Many people get a great deal of enjoyment out of gardening. There is something about growing plants that is in our blood and we are never happier than when messing with soil, seeds and fertiliser. But as the years roll on, gardening and landscaping becomes a more difficult chore. Seniors are not as strong as they once were and they often find it difficult to bend over or lift heavy weights. Digging sometimes becomes impossible. So how can you still enjoy gardening as a senior? Here are some tips to make it easier.
- If you loved showy annuals, keep them for pot-plants and instead, grow perennials or plants that last for many years. This will save a lot of digging and bending over to plant them. There are many shrubs with showy flowers that will remain in your garden year after year with little effort from you.
- Low maintenance gardens are ideal for seniors. There is less watering, next to no digging and you still get to enjoy being outdoors amongst your plants.
- Add plenty of organic mulch to reduce weed growth and feed the garden. It also saves watering.
- Inorganic mulch like pebbles can do the same job –apart from making fertiliser – and look very attractive in a garden.
- If you have pot plants, have them up on a chair, bench or table when planting them to save bending over. Heavy pots need to be placed on a pot stand with wheels to save you lifting when they need to be moved.
- Consider having an automatic watering system installed. This will save you a lot of work in watering and pulling that hose along.
- Get a handyman in for those more difficult jobs rather than trying to do them yourself. It will be worth the cost to be able to enjoy your garden.
- Install a chair rather than a backless bench to sit on in the garden while you are out there. This will give you a rest between jobs and you’ll enjoy the garden more.
- Do gardening a little bit at a time so you don’t get too tired. Half an hour of clipping in the morning and twenty minutes in the evening is better than 40 minutes all at once. In fact, it’s amazing what you can accomplish in just 5 minutes.
- Arthritic fingers? Use special tools with ergonomic handles that are designed for arthritis sufferers. Gloves also help by padding sore points. Ratchet pruning shears will give your hand more strength without any effort.
- Raised garden beds are ideal for seniors who find bending over difficult, but make sure they are not too wide to reach across. Climbing up on them is not a good idea.
