Gardening involves several different activities including planting seedlings, digging, weeding and harvesting. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests gardening as a way to get some of the 2 1/2 hours of weekly activity recommended for health.
General Gardening
Doing general gardening activities burns 135 calories per half hour for a person weighing 125 lb., according to Harvard Health Publications. A 155-lb. person burns 167 calories and a 185-lb. person burns 200 calories during a half hour of general gardening.
Specific Activities
Planting seedlings burns 120 to 178 calories per half hour, depending on the weight of the individual doing the planting. A 125-lb. individual weeding a garden will burn 139 calories per half hour and those who are 155 lb. and 185 lb. will burn 172 and 205 calories, respectively, doing a half hour of weeding in the garden. Digging and spading dirt offer even more calorie burn, with a rate of 150 to 222 calories burned per half hour.
Considerations
When gardening outdoors, take care to protect yourself from sun exposure, insect bites and heat illness. Be aware of your physical limits, including health issues such as arthritis, when gardening; choose tools and activities that you can handle.
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