Urban Gardens Research Articles

One size does not fit all: The complex relationship between biodiversity and psychological well-being

Conserving urban biodiversity is often promoted as a ‘win-win’ nature-based solution that can help align public health and biodiversity conservation agendas. Yet, research on the relationship between biodiversity and psychological well-being reveals inconsistent and complex results. This body of research is also restricted to a few socio-cultural and environmental contexts and tends to ignore differences in individual characteristics, such as nature relatedness (i.e., emotional affinity to nature) and ecological knowledge, that can influence people’s experience of biodiversity. The aim of this interdisciplinary research is to explore the relationships between biodiversity and psychological well-being, and test the moderating effect of nature relatedness and ecological knowledge on these relationships. An ecological survey was conducted in 24 small urban gardens in Israel to measure the richness and abundance of birds, butterflies and plants, as well as land cover characteristics. In parallel, a social survey (close-ended questionnaires) was conducted in-situ to measure psychological well-being, nature relatedness, ecological knowledge, perceived species richness and socio-demographic variables. Psychological well-being measures were mostly associated with the cover of woody species, perceived species richness, and to a lesser extent, with actual species richness and abundance, for all taxa. Nature relatedness moderated these relationships. Respondents with high nature relatedness demonstrated positive well-being-richness relationships, while those with intermediate, or low nature relatedness showed no, or even negative relationships, respectively. Opposite relationships were recorded for bird abundance. Overall, individuals demonstrated poor ecological knowledge and this variable moderated only few relations between well-being measures, perceived butterfly richness and bird abundance. Our results demonstrate that one-size-does-not-fit-all when considering the relationship between psychological well-being and biodiversity, and that affinity to nature is a key moderator for this relationship. Designing urban green spaces that provide inclusive and meaningful nature experiences and foster emotional affinity to nature, is therefore key to aligning ecological and social objectives for sustainable urban planning.

Motivations for urban front gardening: A quantitative analysis

Private gardens in urban settings offer multiple benefits for the environment and society. In addition to benefits to people’s health and well-being, planting in front gardens in particular can mitigate local flooding and urban heat islands. To encourage more front garden planting, greater understanding of householders’ motivations for front gardening is needed. Addressing research gaps on gardening for reasons other than food production and on motivations for gardening in front gardens, a large-scale online survey (n = 1,000) was conducted with urban/suburban dwellers in England. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors of motivation: enjoyment, meaning and benefit (intrinsic), creating something beautiful (aesthetic) and functional outcomes (utilitarian). A multiple regression model incorporating the three factors and sociodemographic variables explained 11% of variance of time spent front gardening, with intrinsic motivations the strongest predictor. Intrinsic motivations were stronger for women than for men. The study provides a quantitative categorisation of motivational factors as a basis for comparative research and design of interventions and policy to increase front gardening.

Promoting Beneficial Arthropods in Urban Agroecosystems: Focus on Flowers, Maybe Not Native Plants.

(1) Urbanization threatens biodiversity, yet urban native plants support native biodiversity, contributing to conservation and ecosystem services. Within urban agroecosystems, where non-native plants are abundant, native plants may boost the abundance and richness of beneficial arthropods. Nevertheless, current information focuses on pollinators, with little attention being paid to other beneficials, like natural enemies. (2) We examined how the species richness of native plants, garden management, and landscape composition influence the abundance and species richness of all, native, and non-native bees, ladybeetles, ants, and ground-foraging spiders in urban agroecosystems (i.e., urban community gardens) in California. (3) We found that native plants (~10% of species, but only ~2.5% of plant cover) had little influence on arthropods, with negative effects only on non-native spider richness, likely due to the low plant cover provided by native plants. Garden size boosted native and non-native bee abundance and richness and non-native spider richness; floral abundance boosted non-native spider abundance and native and non-native spider richness; and mulch cover and tree and shrub abundance boosted non-native spider richness. Natural habitat cover promoted non-native bee and native ant abundance, but fewer native ladybeetle species were observed. (4) While native plant richness may not strongly influence the abundance and richness of beneficial arthropods, other garden management features could be manipulated to promote the conservation of native organisms or ecosystem services provided by native and non-native organisms within urban agroecosystems.

