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Physically Challenged Gardening
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by Diana Roberts |
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Category:
Landscapng
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| Gardeners love getting their hands dirty as they weed, prune, plant and harvest. It's hard work but we love it. Have you ever thought about what you would do if it wasn't as easy as all that? What if you were physically challenged, in a wheelchair or had arthritis? How would you garden then? It could be that you are in the early stages of arthritis and find that you aren't able to do as much as you could in the past. It gets harder to use tools, and getting down on your knees may be almost impossible. |
Raised bed
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| One of the best things for physically-challenged gardeners is a raised bed. These beds can be built to a height perfect for people in wheelchairs. You can also build a raised bed like a bar with the sides jutting out away from the base of the bed, and then a wheelchair can be wheeled under it for comfortable working conditions. Wheelchair-accessible beds should be no more than a couple feet wide to allow the gardener to reach the whole garden. If it is built to be accessible from both sides, of course it can be wider, possibly four feet wide. Just be sure it is no wider than the reach of the person gardening. If you can’t stand for long periods of time, you may want to have an edge on the raised bed to allow you to sit while gardening. |
Containers
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| Containers are another great option if you are not able to do as much as you could in the past. These are easily accessible if put where you can access all sides of them. You should have taller containers or put them on raised platforms so they are high enough to work in without having to lean down to get at them. If your window boxes are low enough and in an accessible area, they are also great for people with physical challenges. Deck railings are also a great place for gardens because not only are planters very accessible from there, but you get to enjoy the flowers every time you look out your window or venture on to your deck. |
Trellis
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| Planting against a trellis is an easy way to keep plants tidy by being able to dead-head spent flowers from a wheelchair. A raised planter next to a trellis would be perfect on both counts. When it comes to maintenance of your plants, you need to think about gardening tools. In the last several years, ergonomically designed tools have flooded the market. These tools are designed to take the strain out of gardening. There are ergonomic gloves, garden stools, carts, kneeling pads and tools such as pruning shears and rakes. Some of these tools have telescopic and long-handles that eliminate the need for bending, kneeling and squatting. |
Watering
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| If you are physically challenged, and don’t already have an automatic watering system, you need to find an easy way to water your garden. Long handled sprayers are great to let you reach upward or horizontally at a distance to water your plants. Setting up soaker hoses or drip irrigation will also cut back on your work load, then all you have to do is turn on the tap or add a timer to make the system automatic. For physically-challenged gardeners, it is a good idea to have paved or stone pathways to connect essential-to-get-at parts of the garden with areas wide enough to turn a wheel chair. Think about the areas which absolutely must be accessible, such as the area near a tap, doorways and gates, are they easy to maneuver? |
Retaining wall
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If you are planning on putting in a retaining wall a couple of feet high, why not use blocks which could be planted with low-growing or trailing plants. In this way you could have a dual purpose garden structure which would look great and be easily accessible for gardening. |
Potting table
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Another great idea for the physically-challenged gardener is a potting table. This table should be very much like a desk so the gardener would be able to roll a wheel chair under, or use a chair to sit while working. Be sure the table surface is of the right height for working and that the gardener doesn't have to lift their arms up to work. On both sides of the seating area could be drawers or bins to hold soil, fertilizer, pots, seeds, and garden necessities. Any shelves you may want above the table top should be low enough that the gardener does not have to reach too high. Think about making everything you put in your garden easily accessible, then if the time comes and you can’t maneuver as easily, you will be prepared for it.
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