Gardening rivals sports for fitness—here's how many calories it burns
Gardening could be just as effective as traditional sports for staying active, according to health official Alexey Nikonov. Tasks like weeding, digging, and chopping wood can burn hundreds of calories per hour while keeping people fit.
Different gardening activities offer varying levels of exercise. Weeding garden beds burns between 250 and 400 calories per hour. Digging can use up 330–400 calories in the same time, while planting seedlings burns 120–200 calories. Chopping and carrying firewood is one of the most intense tasks, burning roughly 350–450 calories hourly.
Before starting, a five-minute warm-up is advised to prepare muscles and joints. Prolonged bending should be avoided—experts recommend switching tasks or taking a short stretch break every 20–30 minutes. When lifting heavy objects, squatting with a straight back and using leg strength helps prevent injury.
Gardening provides a practical way to stay active without needing a gym or sports field. By following simple safety tips, people can burn calories while maintaining their gardens. The physical benefits make it a useful alternative to conventional exercise routines.
