Gardening Benefits and Tips for First-Time Homeowners
Gardening is a relaxing recreational activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Some people naturally enjoy nature, while others love it out of admiration.
It is easier to appreciate a neighbor’s garden than tend one for yourself. Even though gardening is a fun and relaxing way to connect with nature, holding a spade or hoe with your two knees on the ground is less fun.
This is one of the surprises for first-time homeowners without gardening experience or interest. If you purchase a home with a garden, you have two options — tend or get rid of it. Spoiler alert, getting rid of it is not an easy-peasy.
As a new homeowner who might still need to handle many home maintenance, the thought of managing a garden can be overwhelming. Therefore, you have two options — tend or get rid of it. Spoiler alert, getting rid of it is not an easy-peasy.
Meanwhile, you can reduce your worry about home maintenance by subscribing to a home warranty service. This way, you can have enough time to tend your garden, an activity that is also beneficial to your health.
If you are still deliberating about keeping the garden or not, maybe these gardening benefits will convince you:
Clean outdoor air
Spending time in the garden offers the opportunity to enjoy clean and fresh outdoor air. Breathing deeper during this time helps clear the lungs and improve the immune response.
Deep breathing can increase the blood’s oxygen levels and ameliorate health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Exposure to Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that the body needs. It is produced naturally when the skin is exposed to the sunlight.
Outdoor activities like gardening are a fantastic way to get sunlight on the skin while having fun.
People with low vitamin D levels are at risk of health conditions like multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and weak immune system.
Vitamin D can aid your weight loss journey. A study that observed 44 obese people found that the group that took vitamin D supplements and a weight loss diet lost the most weight within the research period.
Burns calories
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends engaging in physical activities for at least 180 minutes daily. Going to the gym might be stressful; without mentioning, you may have to pay a subscription fee.
Working in your garden, on the other hand, requires no entry fee, and it is fun. You might become engrossed in weeding and planting new flowers without realizing you are breaking a sweat.
Grows healthy food
Plants in a garden are not solely for beautification; you can plant herbs, vegetables, and fruits. This affords you a supply of fresh vegetables and healthy produce.
Whether you are planning to grow a garden or want to manage one you inherit from a new home purchase, below are some gardening tips for beginners:
Get basic tools
To enjoy your garden, you must cultivate it, which requires tools. Although there is a long list of gardening tools, getting the basic is enough for first-time homeowners. You can acquire others later.
The basic gardening tools include:
- Gloves
- Secateurs
- Watering can
- Shovel
- Rake
- Cultivator
- Wheelbarrow
- Garden hose
- Anvil pruners
- Spray bottle
Research the plant in the garden
To efficiently cater to a plant, you must understand it. Its name, growing condition, and probably diseases.
You can take pictures and use the image search function to get the names of the plants. You may also talk to the old homeowners about how they tend the garden. They should be able to explain the reason behind planting specific flowers and educate you on tackling the weeds in the garden best.
Understanding different garden plants can also inform you of the plants you can introduce into the garden. For instance, some plants reduce weed growth, saving you the stress of consistent weeding. There are poisonous plants that should be avoided in a garden children visit.
Water your plant regularly
Plants need water to grow. There are best practices for watering that will save your garden and conserve water.
Overwatering can lead to fungus growth while underwatering can make the plant wither.
Water your garden early in the morning and avoid watering anytime the soil is warm. To conserve water, direct water at the base of the plant.
Control pests and diseases with organic method
To reduce the stress of treating diseases and killing pests, practice companion planting. It is an organic method of maintaining a natural balance in your garden by growing mutually beneficial plants. Flowers like sunflowers are good pest repellants. Planting them next to a plant prone to pests will help safeguard them.
