The Health Benefits of Gardening During Covid-19 Pandemic

When you are looking for a hobby that provides you with the chance to be outside, save money, and give you health benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be no better choice than gardening. Whether you plan to grow fruits and vegetables or stick to flowers and shrubs, it can be the perfect hobby for virtually anyone. Continue reading to learn more about the health benefits of gardening during the Covid-19 pandemic and one problem you might face while gardening.

Staying Outdoors

One of the most obvious benefits to gardening during a pandemic of any kind is that it can be as solitary an activity as you want it to be. You do not have to be near anyone to enjoy gardening, keeping you safe from not just Covid-19, but many other transmissible viruses and bacteria. Even if you are around others while gardening, being in the outside air reduces your odds of catching an illness to almost zero.

Beyond staying free from illness, being outside is a great health benefit in itself. Sunlight gives your body vitamin D and can help you be in a better mood. An increase in vitamin D increases calcium in your body, which, in turn, can strengthen your immune system, as well as your bones. In addition, breathing in fresh air is good for your lungs, and it can also put you in a better mood as well.

Decrease Stress

The body’s primary stress hormone is called cortisol. In many studies, after people have been gardening for a while, they have been found to have lower levels of cortisol, denoting decreased stress. There is just something about being outside, enjoying Nature, breathing in fresh air, and working with plants and soil that helps to relax and calm humans. This could be a perfect hobby to enjoy after a stressful day at work, helping you to separate your work life from your home life, further relaxing you.

Exercise

While gardening might be a very relaxing activity, that does not mean it isn’t a great way to get in some aerobic exercise as well! Depending on the gardening activity you are doing, you could be getting either a little or a lot of exercise. Regardless, the many different activities that gardening entails should keep you getting a great workout every time. Some of the more strenuous activities, such as weeding and raking, provide not only aerobic exercise, but also can strengthen muscles you may not otherwise use!

Fresh Foods

This health benefit applies to those who are growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs in their gardens. Fresh fruits and vegetables are very important for health, and can help boost your immune system to fight off illness and disease. Some of the healthiest fresh vegetables you can grow are spinach, carrots, kale, bell peppers, onions, and cucumbers. Some of the healthiest fresh fruits you can grow are blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, and apples. Many studies have shown that eating fresh fruits and vegetables can provide significant decreases in the risk of many cancers, diseases, and illnesses. In addition, there is nothing like eating the plants that you have taken the time and effort to grow. Growing these foods on your own can save you money on your grocery bill as well!

Pest Problems

The health benefits mentioned above are great and can provide for a great, productive, healthy hobby for you. There is one problem you may encounter soon after you begin gardening, and that deals with pest animals. Pests are notorious for destroying all of the hard work and money gardeners spend on their plants. Virtually every wild animal and insect will try to eat your plants, use them for shelter supplies, or destroy them.

Fruit and vegetable gardeners should be very aware of this, as pest animals certainly go after fruits and vegetables far more readily than they do flowers, trees, and shrubs. Some of the worst offenders are various insects, rabbits, squirrels, deer, birds, mice, rats, and moles. Some of these nuisance wildlife can be easily prevented with chicken wire fences, repellants, or allowing a pet to stay out by your garden, but many of them will require professional help.

If you are looking to spend a lot of time, effort, and money on your garden, it would be wise to look into hiring a professional wildlife control service, such as Wildlife X Team New Hampshire, to help you pinpoint the problem, remove the animals, and prevent the problem from happening in the future. Not only do wildlife removal experts have years of experience in dealing with all different types of nuisance animals and situations, but they are also able to remove these pests while keeping you, your family, and your pets safe and free from pest diseases. Pest control specialists are also able to help you prevent future pest problems by using a variety of methods that are effective and cost-efficient.