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

Backyard poultry, gardening and homesteading surged as people spent more time at home during COVID. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

And for those feeling particularly ambitious, there’s always urban gardening. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Hancock recommends using a gritty baking soda paste to scrub plant pots and gardening tools that have soil or debris caked on. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 10 Aug. 2026

Amy Pennington is the author of Apartment Gardening, Tiny Space Gardening, and other gardening books. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gardening

• hardening
• pardoning