Preferred Characteristics for House Gardens of Urban Residents

Preferred Characteristics for House Gardens of Urban Residents

This study acquired basic data on the requirements for beginning home gardening by analyzing the level of awareness of gardening behaviors and preferences of both urbanites who do and not own gardens. The study participants were 508 urbanites who participate in urban farming, garden-related education, or programs at agricultural technology centers in major metropolitan areas in Korea. It was found that the gardens owned by the garden-owner group were not very large, and the non-owner group expressed a desire to own small-sized gardens. Both groups stated that their purposes for owning or wanting to own a garden included relaxation, growing food, and relaxation. The garden-owner group demonstrated usage behaviors associated with plant care, vegetable-garden care, and relaxation, while the non-owner group expressed their desire to use their gardens for the same purposes. The behaviors of both groups matched their stated purposes of garden usage. Aspects of gardening that were considered important included naturalness, aesthetics, amenity of being sheltered from the sun and wind, health benefits (such as being safeguarded from pollution), and emotional comfort. Gardens were preferred as spaces for planting, relaxing, vegetable growing, and multi-purpose uses. The respondents also favored plants that provide shade, seasonal flowers to admire, and fruit and plants that are aesthetically pleasing. Systematic management methods (including plant pest control) should be taught for garden management. Moreover, the garden-owner group required education regarding pest control, training and pruning, and planting methods, whereas the non-owner group preferred education on garden development and comprehensive care methods. Therefore, garden education must be imparted based on user needs.

This study acquired basic data on the requirements for beginning home gardening by analyzing the level of awareness of gardening behaviors and preferences of both urbanites who do and not own gardens. The study participants were 508 urbanites who participate in urban farming, garden-related education, or programs at agricultural technology centers in major metropolitan areas in Korea. It was found that the gardens owned by the garden-owner group were not very large, and the non-owner group expressed a desire to own small-sized gardens. Both groups stated that their purposes for owning or wanting to own a garden included relaxation, growing food, and relaxation. The garden-owner group demonstrated usage behaviors associated with plant care, vegetable-garden care, and relaxation, while the non-owner group expressed their desire to use their gardens for the same purposes. The behaviors of both groups matched their stated purposes of garden usage. Aspects of gardening that were considered important included naturalness, aesthetics, amenity of being sheltered from the sun and wind, health benefits (such as being safeguarded from pollution), and emotional comfort. Gardens were preferred as spaces for planting, relaxing, vegetable growing, and multi-purpose uses. The respondents also favored plants that provide shade, seasonal flowers to admire, and fruit and plants that are aesthetically pleasing. Systematic management methods (including plant pest control) should be taught for garden management. Moreover, the garden-owner group required education regarding pest control, training and pruning, and planting methods, whereas the non-owner group preferred education on garden development and comprehensive care methods. Therefore, garden education must be imparted based on user needs.