Gardening has been one of the earliest forms of human gardening. It is a method by which people attempt to improve the quality of the environment through the careful planting and caring of various plants. Gardening can be an art form or a science. In either case, it is highly beneficial to humanity.
Gardening was first recognized in the ancient Mediterranean (and even in ancient Egypt) where gardening techniques were used to develop the agricultural production of the region. The use of pesticides and other chemicals was widespread and gardens in these regions suffered from the depleted soil. This led to an abandonment of many agronomic practices, resulting in the development of “backyard gardening”. Gardening became popular again in the early modern era and it has become more widespread in North America. In both Europe and North America, people have been practicing outdoor landscape gardening for over a thousand years.
There are two types of gardening. One is “domestic” gardening, the use of plants and shrubs for edible material such as fruit, vegetables, and other plants. The other is “permanent” or “dwelling” gardening, the cultivation of plants over a period of time, usually several decades. The primary difference between the two types is the purpose. In a domestic landscape, the plants are typically for use as food and for covering the floor. In a dwelling garden, the plants are used for ornamentation and as a source of food, both of which are achieved through the creation of a physical garden.
Regardless of the type of gardening practiced, no matter what its purpose, all gardening is considered to be a form of landscape architecture. In the United States, gardens are increasingly being designed and constructed as a way to add beauty and character to a home or office landscape. Gardening provides many benefits to people who pursue it. Gardening can provide a sense of reward, relaxation, promote cleanliness, enhance personal fitness, provide exercise, improve one’s health, and even reduce costs related to energy consumption and water consumption.
In today’s society, there is an increasing interest in designing private landscape gardens as a way to add value to one’s property. Although this type of garden is often considered to be secondary or “side” business, research has shown that in some cases, gardens are actually an integral part of a homeowner’s life. For this reason, many homeowners choose to hire a landscaper, rather than try to grow their own plants. Many landscapers offer services related to flower and plant care, landscape design, soil preparation and maintenance, fertilizing and pest control, and garden design.
One of the challenges involved with gardening is that a gardener must know how to care for plants, trees, and shrubs in order to sustain them and keep them healthy. It is not uncommon for gardeners to become impatient with plants that are taking longer than expected to bloom again, and in such cases they will often suggest that their client get new plants. Many landscapers offer a variety of services related to gardening, including advice about which plants would best fit a particular setting, suggestions for color and texture, helping the gardener find good soil, removing unwanted vegetation, and planting perennials or annuals in locations that are already suitable for these plants.
