Gardening for Life

March 8, 2024

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The wellness benefits of gardening are available for all ages. Varied abilities among gardeners means adaptations to traditional practices are necessary. There are many tools and tricks to make this possible. Keeping gardeners safe, regardless of age, is key to a successful growing season.

Be realistic about what can be accomplished each day. If you’re gardening with a child, plan to spend plenty of time exploring and learning alongside him/her. If time is of the essence, save these tasks for more experienced helpers or independent gardening. Hire a crew or seek other help to complete tasks in a timelier manner.

Make a list of the tasks that need to be accomplished each day and complete them in an order that varies the movements. Spending hours kneeling and weeding is going to put strain on joints which can result in long-term damage. Instead, spend 15 minutes weeding each day followed by a task that requires different movement and posture.

Minimize maintenance. Select plants recommended for your area. Use automatic irrigation or a soaker hose to reduce the amount of time spent watering. Limit the garden size. Supplement your harvest by visiting the farmers market. You can grow less and do good by supporting local farmers.

Observe the garden from a different perspective. Identify ways to improve accessibility such as increasing the raised beds to standing height. If there is a body of water, is it fenced to protect young children? Is the pathway level and safe to walk on? Is there a section of the garden that steals your joy? Change it!

Ensure proper maintenance of all tools. Keep pruning tools sharp so less effort is required to make each cut. Keep wooden handles free from splintering. Here is a resource from K-State to assist with keeping tools clean and sharp: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf3288.pdf

Use lightweight tools such as those made with plastic, carbon, fiber or aluminum handles. Handle the tools prior to purchasing to ensure they are a good fit. Most gardeners tend to prefer lightweight tools with a long handle. This prevents bending over to work and adding strain to the back. Short-handled tools may be a better fit for gardening while seated. The handle of the tool can be thickened to improve grip by wrapping it with layers of tape or adding a foam pad.

A universal cuff is an adaptable device that can be added to most hand-held tools as a grip aid. Gardeners who lack a strong grip can use a hand cuff to assist them in holding tools including the garden hose. The arm cuff supports the hands and wrists to decrease strain while performing tasks such as cultivating and digging.

Kneeling pads/benches can protect joints while also reducing soil compaction. Rolling garden seats allow the gardener to sit while weeding and planting. It can be pulled through the garden to provide a place to rest as well. A bag installed on the side of the kneeling bench or seat can offer a place to store hand-held tools so they are easy to find. Pulling a wagon or other wheeled cart is helpful for gathering debris and transporting plants while reducing the strain to your body and the risk of tripping.

Invest in a good pair of gloves that will accommodate any gardening task. This will protect you from cuts and the potential for infection.

Store tools in a central location. Avoid leaving tools out where they can become a trip hazard. Unplug power tools and never leave tools unattended when gardening with children. It is important for young gardeners to learn tool safety which includes supervision.

Keep pathways smooth and level to reduce fall risks. Use contrasting path materials, sound or plants to define areas of the garden.

Bring the garden to you. Bountiful gardens can be grown in many ways. Window boxes, raised beds and a multitude of container types facilitate gardening while standing or seated. Keep the size of planters less than three feet across to reduce the need for reaching. All points in this size planter can be reached with short handled tools.

Rest and relax. Place a comfortable seat in a shaded area of the garden. On days that are predicted to be warm, do garden work in the early morning hours. Take frequent breaks, wear a hat and sunscreen. Bring your phone with you to the garden, especially if you garden alone, in case help is required. Bring a book to the garden to encourage you to take a break and do some reading in the shade.

There are many considerations to make when designing a garden that is safe for everyone. If you are planning to establish an accessible garden we have resources to help.