The Impact of Urban Home Gardens on The Mental Well-Being of Women in The Greater Jakarta Area

Promoting positive mental health is of utmost importance, especially in today's urban context, as recognized by the World Health Organization. However, the scarcity of green spaces in urban areas presents challenges for fostering a connection with nature. To address this gap, this study investigates the distinctive contribution of urban home gardens to the mental well-being of women in the Greater Jakarta Area. Through an online survey, participant backgrounds and mental well-being were assessed using the WEMWBS scale. Validity and reliability were established using Pearson's product-moment correlation and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. The study unravels several influential factors, including garden interaction (visit frequency and duration) and size. Crucially, it advances the literature by shedding light on the original contribution of urban home gardens to mental well-being. Notably, women who visit their urban home garden more than seven times a week and spend over two hours per day in their garden report the highest levels of mental well-being. These findings highlight the unique role of urban home gardens in promoting mental well-being among urban women. Consequently, they hold implications for policymakers and practitioners aiming to enhance mental well-being and foster access to green spaces in urban areas.

Water in the city: visitation of animal wildlife to garden water sources and urban lakes

Providing garden water sources (e.g., ponds, bird baths) has become a popular and strongly promoted form of wildlife-friendly gardening, yet evidence of their use by animals is scarce and limited to a few taxa and water source types. We examined the prevalence, variety and potential value to animal wildlife of supplementary water provided within gardens of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, using an online questionnaire and field observations of wildlife visitation to urban water sources during summer 2021. Over 70% of 105 questionnaire respondents indicated the presence of at least one water source in their garden and almost 50% had two or more. Bird baths, ground water-bowls and ponds were the most common water source types provided. During 207 h of field observation, we recorded a total of 43 taxa (birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, reptiles) visiting urban lakes and garden birth baths, ponds and ground water-bowls. Taxa richness was similar at urban lakes (30) and garden water sources (27), although approximately 50% of the taxa recorded in each location were unique to that location. Visitation rates of smaller-bodied wildlife did not differ between lakes and gardens, nor among individual water source types. Multivariate analyses indicated insect assemblages visiting lakes did not differ from those visiting garden water sources, and small bird assemblages did not differ among each water source type. These results demonstrate garden water sources, especially for smaller-bodied animals, can supplement the wildlife values contributed by urban lake systems, and should continue to be promoted as an effective conservation action.

Water consumption of three ornamental species with the suction irrigation system

Objective: To evaluate water consumption in ornamental plants (geranium, gazania and petunia) in two substrates with different particle sizes (fine and coarse) of tezontle and peat moss, through a suction irrigation system, which uses porous capsules as irrigation emitters. Design/methodology/approach: The experimental design was in complete randomized blocks, with six treatments (three ornamental species and two substrates) with four repetitions (24 experimental units). The first mixture contains fine substrate (composed of tezontle with particle size less than 0.4 mm) and peat moss, in a 1:2 v/v ratio; the second mixture presents coarse substrate (composed of tezontle with particle size between 0.4-0.6 mm) and peat moss, 1:1 in v/v. Results: In water consumption, there are significant differences by ornamental species and type of substrate, where the irrigation system has the ability to self-regulate. The highest water consumption was in petunia in the coarse substrate (which has a higher proportion of peat moss in its composition). Limitations on study/implications: With use in protected agriculture, rural and urban orchards, gardens, walls and green roofs and research purposes. Findings/Conclusions: The suction irrigation system through porous capsules has the capacity to continuously supply the water demanded by the plant-substrate-atmosphere system.

