May 16 , 2024 The Beacon • 31
Ways to make working in your garden easier as you age
Dear Savvy Senior ,
What gardening tips can you offer to older seniors ? I love to putter around and work in the garden , but my back and knees have caused me to curtail my gardening activities , which I miss greatly .
Older Gardner Dear Older ,
There ’ s no doubt gardening can be hard on an aging body . Joints stiffen up , kneeling for prolonged periods hurts , and bending and reaching can strain muscles . But that doesn ’ t mean you have to give up your hobby . You just need to garden differently , add some special tools and know your limits . Here are some tips that may help you .
Limber up
With gardening good form is very important and not overdoing any one activity . A common problem is gardeners often kneel or squat , putting extra pressure on their knees . Then to spare their knees , they might stand and bend over for long stretches to weed , dig and plant , straining their back and spine .
To help protect your body , you need to warm up before beginning . Start by stretching , focusing on the legs and lower back , and keep changing positions and activities . Don ’ t spend hours weeding a flowerbed . After 15 minutes of weeding , you should stand up , stretch and switch to another activity like pruning the bushes or just take a break .
It ’ s also important you recognize your physical limitations and don ’ t try to do too much all at once . And when lifting heavier objects , remember to use your legs to preserve your back . You can do this by keeping the item close to your body and squatting to keep your back as vertical as possible .
Get better tools
The right gardening equipment can help too . Kneeling pads can protect knees , and garden seats or stools are both back and knee savers . Lightweight garden carts can make hauling bags of mulch , dirt , plants or other heavy objects much easier . And long-handled gardening and weeding tools can help ease the strain on the back by keeping you in a standing , upright position versus bent over .
There also are ergonomic gardening and pruning tools with fatter handles and other design features that can make lawn and garden activities a little easier . Fiskars and Felco make a number of specialty tools you can buy online or at local retail stores that sell lawn and garden supplies . Also check out www . Gardeners . com and www . RadiusGarden . com , two online stores that sell specialized gardening tools and equipment that are very helpful to older gardeners .
Make watering easier
The chore of carrying water or handling a heavy , awkward hose also can be difficult for older gardeners . Some helpful options include lightweight fabric or expandable hoses instead of heavy rubber hoses , soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden , thin coil hoses that can be used on the patio or small areas , a hose caddie and reel for easier hose transport around the yard , and a self-winding hose chest that puts the hose up automatically . There also are a variety of ergonomic watering wands that are lightweight , easy to grip and reach those hard-toget plants .
To find these types of watering aids , check with your local lawn and garden supplies stores or visit www . Gardeners . com .
Bring the garden to you
If your backyard garden has become too much to handle , you should consider elevated garden beds or container gardening — using big pots , window boxes , hanging baskets , barrels or tub planters . This is a much easier way to garden because it eliminates much of the bend and strain of gardening but still provides the pleasure of making things grow .
Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior , P . O . Box 5443 , Norman , OK 73070 , or visit www . SavvySenior . org .
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