If you get around in a wheelchair or all-terrain mobility scooter, the spring months when gardening is at its best can be a bother. But for people who love gardening that are faced with mobility issues, there are solutions available. We will take you through our top tips to help gardening be more accessible for the elderly and disabled.
- Use your wheelchair or mobility scooter for your gardening. The gardening is easier when you have raised beds and good paths to access the flower beds or vegetable patches.
- Warm up before you start with simple bending and stretching exercises, to loosen your muscle. Keep limber throughout your gardening sessions to avoid stiffening up and take regular breaks for a cup of tea!
- Downsize your garden, so you don’t have as much to deal with. If you just have a small space to focus on, your gardening tasks won’t seem as overwhelming.
- Go for seasonal flowers and plants, so your attention is on fewer jobs; this also means you can enjoy a variety of flowers and plants the whole year round!
- Buy tall flower pots that reach waist height so you don’t need to bend down and can plant and weed them when sitting down.
- Get your tools ready before you start a task, so you don’t need loads of trips back and forth to the shed. Keep your tools and equipment organised too so that you can access them easily.
- Get some tools that extend your arms to reach any ground level flower beds; trowels, pruners and cultivators can also be extended to make them easier to use.
- Buy tools that have lightweight handles which are easier for the strain on hands and wrists that also offer a good grip.
- Pace yourself with the gardening – don’t try to get all the weeds out at once! Take it easy but keep it regular so no weeds will take over.
- Go for self-sufficient plants that require little care. Getting shrubs and bushes that only need pruning back every year is much easier to handle than plants that need a lot of TLC!
- Ask for help from family and friends when it comes to something difficult, such as moving heavy flower pots and try to get the heavy lifting done at the same time.
- When it comes to watering, the biggest problem is the weight of the watering can. Buy smaller and lightweight watering cans, as they are easier to hold and use. It might mean you spend more time watering, but it helps with your independence!
- For mowing the lawn, remember to stretch before doing so as mowers can put a strain on your back and arms. Try buying a mower that is height adjustable, as this will allow you to mow when in your wheelchair.
- When you need to move things around outside, have a range of options that are comfortable to use, this could be a lightweight bucket for carrying tools, lightweight wheelbarrows or trolleys for heavier items.
Do you have any tips that help you with gardening when faced with mobility issues? If so, we’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment on our social media channels!
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