Gardening in Place: How to Grow a Bountiful Harvest When You Have Limited Mobility

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Every summer in backyards across the country gardeners are interfering planting , watering , and blarney seedling into healthy mature works that bring forth food and flowers . For some , gardening involves extensive bend , weeding , and insistent watering , all tasks that can pose problems for mobility - challenged individuals . We refer horticulture and disability experts to get their best advice for reach the joy of garden uncommitted to all .

1. An Easy Path to Success

navigate narrow garden paths with tough aerofoil is a hindrance to those who might need to garden from a wheelchair or use a Zimmer frame to get around . Elle Meager , Founder and CEO ofOutdoor Happens , a website dedicated to horticulture , reward the need for comfortable - access pathways . “ Start by check that yourgarden pathsare wide enough , ” she tell , suggesting a minimum width of 5 to 6 feet . Keep paths clean , and “ endeavor to eliminate pebbles , rocks , ice , or other debris that can interrupt mobility , ” Meager adds .

2. Elevate the Garden

When bending to reach a ground - floor garden is out of the query , consider elevating the garden to a comfortable height . Melinda Myers , plantsman and horticulture expert , underwent a double - knee renewal 12 year ago , so she understands the challenges traditional horticulture can pose for someone with modified mobility . An elevated bed such as this2 - tiered poser from Yaheetechfeatures a 30 - inch - in high spirits planting bed that gardeners can get at standing or from a seat without bending .

3. Limit Garden Bed Width

While extensive pathways provide easy entree , Bryan McKenzie , landscape designer and Colorado - beginner ofBumper Crop Times , a web site dedicate to gardening , landscaping , and plate melioration , advocate keeping garden beds narrow . “ This style you will see to it that all the plants in your garden are well approachable and do n’t require you to make any uncomfortable front , ” McKenzie says . He also suggests growinglow - sustenance plantsthat do n’t require frequent attention .

4. Use Suitable Garden Tools

Heavy tools and garden utensils with acuate alloy handle are obstacle to mobility - friendly gardening . McKenzie counsel using “ smallwatering cansand tools with elongated handles with froth - enclose grips . They ’re an excellent solution for those who involve surplus reach and depleted tension on the joints . ” For case , theEbristar Plastic Watering Canweighs just 9 ounce , and it has a long spout so gardeners do n’t have to adulterate or reach to keep plants hydrated .

5. Hang a Planter

Some of the easiest - to - access plants are grown inhanging planters , Meager told us : “ They ’re the ultimate easy - access gardening lineament because you could hang up your planters anywhere with sunshine . ” Since flow planter are up and off the ground , users need not care about travel over them or have them block walkways . Hanging planters come in various style , such asBloem ’s Terra Cotta Hanging Garden , which can hang well from afenceor rail .

6. Document Gardening Chores

harmonise to Clive Harris , garden guru and Maker ofDIY Garden , one of the UK ’s top gardening blogs , cognitive issuing might accompany mobility issues seen in the elderly . “ A bare journal with a tick box is an first-class means to keep track of steady garden tasks such as lachrymation , pricking out seedling — even fulfil thebirdbath , ” Harris said . He also commend let home members involve in supporting aged relatives by helping them set horticulture destination .

7. Use Mulch to Weed Less

“ Pulling weedsis a chore for most nester , ” Meager say , “ And , for those with circumscribed mobility it seems even more daunting . ” To eradicate weeding chores , Meager , who is also a master gardener , recommends using a lasting - typemulch , such as rocks , golosh scrap , or pretty pebbles , around shrubs andperennialsto stop weeds . She explains that these type of mulch outlast wood and bark mulch . Plus , rubber mulch , such asRubberific Shredded Mulch , wo n’t attract insect .

8. Consider an Irrigation System

sweep a hose and sprinkler around is a nonstarter for mobility - challenge gardener . Garden hoses canweigh upward of 20 pounds , and come a sprinkler in just the right-hand spot is a practice in trial and computer error . A better result is to instal adrip irrigation organisation , such as theHIRALIY Drip Irrigation Kit , which comes with everything ask to plant up a drip organization that waters big areas of a garden or a series of stool and planters . Once the scheme is in place , it require the gardener to merely turn the faucet on . For even more widget plug in an automatic timer , such as theRAINPOINT Sprinkler Timer , to automatize the lacrimation cognitive process .

9. Opt for a No-Maintenance Lawn

For mobility - challenge gardener who desire it all — beautiful perennial borders and peak beds that enhance the landscape — Ben Hilton , horticultural fancier and editor in chief ofThe Yard and Garden , suggests install anartificial lawn . “ Modern celluloid lawns are ultra - realistic in texture and color , ” Hilton said . “ you could have a flat lawn with excellent drainage , thoroughgoing for wheelchair access . ” Today’stop - quality imitation sod optionsremain green all yr long without the motivation for water or chemical applications .

10. Provide Suitable Seating

For those who can make their elbow room around the garden but do n’t have the ability to bend to do gardening tasks , prosperous seating is essential . A inflexible roll seat such as theGreen Rolling Scoot - N - Do Garden Seatallows the substance abuser to pose on a swiveling tractor - style bit for transplanting and plant pruning . Look for a portable electric chair that has large wheel that roll easily along garden pathways , and has a tray or catch - all to reserve horticulture shaft and supply .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll help you go down up your first garden — whether that ’s a few plenty on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and select the ripe plants for your soil and region .

gardening in place