to garden
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to garden
To work in a garden as a hobby or profession, meaning to grow plants, care for them, weed, and design the garden.
Am Wochenende entspanne ich mich am besten, wenn ich in meinem Garten gärtnere.
On the weekend, I relax best when I garden in my garden.
The verb 'gärtnern' (to garden) is derived directly from the noun 'der Garten' (the garden). It describes the typical activity that one does in a garden.
Mein Nachbar hat einen großen Garten und gärtnert fast jeden Tag.
My neighbor has a large garden and gardens almost every day.
'Gärtnern' (to garden) is an intransitive verb. It does not take an accusative object. You do not say 'ich gärtnere den Garten', but rather 'ich gärtnere im Garten' (I garden in the garden).
Sie gärtnert mit viel Leidenschaft auf ihrem Balkon.
She gardens with a lot of passion on her balcony.
The verb is often combined with location phrases such as 'im Garten' (in the garden), 'auf dem Balkon' (on the balcony), or 'im Schrebergarten' (in the allotment garden). Adverbs such as 'gern' (gladly/with pleasure) or 'leidenschaftlich' (passionately) are also common.
Wir gärtnern am Wochenende immer zusammen in unserem Schrebergarten.
We always garden together in our allotment garden on the weekend.
to grow / to add on
'anbauen' and 'gärtnern' both have to do with plants. 'anbauen' specifically means planting and caring for plants such as vegetables, herbs, or grain, usually with the goal of harvesting them later. 'gärtnern' is more general: you work in the garden, care for plants, remove weeds, or design flower beds. This can include growing something, but not all gardening work is cultivation. The words can be confused because both can happen in a garden. When it is about a specific crop or useful plant, 'anbauen' fits. When it is about the activity of working in the garden overall, 'gärtnern' fits.
Am Wochenende gärtnert die Nachbarin gern mehrere Stunden hinter dem Haus.
On weekends, the neighbor likes to garden for several hours behind the house.
Wegen der hohen Preise baut die Familie dieses Jahr mehr Gemüse selbst an.
Because of the high prices, the family is growing more vegetables themselves this year.