Hoe, Hoe, Hoe -- Gardening is for Everyone When most people think of gardening, they think of someone down on their hands and knees on the ground. This doesn't have to be the case, though. Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities of Americans and one that you don't have to give up because you have a disability, or simply can't walk or bend as well as you once did. What you can do is garden differently. In designing your garden think of your abilities and plan ahead - your garden should match your strength and preferences. Using the right techniques and tools you can garden longer and enjoy it more. Raised Beds and Containers If you can't get down to the plants, bring the plants up to you. Raised beds and containers allow people to garden from a seated position. Raised beds are large bottomless boxes that contain soil. A height of 18 to 24 inches works best. Beds should be no wider than 5 feet if they are accessible from all sides, or 2 ½ feet if used only from one side. Both width and height should be adjusted to what feels comfortable for the individual gardener. A wide variety of annual and perennial plants may be grown in raised beds and once established, perennials such as hostas or black-eyed-susans require very little care. An alternative to raised beds is the use of containers. There are a number of commercially produced plant containers available, but wooden boxes, barrels and even old bathtubs work equally well. Containers work well for small backyards or apartment patios. Again, the container should be at a comfortable width and height for working. To get the most out of your container garden keep the following in mind. All raised planters and container gardens will need more watering than a standard garden. A water source should be nearby. A short hose with a watering wand is easy to maneuver or use soaker hoses or drip irrigation in your containers. If you don't have a water outlet, use a lightweight plastic, not a heavy metal, watering can. Mulching will also slow the evaporation of water from the planter and keep the soil cool for the plant roots. Certain varieties of plants are more appropriate for container gardens. Look for plants or seeds listed as compact, drought resistant or recommended for container growing. If twisting to the side is difficult for you, consider a shallow planter mounted on legs or set on a tabletop. About 27 inches of knee clearance is needed for chairs to fit comfortably underneath a table planter. Remember to create wide paths throughout your garden so you have room to move around easily. The Right Tools The right tools make life and gardening easier. In general, lightweight tools made from plastic or light metal such as aluminum are easier and less tiring to use. Long-handled tools are a must if you garden from a seated position. Telescopic tools can be easily adjusted to whatever length you want and are specifically designed to allow the gardener to reach into the garden bed from a seated position. Regardless of the position you are gardening from, small or children's tools are often lighter and easier to manipulate. You may also customize your tools, a shovel for example, by attaching the blade from a children's tool to a standard length handle. There are many innovative designs for tools available in the marketplace today. Hand tools like trowels have been developed with trigger-style grips that have a little nub to rest the index finger on. Others offer a curved handle or cuff to reduce the need for a tight grip while still affording maximum leverage. Some companies offer tools with handles that are larger, contoured, and cushioned. You don't need to purchase new tools, however. Many of your favorite tools may be easily modified. You can cushion your tool handles by adding grips designed for tennis rackets or bicycles, foam tubing or even self-adhesive ace bandage. Long-handled tools offer greater leverage, but often strain the wrist and back and legs. To permit leaning and to alleviate this stress, fasten a support handle about 30 inches from the top of the long handled tool. D- or T-shaped handles are available and may simply be bolted on to your existing shovels, rakes, hoes or forks. These may be added individually or in combination to optimize movement and strength. Make sure a handle allows you to use it with your arm in the thumb up, neutral position. This reduces strain on your wrist and joints and enhances arm strength. Wood-handled tools can be easily extended or shortened in length or adjusted as described under hand tools to provide a spongy comfortable grip. Some companies also offer special "stand-up" tools like weed diggers. Garden Gear and Gadgets What you wear in the garden counts, but fashion doesn't. If you do garden on the ground use kneepads or a foam kneeling pad. Some gardeners wear gloves with nonslip, sticky grips on the palms to improve their grasp. If you don't like wearing gloves, but are tired of retrieving tools when you drop them try tying a cord around the handles of small tools -- simply pull on the cord to retrieve the tool. You may also attach hand tools to the wrist and