From an established garden that you have had for 30 years or have moved to a more manageable place with a small gardening space all of us have an intuitive appreciation and enjoyment for the outdoors, even as we get older.
Following are suggestions for helping some of us continue to garden as age makes it a little more challenging.
Provide accessible entrances and paths creating a barrier-free garden
- Edging for ease of maintenance
- Mulches to conserve water, discourage weeds and ease of access
- Steppingstones and pathways to invite garden visits
Raised planting beds, growing containers and other structures that keep plants and soil at a comfortable working height
- elevated planting beds to reduce bending and stooping
- wheeled patio planters for ease of planter movement on patio
- patio pots for gardening in small spaces
Automated irrigation
- water wands for ease of irrigation application in containers
- soaker hoses for ease of irrigation in raised beds
- drip systems for ease of irrigation in landscape beds
- self-watering planters to lessen irrigation applications
Specialized tools and equipment can take advantage of limited abilities
- Garden kneelers to ease in bending and getting back up again
- Garden stools to ease in bending
- Garden carts to ease in moving garden supplies and debris
Plants are the easy part. Once the garden is adapted, grow what you want to grow.
- Flowerpots are easy to care for, adaptable to small spaces and provide enjoyment
- Vegetables can easily be grown in container gardens or patio pots
- Perennials are a little more challenging in containers but terrific in ground beds
- Shrubs and trees are relatively easy to plant and once established require limited care
Some gardeners like to grow some of their own food – certainly one of the more tangible rewards. Others simply want a pot or two with colorful flowers to enjoy. There are so many simple ways to modify a landscape and equip the dedicated gardeners to garden forever.
Let’s face it; if we live long enough, traditional ground level gardening will be increasingly difficult. To stop gardening because of age is the worst thing that can happen to a gardener. With minor adaptations to the garden itself and a few carefully selected tools, anyone can stay involved in gardening and continue for a lifetime.
