gardening

noun

gar·​den·​ing ˈgär-də-niŋ 

ˈgärd-niŋ

: the act, activity, or pastime of planning and cultivating gardens

… America's number-one leisure pursuit remains the gentle, slow-going, idyllic activity of gardening.

—Margaret Langstaff

… there is no shortage this spring of slick and glossy books on gardening that are long on toothsome photography and short of thoughtful text …

—Allen Lacy

Halide lamps are the most popular source of white light available for indoor gardening, providing the best light spectrum for all stages of plant growth.

—Laura L. Kramer

—often used before another noun

gardening gloves

gardening tools

Examples of gardening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From beginning stages of planning, the layout, walkways, irrigation, fertilization, planting varieties of roses and the tools needed for successful rose gardening. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025

Four Classic Designs Artist Denise Fiedler created the works with gouache and acrylic paint layered on vintage gardening book pages, then assembled on archival cotton board. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025

Your questions and comments, as well as gardening conundrums and successes, are always welcome. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025

Other great gardening and outdoor deals include this two-pack of hummingbird feeders, this 91-inch bird feeding station with four feeders, and the Unicook Pizza Stone that goes right on top of your outdoor grill and can withstand up to 1,450 degrees Fahrenheit. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gardening

• hardening
• pardoning