Domesticated nature: Motivations for gardening and perceptions of environmental impact

Gardening is a popular pastime in the United States, worth investigating because of its potential for important effects on the individual as well as on the ecosystem. The present study was designed to investigate motivations for gardening and their relationship to attitudes toward nature and to gardening practices. Understanding such motivations may inform attempts to promote more sustainable gardening practices. One hundred twenty-six visitors to a garden center completed a survey about benefits from gardening, uses of their yard and concerns underlying their gardening practices. Results suggested that appreciation for nature was a significant motivation for gardening, but that social concerns and uses were also important. Both nature uses and social uses of the yard were associated with satisfaction. In general, respondents did not make a strong connection between their own private yards and the natural environment. Using the yard to appreciate nature, though, was associated with ecological considerations and concerns. A concern with practical issues like cost and ease of maintenance was negatively correlated with using the yard to appreciate nature, and was unconnected with satisfaction. Implications for encouraging sustainable gardening practices are discussed.