Allotments for all? Social–environmental values of urban gardens for gardeners and the public in cities: The example of Berlin, Germany

Abstract Gardens in cities have been the focus of a wider public health debate in Europe's polluted and dense cities, for the elderly and considering the current COVID‐19 pandemic. Many cities report rising demand for allotment gardens by people from all age groups including young couples and families. This study aims at quantitatively examining the bundle of ecosystem services provided by allotment gardens in Berlin, Germany. It assesses the values related to those ecosystem services' benefits for gardeners and the wider urban public and compares perceptions of the social–environmental value of allotment gardens by gardeners and non‐gardeners. We also compare the frequency of garden visits and the perception of gardens as a crucial element of the urban ecosystem by men and women. We carried out a web‐based survey, additionally a part of the questionnaires was handed out in paper form for respondents who did not have internet access. The resulting sample of 466 gardeners and 80 non‐gardeners shows that urban allotment gardens play an important role in food production, biodiversity conservation, but also social–environmental interactions. The variety of environmental management practices, such as installation of artificial nests for insects, sowing of special flower mixtures, leaving areas with wild vegetation, use of organic fertilizers, including crop residues, shows that most respondents among gardeners are aware of the methods aimed at maintaining biodiversity and soil fertility in their allotment. The sample's analysis further states that benefits are not only perceived by gardeners but also by non‐gardeners. We discuss our findings against the background of the savings and sustainable enhancement of ecosystem services benefits that are created by allotment gardens for all. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

“It’s Not Only Our Task”

An ongoing academic debate shows that urban community gardening (CG) has diverse governance models with differing roles of city administration and citizens. This article uses an empirical case study conducted in the city of Tampere, Finland, to explore what I call the “operational space” of urban CG seen from the viewpoint of city officials. Two rounds of interviews were conducted with eight city officials, and a discourse analysis was applied for the data. As an analytic term developed in this article, the operational space emerges by administrative policies and practices that enable or constrain urban gardening under two general trends of urban governance: institutional ambiguity and neoliberal urban development. In this case, the operational space was rather rigid and narrow. The five main discourses on benefit, control of space, scarcity, unclarity, and newness referred to a clear aim to enable urban gardening. However, the discourses were restricted to strategic, limited, and instrumental levels, as the political-strategic aims of enabling urban gardening contradicted the administrative practices. The results show that cautiousness and unclarity in the administrative-political culture tend to lead to institutional ambiguity. In conclusion, operational space analysis is helpful to uncover the problems and possibilities between CG and city administration.

Contaminant Uptake Varies with Crop and Management Choices in Urban Gardens

CSA NewsEarly View SOCIETY SCIENCE Contaminant Uptake Varies with Crop and Management Choices in Urban Gardens First published: 13 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/csan.21061Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

Wild ways: a scoping review to understand urban-rewilding behaviour in relation to adaptations to private gardens

ABSTRACT Urbanisation is increasing, while global biodiversity is decreasing. Through ‘urban rewilding’ cities could help tackle this biodiversity crisis, while exploiting the benefits of urban nature for residents. Private residential gardens, which have potential to support significant biodiversity, should be a primary focus. Yet their proportion of vegetated space is decreasing through changes made by residents, negatively impacting biodiversity. Small adaptations to private gardens can turn them into wildlife habitat, but understanding residents’ behaviour is critical to developing intervention strategies for this. This paper presents a scoping review of existing literature on understanding intent-orientated, pro-environmental behaviours with a focus on rewilding in urban gardens. The literature is mapped to assess the state of knowledge; it is then coded, using the ‘COM-B’ model of behaviour, to identify the capability, opportunity and motivation factors forming barriers and facilitators to residents engaging in rewilding activity in their gardens. The results show that all COM-B factors need to be considered to understand urban rewilding behaviour, but that opportunity and motivation factors have more influence, particularly reflective motivation. They indicate that facilitators are more significant than barriers and highlight an important body of work that has implications for practice and policy aimed at influencing urban rewilding.