forearms with splints or with long strips of Velcro-type material. If you have trouble getting up and down, a kneeling bench is a useful device. The kneeling pad protects your knees and when it's time to get up the bench has steel "arms" you can use to pull yourself up. Some models of kneelers may also be turned over and used as benches. Another handy item is a garden scooter, basically a seat with wheels, which allows you to sit while you weed or plant. Wearing an apron or smock with large front pockets or a tool belt is a good way to keep garden tools, seeds and supplies within easy reach. If you find this too cumbersome, place all your tools and supplies in a large bag or bucket so you don't have to make trips back and forth. If possible, provide a place for tool storage close to the garden in case you do have to retrieve a forgotten tool. Keep a plastic or lightweight metal garden cart handy for moving plants, mulch or other heavy objects around. These carts are smaller and better balanced than the typical wheelbarrow and easier to maneuver. To sow seeds without bending, use a length of one-inch PVC pipe or bamboo. Position the pipe above the planting hole and simply slide seeds down it. Attach a pencil or pointed stick to the end of the tube and you will be able to poke planting holes with ease. Mechanical "click" seeders and seed tape eliminate the need to grasp tiny seeds. A reacher is not often thought of as a gardening tool, but it is very handy especially for those who garden from a stationary position. Reachers come in a variety of styles, but the basic design remains the same - a stick with a grasping device on the end and some type of trigger grip. They come in various lengths and can pick up items ranging from a dime to a 5-pound brick. Ergonomically designed lightweight pruners and floral shears with oversized molded grips are also available to make these tasks easier and more enjoyable. Other Tips to Remember Pace yourself and don't overdo it. Take a rest now and then. Grow vining varieties of peas and beans that can be trained to a trellis to make harvesting easier. Rig hanging planters with a pulley to lower them for watering. Carry a whistle. A short blast can alert others if you need help. Select plants according to your wants and needs; keep the garden in scale with your abilities - smaller is usually better. Gardening is a source of personal satisfaction, providing aesthetic pleasure and the opportunity for relief from daily stresses. There is no need to miss out on these pleasures if you think about gardening differently. Gardening with Arthritis As with any activity, be sure to consult your doctor or physical therapist for any precautions you should take, but here are a few simple suggestions to get you going: Garden in raised beds or containers that minimize bending and stooping. Create wide paths so you may move about easily. Be careful not to put undue stress on your joints. Choose ergonomic tools with large grips and extended handles or use small, lightweight children's tools that are easy to handle. Use a stool, foam or kneeling pad with handrails while working near the ground. Wear gloves to protect your hands and joints. Gardening with Impaired Vision With planning, care, and a readiness to ask for help when you need it you can have a garden that appeals to all the senses. Here are a couple of tips: Getting around in the garden is the first consideration. Install smooth, level and firm paths that provide direct routes through the garden and have clear beginnings and ends. Include wind chimes, fountains or other objects you can hear to orient yourself easily. Every plant has its own scent. Choose plants with different scents and textures. Scented plants include herbs, ground covers such as sweet woodruff, bee balm, a very fragrant flowering plant, or vines like honeysuckle. Many plants have differently textured leaves: soft like lamb's ears or rough like heliotrope. Include some plants to listen to when they rustle in the breeze. Further Information There are a number of companies, websites, books, and newsletters available for gardeners interested in accessible or adaptive gardening tools and techniques. Some of these are listed below: Adaptive Tools and Equipment AdaptAbility P.O. Box 515 Colchester, CT 06415 800-243-9232 Gardener's Supply Co. 128 Intervale Rd. Burlington, VT 05401 800-444-6417 Gardenscape Tools 2372 Queen St. East Toronto, Ontario CANADA Walter Nicke 36 McLeod Lane PO Box 433 Topsfield, MA 01983 800-822-4114 NOT STOOPED Garden Tools P.O. Box 40185 Denver, CO 80204-0185 303-837-8490 Smith & Hawken 35 Corte Madera Mill Valley, CA 94941 800-940-1170 Total Living Company 5 East Napa Sonoma, CA 95476 707-939-3900 Websites Susan's Gardenlinks Page Enabled Gardeners Tools Garden Forever Books The Enabling Garden: A Guide to Lifelong Gardening by Gene Rothert Accessible Gardening: Tips & Techniques for Seniors and the Disabled by Joann Woy Accessible Gardening for People with Physical Disabilities: A Guide to Methods, Tools & Plants by Janeen R. Adil Return to Top of Page
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