today with these 9 reasons Looking to get into gardening, but need a good excuse? 

Or maybe you are just curious about why people decide to get into gardening in America.

Well, today we will look into the biggest reasons people like you get into gardening. 

And one of the hottest reasons to start gardening may shock you! 

I'm talking about reason #2.

Without further ado, below are the 9 hottest reasons that people get into gardening. 

 Reason #1: For Mental Health 

“There is increasing evidence that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health” -National Library of Medicine

It’s true, gardening may actually be good for your mental health. It's simple, being outdoors in nature, soaking up the sun, and getting your hands dirty are all great ways to forget about the hectic world. 

A study published just this year, showed that gardening indeed likely improves mental health.  

So it’s no wonder that 49% of people said that they started gardening for their mental health. 

 Reason #2: Due to Covid-19 

Perhaps not too surprisingly, Covid-19 is tied for 1st as one of the main reasons people have started gardening. 

Crazy right!? Think about it, if you have to spend more time at home, it only makes sense that you would get more work done around the house. And one great activity to do in your spare time is gardening. 

While Covid-19 seems to be becoming a relic of the past, it’s fascinating to see that one of the upsides is that many people started gardening because of it. 

 Reason #3: More Free Time 

This one is likely tied in with the last reason that many people gave for getting out and gardening. With the lockdowns, many people found that they had more time to spend at home. 

But it gets deeper, another side effect of the lockdowns was more people picking up virtual side hustles. Which has led to less commuting for many Americans, as well as more free time to spend in the garden! 

 Reason #4: To Improve Your Home or Landscape 

Gardening is a great way to improve your landscape and your home. So it’s no wonder that one of the biggest reasons Americans have for starting gardening, 

Some great ways to improve your landscape through gardening are to: 

• Add native plants to your garden
• Implement mosquito repellent plants
• Mulch your garden beds
• Cover up the tree roots around the lawn 

 Reason #5: The Desire to Participate in an Enjoyable Activity 

It’s so hard to find a good hobby, isn’t it? Well, maybe that’s the reason you should start gardening!

Gardening is a great hobby. Best of all there are many types of gardening. You could pick up flower gardening, vegetable gardening, potted gardens, or even gardening for a pond. There are so many types of gardening to picking from, and there is definitely a type of gardening that will appeal to you. 

 Reason #6: To Participate in a Family Activity 

Looking for a fun activity to start with your family? Well, 35% of respondents in Stastia’s study said that one of the reasons they got into gardening was to spend more time with the family. 

Gardening is a great skill to teach your children, and it’s a skill that can pay off year, after year, after year. Best of all, you may inspire your children to start a lawn care or landscaping company of their own one day! 

And it’s no secret, that landscaping is a multi-billion dollar industry that is not going anywhere anytime soon. 

 Reason #7: To Exercise 

I hate treadmills and gyms! But that is why I love gardening so much. 

In my experience, a few hours of gardening does a lot more for me than 30 minutes at the gym. Best of all, my hard work is adding value to my home and life! 

If you are like 35% of the respondents in this study, perhaps gardening is a great way for you to get some exercise in!

 Reason #8: To Grow Food 

Surprisingly, growing food isn’t one of the biggest reasons people have gotten into gardening over the past few years. 

In fact, only 30% of respondents said that they started gardening to grow food. And it’s true, that growing food is a great benefit to gardening, but it does take a few years to figure out how to do so successfully. Unless you are a natural green thumb. 

 Reason #9: Moved to a Bigger Home 

Finally, 16% of people reported getting into gardening simply because they moved into a bigger home. And that is a great reason if I have ever heard one. But it’s far from the main reason that people have gotten into gardening. 

Look, while having a bigger lawn is a great reason to start gardening, you can grow food no matter the size of your property. Seriously, even if you only have a small apartment you can get a window garden box, or grow plants in pots. There are endless methods to grow plants in and out of the ground. 

Great Reasons To Start Gardening in 2024