The Influence of Urban Gardening Activities on Participants' Perceived Restorativeness, Resilience, Sense of Community and Stress.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of urban garden activities on participants' perceived restorativeness, resilience, sense of community, and stress reduction. A total of ninety individuals who agreed to participate in the experiment were divided into experimental and control groups. To collect data, 16 sessions of urban garden activities were conducted every two weeks from May to November 2022. Perceived Restorativeness Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Sense of Community Index, and Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument were employed to measure participants' psychological effects. To evaluate physiological effects, salivary cortisol tests were performed. The results of the study revealed that urban gardening activities influenced on participants' physiological and psychological reactions in positive ways.

Effects of Cd and Zn Treatments on Leaf Chemıcal Compounds of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens var. rotundifolia), and Gold tassel (Euonymus japonica var. aurea) Species

In the present study, the effects of cadmium (25 μM and 50 μM) and zinc (200 μM and 400 μM) treatments on some bioactive compounds and mineral levels in leaves of japanese barberry, boxwood, and gold tassel genotypes were investigated. Given the results, it was determined that photosynthetic pigments were stimulated by 200 μM Zn and 400 μM Zn. Boxwood was found to be tolerant to the treatments in terms of chlorophyll and carotenoid. In contrast, japanese barberry was found to be tolerant in terms of chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll. The amount of anthocyanin was higher in the leaves of gold tassel, and boxwood and the total phenolic was higher level in gold tassel and japanese barberry in all treatments. Proline and nitrate levels were generally high in the treated groups of three plants, as well as RWC in japanese barberry and boxwood. Given the element results, japanese barberry had a higher accumulation capacity for P, S, Mn, Cl, Cd, Fe, Al, Si, Cu, Ba, Zn, Ti, and Cr, boxwood for K, Mn, Cl, Cd, Zn, Fe, Al, Si, and Cr, and Gold tassel for K, P, S, Mn, Cl, and Cd. As a result, boxwood showed a higher tolerance to 400 μM Zn, japanese barberry plant to 200 μM Zn, and 50 μM Cd. It can be said that boxwood and japanese barberry plants can be used in afforestation projects in urban parks, gardens, and roadside, as well as in areas with high soil pollution, to reduce the pollution damage.

Multivariate Bayesian analysis to predict invasiveness ofPhytophthorapathogens

AbstractGlobal concerns are many for the invasive impacts ofPhytophthorapathogens on native vegetation, agriculture, nurseries, and urban parks and gardens. We compiled a database of 32 traits on 204 species ofPhytophthoraincluding data on each species' taxonomy (clade and subclade), historical knowledge (years since first described), impacted ecosystems, microenvironments inhabited, dispersal mode, physiology, and morphology. Drawing from approximately 11,394 unique host, pathogen, and country plant disease records from GenBank and other sources, we calculated potential invasiveness of 103 better studied species from cluster relationships. We used the species data to create a Bayesian network model predicting the degree and probability of invasiveness of individualPhytophthoraspecies. Model calibration testing resulted in <1% error rate in classifying invasiveness categories of well‐known species. We applied the model to predict the potential invasiveness of 101 other species with unknown invasiveness dynamics. The model can also be used to predict the invasive risk of other poorly studied and newly identifiedPhytophthoraspecies, and the general modeling approach can be used for other pests and pathogens, to advise land and resource managers to thwart potential invasions before they occur or intensify.

« Et les jardins ils sont à qui ? » Entretien sur les luttes de défense des jardins populaires

« Et les jardins ils sont à qui ? » Entretien sur les luttes de défense des jardins populaires

Investigating Heavy Metal Contamination Extent of Soil and Plant from Urban Gardens in Jinju

