Gardening is
a great activity for all age groups. It introduces children to the wonders of
nature while prodding everyone to be more physically active and also offering a
great way to refresh racing minds. As we age, however, routine gardening tasks
can become more difficult. Joints get stiffer so that bending and stooping are
harder. Hand strength decreases making it more difficult to grasp tools or pull
weeds. Arthritis! Likewise, endurance and balance can be affected. Changes in
vision affect, well, everything. Perhaps you just find that the gardening
schemes in your head are just more than your stamina will allow you to do.
Rather than
admitting defeat and saying that you're too old to garden anymore, why not make
simple changes to the way you garden? The first step is to look at the design
and layout of your garden. Is it seriously labor intensive? Or spread out over
a vast area? Well then, it’s time to make some adjustments in what’s planted
and where it’s planted.
It’s time to
modify your garden so that most of it is planted in interesting shrubs and
perennials that provide year round color and texture with minimal upkeep.
Consider letting the edges of the garden revert to a more natural state that
will attract wildlife. Then…select an area that’s close to the house (and
driveway too, if possible) where you can “play.” A place for bright flowers,
vegetables, and whatever else interests you and that you want to work with
regularly during the growing season. Consider this area the accent to the rest
of your garden. The crown jewel, even, or if you prefer, your laboratory.
Choosing a
spot close to the house and driveway is important. It means that you won't have
to walk far to get to the part of the garden where you intend to spend the most
time. It also means that unloading plants and bags of fertilizer from the car
will be easier. No more lugging heavy objects for long distances. Depending on
your needs, this special area can focus on regular gardening in the ground,
raised beds, or even containers. Perhaps a mix of all three would allow you to
create a beautiful new mini garden while explore new gardening options.
If you still
feel capable of gardening in the ground, make sure that the soil is loose and
easy to dig in. If it isn't, then both you and the plants will be happier if
you find someone to help you amend the soil. Another modification to consider
is using a stool to sit on while weeding. It will eliminate the need for
bending and make weeding much easier. Another option to consider is the
trellis, which can be used for both ornamentals and vegetables. Trellises can
be vertical lattice structures or even arches over paths or benches. They can
even be teepee type structures made of bamboo poles. What could be more
delightful or functional than a butterbean “tent” in the garden?
If you
decide to incorporate some raised beds into your special gardening spot, then
there are several approaches that you can take: more traditional raised beds
with sides that are perhaps two feet high or taller raised beds that are high
enough to allow cultivation while standing or sitting in a chair. If you decide
to use the lower ones, then why not consider making the top of the boards
surrounding the beds wide enough that you can sit on them while gardening? You
may also find that the addition of grab bars to the top of your raised beds
makes moving from a seated to a standing position easier.
Taller
raised beds can be built from the ground up or they can be constructed like
planters or garden tables with legs. Raised beds on legs can even be
constructed so that wheelchair bound gardeners can push their chairs directly
up to them. Whichever type of raised bed you choose, just be sure that they’re
not so wide that you can’t comfortably reach the middle from the side.
To make
watering your raised beds or special garden in the ground easier, consider
adding soaker hoses. They can be positioned when you do your initial planting
and will soon be disguised as plants grow.
If raised
beds aren't an option or you just don't like their appearance, then large
containers may be the perfect solution. Any type of container can be modified
for use in growing plants. Cattle watering troughs, for example, make excellent
small water gardens and are perfect for growing all kinds of flowers and
vegetables. Hanging containers are also an excellent option for gardeners who
find bending difficult. The most important consideration when adapting a
container for use in the garden is drainage. If the container doesn't have
holes in the bottom, then be sure to drill some before adding soil and plants.
When working
with big containers, it’s important to decide where you want to put them in the
garden before adding soil to them. Once they're full, they will be too heavy to
move. It’s also important to ensure that the containers don’t tip over easily
or get blown about by the wind. Favorite small containers can often be anchored
to posts, walls, or other, heavier containers.
And now for
your gardening tools. We all have favorites that we've used for years, but now
may be the time to re-evaluate them and consider some of the new options
available. There are trowels and weeding tools with ergonomically correct
padded handles that will allow you to work for longer periods of time with less
stress to your hands and wrists. Some also have brightly colored handles that
make them easier to find if misplaced in the grass. There are also long handled
tools, such as rakes, that have been modified to require less arm strength. Some
even have shorter handles that make them perfect for using in raised beds. Similarly,
there are shovels with wider, more ergonomically correct grips that make
digging easier. So many new tools, in fact! Oh…and there’s one other that’s
just as important as these: your cell phone. Always carry it with you in the
garden. Just in case you need help in an emergency.
So…don't despair or think that you’re going to have to stop gardening just because you
can’t do quite as much as you used to be able to do. Garden smarter, not
harder, and enjoy every minute of it.
