Accessible, Adaptive and Age-resilient Gardening, Part 1
Gardening exercises body, mind and spirit. But what happens when an illness or trauma, a pre-existing or worsening pre-existing condition or age throws a wrench in gardening activities? Does gardening cease? Fortunately, the answer can be a resounding, ‘No!”. Gardens can be adapted to accommodate all kinds of physical conditions and mobility challenges. Tools can be modified, and some are already made to be ergonomic. Sometimes it takes a little creativity and thinking outside the box. Gardening should be fun, safe, comfortable and creative.
This first installment will cover safety, raised bed, container and vertical gardening options, garden walkways and irrigation solutions. Next time: tools and plant suggestions.
Safety first: Keep water nearby and drink it to stay hydrated. Wear gloves and a hat and use sunscreen, reapplying it as needed. Declutter the yard and garden storage to prevent trip hazards. Hang the tools up when not in use. Ladders are only for younger, more agile garden assistants. Absolutely know your limits and definitely get help when needed. Think about the best time of day to garden for you. If you have osteoarthritis and the pain worsens as the day goes on, garden in the morning. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints are locked up in the morning and you have to move a while to get those joints lubed, the answer is to garden later in the day.
Gardening does not need to be for the weekend warrior who is trying to spruce up the entire yard in one afternoon. Break up that yard into rooms or zones. This applies to everyone. Set a time for one task and in one area. This time ideally should not be more than 20 minutes for one movement or action in order to reduce muscle strain. If weeding is the goal, gather the tools needed, set a timer and work on that one area for 20 minutes, then switch to a different action that involves a different group of muscles for 20 minutes. Take a short break (20 minutes?) in between tasks and drink the water you brought for the occasion.
Raised beds make a big difference in garden accessibility. A major advantage is avoiding having to kneel or bend. Think of all the people you know with bad knees. The ideal height of the raised bed is hip-height of the gardener. In building the structure, keep in mind that our height often decreases with age. And if a wheelchair is in the present or in the future for the gardener, some open room under the bed to accommodate the wheelchair is important. A wooden, raised bed on locking casters could be one solution. Also, keep in mind access to irrigation when planning the raised beds. Years ago, a friend and her husband, both Master Gardeners for another county, were forced to downsize their home. They reframed that loss and re-designed their new home’s backyard with raised beds they built of stones for growing their own vegetables. The edges were topped so that tools, produce or tushes could be safely landed. They set up the beds with drip irrigation from the get-go.
Another option for planting is to use containers. Light-weight containers are easier to relocate. Some gardeners opt for self-watering containers to avoid having to water plants daily. With water in them, they do weigh more. Containers need good drainage – make sure the drainage holes have been drilled before planting. If the container has any heft, a rolling base with locking wheels is a big help. Check that the drainage holes aren’t blocked by the rolling base. Getting the plant bottom up off a hot deck helps prevent plants from frying and makes it easier to clean up around. If the container is placed directly on the ground on soil or gravel, there may be less need to raise it.
Another beautiful option is a vertical garden. The height should be a few inches less than what the gardener can reach. Vertical gardens can be for vines or twining plants like peas or beans. Fruit trees or fruit vines can be espaliered and kept low, so the gardener can safely reach them. Or just plant dwarf trees or shrubs and prune regularly to keep them at a height that upkeep can be managed. Container planters can be hung on a fence, though from experience, plant something in them that is drought-tolerant. Succulents tend to do well.
A wider, flat, paved, non-slippery walkway in the garden is recommended for those using walkers or wheelchairs. The pathway should be wider than the walker or wheelchair and the edge of the pathway should be level with the adjacent ground – no gulleys. It’s really easy to lose balance and end up on the ground if the walker or walking aid ends up in an adjacent ditch no matter how shallow it is.
Keeping plants watered can be a challenge. If the area is small and there are only a few container plants, a watering can could suffice. I have used one-gallon plastic milk cartons with small holes drilled in the cap to water container avocado trees. The container is filled with water, and then inverted so the cap is on the soil to water the trees. But, does the gardener have the upper body strength to lift a water jug holding a gallon of water? One gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. A hose with a sprayer nozzle that is easily shut off can also work well. A sprayer wand can be helpful for those who need to reach to get to the plants. A lighter weight hose might be indicated. Plan the hose route so the hose isn’t a trip hazard. The optimal solution is a drip system with a manual timer, or even better, an automatic timer. My difficulty with this solution is the trip-hazard of the drip tubing. Obviously, it needs to be against a wall or buried in the soil, but that isn’t always an option. Regardless, a thick mulch layer helps to decrease the watering frequency and the need for weeding later.
Next time: Tools for Adaptive Gardening (There are a LOT!) , Plant Suggestions for Special Needs
References:
Accessible Gardening for People with Physical Disabilities A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants, Janeen R. Adil, Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 1994
The Age-Proof Garden, Patty Cassidy, Leicestershire, UK: Southwater Books, 2012
Gardening for a Lifetime, Sydney Eddison, Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2010
The Lifelong Gardener, Toni Gattone , Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2019
Garden for Life: Strategies for Easier, Greener, More joyful Gardening as We Age, Rhonda Fleming Hayes, Chelsea VT: Chelsea Green, 2026