In Korea, 90% of the population lives in urban areas, so urban agriculture is commonly carried out. However, research on the safety of urban soils for growing food still needs to be done. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of urban soil for crop cultivation by investigating the heavy metal concentration of soil and plant from urban gardens in Jinju. Soils and crop leaves were collected from 23 urban gardens, and the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed. The average concentrations of garden soils in Jinju were As 5.31, Cd 0.59, Cr 30.09, Cu 33.05, Ni 21.14, Pb 23.28, and Zn 121.68 mg kg-1, which did not exceed the Korean guidelines except for Zn in one study site. Geoaccumulation Index, calculated using the background values of heavy metals in Korean soil, showed that contamination of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn was in progress. The inflow of Cu and Zn into the garden soils would be from the atmosphere and direct entry into the soil by adding livestock manure. Differently, the other elements were more predominantly introduced from the atmosphere. Particularly, a significant amount of Pb was introduced into the soils from the atmosphere in a couple of gardens. Overall, the results from this study indicated that continuous monitoring for heavy metals in urban garden soils is required for food safety.The number of urban gardens at each level of soil contamination by Geoaccumulation Index. Level of soil contamination As Cd Cu Ni Pb Zn Practically uncontaminated 19 1 1 12 12 1 Uncontaminated to moderately contaminated 3 12 10 8 8 12 Moderately contaminated 1 10 9 3 2 8 Moderately to heavily contaminated 0 0 3 0 1 2 More than heavily contaminated 0 0 0 0 0 0

Adaptation strategies of leaf traits and leaf economic spectrum of two urban garden plants in China

BackgroundPrevious studies of the relationships between traits have focused on the natural growth conditions of wild plants. Urban garden plants exhibit some differences in plant traits due to environmental interference. It is unknown whether the relationships between the leaf traits of urban garden plants differ under distinct climates. In this study, we revealed the variation characteristics of the leaf functional traits of trees, shrubs, and vines in two urban locations. Two-way ANOVA was used to reveal the response of plant leaf traits to climate and life forms. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to calculate the correlation coefficient between the leaf functional traits of plants at the two locations.ResultsLeaf dry matter content (LDMC) and vein density (VD) of different life forms in Mudanjiang were higher than those in Bozhou (P < 0.05), and the relative water content (RWC) in Bozhou was higher, whereas vein density (VD) of trees and shrubs in the two urban locations was significant (P < 0.05), but the vines were not significant. The photosynthetic pigments of tree and shrub species were larger in Mudanjiang, but the opposite was true for the vines. Both leaf vein density (VD) and stomatal density (SD) showed a very significant positive correlation in the two urban locations (P < 0.01), and both were significantly positively correlated with specific leaf area (SLA) (P < 0.05); and negatively correlated with leaf thickness (LT), and the relationship between pigment content were closer.ConclusionThe response to climate showed obvious differences in leaf traits of different life forms species in urban area, but the correlations between the traits showed convergence, which reflects that the adaptation strategies of garden plant leaves to different habitats are both coordinated and relatively independent.

“I walk, I see, I do”: A more-than human perspective on urban gardening

This article tells the story of how Tallinn urban gardener Anton turned from community gardening to guerrilla gardening. While both gardening types have recently been critically studied focusing on the tension between cooperation with or a rebellious act against neoliberal urban governance regimes, this paper investigates the topic from a more-than-human theory perspective. Building on Anton's practitioner memoirs and in-depth interviews with city officials and gardening activists, the paper emphasizes the role of materialities, encounters and emotions involved in governing and practicing urban gardening in Tallinn. In exposing the case, it shows how strong emotions driving early community gardening experiments elicited the institutionalization of a more controlled governance model for community gardening. This subsequently fostered an alienation of the first-generation community gardening activist from the gardens, in particular Anton, who consequently turned towards guerrilla gardening. Looking at this process from a more-than-human perspective allows us to paint a nuanced and interwoven picture of urban gardening without diminishing the actions undertaken as a mere opposition to the status quo.

