Gardening is the growing and care of plants, usually as a hobby. People garden for many reasons. Most do so to provide flowers, vegetables, and other plant products for their own use. Other people garden to beautify their surroundings. Still others use gardening to reduce stress or even to help treat illness.
Gardening ranks as the most popular outdoor activity in much of the world. Many people who begin gardening as a hobby end up pursuing it in a more professional manner. They may decide to sell surplus plants or produce, or develop new varieties of plants. Many fully professional gardeners work for botanical gardens, which specialize in cultivating plants for artistic, educational, or scientific purposes. Others may work as landscape architects, designing and developing yards, gardens, parks, and other land areas. The profession of gardening belongs to a larger field called horticulture. Horticulture is a branch of agriculture specializing in fruits, vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Traditionally, new gardeners learned from their parents or from experienced gardeners. Other gardening resources included books and magazines, garden supply companies, government agencies, and gardening programs on radio and television. All of these resources still exist, but computers and the Internet have enabled them to reach many more gardeners worldwide.
