5 Attributes of Successful Gardeners From perseverance to positivity, here's what it takes to be a great gardener. By Elizabeth Waddington Elizabeth Waddington Writer, Permaculture Designer, Sustainability Consultant University of St Andrews (MA) Elizabeth has worked since 2010 as a freelance writer and consultant covering gardening, permaculture, and sustainable living. She has also written a number of books and e-books on gardens and gardening. Learn about our editorial process Published February 21, 2024 06:56PM EST Halfpoint Images / Getty Images Treehugger News Environment Business & Policy Science Animals Home & Design Current Events Treehugger Voices Environment Home & Garden Business & Policy Science Animals Clean Beauty Eco-Design Culture View More Becoming a successful gardener is not something we can do overnight. We could question what it even means to be a successful gardener. We might frame success in terms of yields, in terms of the skills we have gained, or in terms of how our gardens grow. But however we look at what it means to be a successful gardener, most will agree that it takes work and the right attitude to succeed. The other day, I was speaking with someone—a relatively new gardener—about their struggles, and they asked how I thought they might improve as a gardener. Thinking about this question, I decided to come up with a list of the things that I think all successful gardeners have in common. This list of attributes of successful gardeners is the result. 1. Perseverance First of all, successful gardeners have all tried and failed, and tried and failed, and tried again. No gardeners get everything right on the first try, and all who have any measure of success will also have seen at least some failure and some trial and error along the way. Perseverance is crucial to becoming a successful gardener—whatever you personally believe that to mean. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Being able to dust yourself off and begin again when things do not go according to plan is one of the most important attributes all good gardeners will share. 2. Positivity With this attribute, we get to the heart of the matter—what it really means to be a successful gardener and who is judging and deciding whether or not you are a successful gardener or not. How Should We Measure Success in a Garden? With positivity, gardeners can see the good in what they do and have done. A positive gardener can more clearly see where things have gone right rather than where they have gone wrong. They are more likely to recognize that it is only they themselves who can say whether or not they have been successful and who can confidently call themselves a successful gardener. It is important to recognize where we have been successful as gardeners because that understanding—as well as the understanding of where we may not be on the right path—leads us in the direction of future growth and improvement. 3. Kindness In my opinion, kindness is another of the most important attributes of a successful gardener, just as it is important in our broader lives. Being kind, warm, and nurturing can give us what we need to take good care of the plants in our care and the wildlife and other people who benefit from a garden. Kindness informs not only the way in which we interact with people around us but also how we interact with other elements of the natural world—in harmony and with reciprocity for its gifts. 4. Investedness Successful gardeners are invested gardeners. As well as giving plenty of their time and attention, they also care deeply about the work that they do. The more invested we are in something, the better the job we can do, and the more we are likely to care about it. Be a Rule Breaker in Your Garden It is necessary for successful gardeners to invest plenty of their time and attention in their gardens and to recognize that investment as well as the value in what they do. The more you put in (when it comes to time and attention, though not necessarily money), the more you get out—the investment of your own personal resources in a garden will lead to a great return on investment in general. 5. Open Mindedness Last but not least, good gardeners cannot be stuck in the mud. They need to be open-minded and adaptable—able to respond to and use change in positive ways. Being too concrete a thinker does not usually lead to good results in a garden. Gardeners who keep an open mind and who are not afraid to alter their plans to suit changing circumstances or new information are far more likely to meet with success. They are less likely to stubbornly cling to old ideas or practices and more likely to innovate and improve. Of course, gardening also involves the acquisition of skills and the practice of practical processes that we can get better at over time. We need to get our hands dirty and actually garden to become the best gardeners we can be. But it is also interesting to think about the personal attributes that will help us to become successful gardeners so that we can hone those characteristics in ourselves over time. 5 Tips for Building Resilience in Your Garden