The Effects of Dual Ozone and Drought Stresses on the Photosynthetic Properties of Acer rubrum and A. pictum

Ozone (O3) pollution is accompanied by drought stress, especially at high temperatures. Tree species in cities often face dual stresses from O3 and drought. In this study, Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Blaze’ and A. pictum were used as test plants in open-top-chambers (OTCs) to investigate the trees most tolerant to increasing O3 and drought stresses in urban gardens. The results showed that the dual stresses induced a change in A. rubrum’s leaf coloration from green to red. The leaf representation in A. rubrum was more variable than that of A. pictum. The leaf pigment content affected the plant leaf color difference, and the Chl and Car contents of both species were negatively correlated with L*. Under the dual stresses of O3 and drought, the changes in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) were less variable in A. rubrum than A. pictum. The stomatal conductance (Gs) was more sensitive to higher O3 stress, the effect of which was enhanced by moderate drought (MD) conditions on Gs. The Tr decreased more significantly under drought stress, which mitigated the effect of O3 stress on the stomatal limit value (Ls). A. rubrum displayed differential color changes, resulting in greater structural heterogeneity within the garden landscape. The saplings adjusted their photosynthetic parameters under the dual stresses, whereas the dual stresses played an antagonistic role in protecting A. rubrum, suggesting that A. rubrum can resist O3 and drought. Our study suggests that A. rubrum is an alternative tree species for inclusion in urban gardens exposed to increasing O3 and drought stresses.

A Soil Screening Study to Evaluate Soil Health for Urban Garden Applications in Hartford, CT

Urban agriculture is a sustainable practice for communities to have access to healthy and affordable produce by reducing the energy costs of food production and distribution. While raised beds are often used in community gardens to ensure that soil quality meets proper standards, the use of existing urban soils is desired for economic and sustainability purposes. The main objective of this study is to evaluate a methodology to test soil health parameters using in situ screening methods. Soil testing was conducted at three urban lots in Hartford, CT, that were candidates for community gardens. In situ measurements of metals were taken with a pXRF instrument in all three lots, and an additional 30 samples were tested in the laboratory, both on pressed pellets via pXRF and with acid digestion and ICP-MS analysis. Ultimately, in situ pXRF measurements were comparable to pelletized pXRF and ICP-MS measurements for elements of interest, and pXRF is shown to be a reliable screening tool to evaluate exceedances for metal regulatory thresholds exceeding 100 ppm (e.g., Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Se), although soil moisture content exceeding 5% is shown to have a dilution effect on in situ results up to about a 30% difference. The current study serves as a case study in Hartford, CT, for the evaluation of in situ pXRF analysis as a rapid soil screening tool, and further research will be needed to extend the current recommendations to a general rapid soil assessment methodology.

Floral richness and seasonality influences bee and non-bee flower interactions in urban community gardens

Pollinating insects are essential for food production. Both bee and non-bee pollinators are undergoing dramatic declines due to land use intensification and its consequences on native ecosystems. While interactions between crops and bee pollinators are well studied, our understanding of the pollination service provided by non-bee flower visitors including flies, ants, beetles and others is still limited. Moreover, the effects of landscape urbanization and changes in floral and nesting resource availability on the network structure of pollinators with both cultivated and wild plants have been poorly studied. We assessed which common bee and non-bee flower visitor groups dominate the interactions with both wild (e.g. Trifolium pratense, Taraxacum officinales) and cultivated plants (e.g. Fragaria ananassa, Cucurbita pepo) in urban community gardens in Berlin and Munich and explored how these interactions between flower visitor groups and plants change over the growing season. We further investigated the effect of changes in urbanization surrounding community gardens, and the availability of floral and nesting resources within gardens on the complexity (i.e. nestedness, linkage density, connectance) of interaction networks. We observed 20 focal plant species and 13 common bee and non-bee flower visitor groups in 30 urban community gardens. We found that dominant plant visitors changed over the growing season, with non-bee flower visitors including ants and flies as dominant early season visitors, and bee pollinators as important visitors later in the season. Nestedness of the flower visitor network increased with increases in floral richness in community gardens, while neither floral abundance nor the impervious surface surrounding the community gardens, garden size or the availability of nesting resources in gardens strongly influenced the flower visitor networks. Our findings suggest that high floral richness in community gardens may ensure the complexity and, thus, the stability of flower visitor networks. Findings further suggest that the role of non-bee flower visitors should be considered for pollination service provision especially in the shoulder seasons. Finally, our results emphasize that urban gardeners play a key role in mediating flower visitor interactions through their gardening practices.