How to stay active in a garden of any size

It’s all about trial and error – not even expert gardeners can get everything right, as Mother Nature often has her own plans. Instead, gardening should just be a chance to play around and experiment with plants that bring you joy.

As well as being a fun and creative hobby, gardening can also be a form of exercise – as anyone who has spent a day digging knows, it’s hard work. However, for those with smaller gardens, it might feel like you can’t access the physical benefits of gardening when you’re working with containers. In this post, we show you how to stay active in your garden, no matter what size it is.

Grow your own vegetables

Vegetables take a lot of care and attention, especially if you grow multiple different types. From planting out your seeds, potting up into bigger containers, weeding and watering, your crop will need you to take daily care of it over an extended period of time.

You can alter your activity levels by choosing to grow fewer varieties, or growing them in raised beds to reduce the amount of bending and lifting required. Alternatively, if you have a big garden and want the exercise, challenge yourself with more sprawling varieties that need a higher level of maintenance.

To add an extra twist to your gardening, you could even do bicep curls with your watering can, or lunges as you walk between sections! There are plenty of strength exercises you can incorporate into your routine if you want a challenge.

Keep on top of the weeds

Weeding is one of the most demanding tasks in the garden, no matter the size of your plot. Whilst they might lie dormant in winter, in the spring you’re sure to see lots of pesky weeds appearing where you don’t want them. The average gardener spends 13 hours a year weeding – those quick blasts of clearing soon add up!

Weeding can be demanding on your back and core muscles, as it involves a lot of bending and stretching. As long as you’re using the correct technique, this can help tone your body and build strength.

Protect your body by choosing the right tools

Part of staying active is ensuring that you don’t injure yourself. It can be easy to underestimate the weight of a watering can or wheelbarrow until you try to move it – and often, we focus on getting the tasks done, rather than how our bodies are feeling.

Using the right tools can be a good way to reduce the risk of injury, whilst still allowing you to keep moving. Consider using long-handled tools to minimise stretching if you have a back injury, for example, or use a foldable wheelbarrow to stop you having to lift waste from the ground. That way, you can control the amount of effort you’re putting in, and adjust your activity levels accordingly, keeping you moving for longer.