A Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for gardening has been developed by TV gardener David Domoney and retailer Argos.



Inspired by the Government’s five-a-day guidelines for eating fruit and vegetables, David and Argos have set the RDA for gardening for 30 minutes a day to boost physical and mental health.

This comes after new research reveals the average green-fingered Brit can burn 632 more calories compared to non-gardeners per month. Brits are currently burning a whopping 51,428 calories a year by gardening and they spend almost five more hours a week working out compared to the less green-fingered.

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Regular gardeners spend on average 35 minutes a week weeding, which equates to 632 calories burned a month, or the equivalent of two Big Macs.

And there’s more, adults are shedding 5.7 calories a minute pacing up and down the garden with the lawnmower, and as much as 10,400 calories per year. We already know just how good gardening is for you and its proven impact on wider wellbeing, so it's not surprising that 78 per cent of gardeners claim it reduces stress levels and 80 per cent report better sleep.

How many calories gardening tasks burn

35 minutes of weeding – 158 calories

35 minutes of mowing the lawn – 200 calories

29 minutes of potting plants – 131 calories

27 minutes of digging – 137 calories

17 minutes of raking – 63 calories

79 minutes of other garden work – 300 calories

Total: 989 calories per week, over 52 weeks – 51,428 calories a year

'Most people enjoy working in their garden because it gives them a mental boost,’ says gardening expert David Domoney. 'Digging, tilling and planting can be extremely therapeutic, and gives people a chance to think whilst working outside, which is enjoyable in its own right. But we were surprised to see just how much physical exertion it takes to do certain garden tasks, particularly things like pushing a lawnmower or digging.'



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Olivia Heath Digital Editor, House Beautiful UK Olivia Heath is the Digital Editor at House Beautiful UK, uncovering tomorrow's biggest home trends all while delivering stylish room inspiration, small space solutions, easy garden ideas and house tours of the hottest properties on the market.

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