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

Georgia gardening expert Walter Reeves, who spread his gospel on WSB radio and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution over a span of decades, died from Parkinson’s disease at age 74 on Friday. —Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 11 Apr. 2026

Some activities aligned with a slower approach could include baking, gardening, sitting with your kids and talking or coloring rather than looking at a screen, and putting comfort first. —Sari Hitchins, Parents, 11 Apr. 2026

Chalet Wilmette, Illinois Starting as a lawn care business in 1917, Chalet has evolved into a must-visit gardening destination on Chicago’s North Shore. —Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026

This guide describes the benefits of growing moss and the best types of moss to grow, then provides step-by-step planting instructions on how to grow moss with some gardening techniques. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gardening

• hardening
• pardoning