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Getting older — or dealing with an injury or unexpected change in ability — doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up gardening. It just means you may have to change your approach to doing what you love. Here are a few strategies that I have found helpful:
Set Up for Success
- Plan the day ahead, just what you want/need to accomplish. Take a walk through the garden to review what the needs are. Sometimes, the night before, I will make a list of what needs the most attention. That's when I can sit and think without the day’s routines distracting me.
- When you’re ready to go out, gather your tools. Ideally, your tools have been sharpened and cleaned, and they fi t your hands well. Also, fi nd those gloves that you love. Be sure to bring your little garden cart with the seat, and check to be sure the tires are properly infl ated.
- I always check supplies in my cart before I go out, too. Traveling back and forth to get things you need is tiring and uneventful. I like to have supplies like garden tags (I inevitably discover a volunteer plant I'd like to mark the location of), twine for securing branches/vines, and sometimes zip-ties for fencing or trellises that are askew. If you’ll be transplanting, bring your watering can, soil, pots and fertilizer.
Play It Safe in the Garden
- Gardening can be dangerous. I stay very alert when traversing my uneven yard, and I put on stable footwear.
- I also make sure that I am well-rested to prepare for a work day, and I break up my work into increments. I'll work two hours and then go into the house to do some inside tasks. If I feel up to it, I’ll go back outside to work another two hours. I listen to my body, and when I feel stressed, I simply quit.
- Always, always, I'm watchful of the weather. I don't move as fast anymore, so I'll quit if the sky is warning, and I won't garden in the highest temps in the day.
- I also will not garden when I have many plans for a day, so that I am not in a hurry. There's always another day, and the work waits for me.
Protect Yourself in the Heat and Sun
- When I do go out, I make sure to have a big insulated water container handy, especially in the recent heat extremes. Hydration is incredibly important.
- Sun protection is essential, too. I always apply my sunscreen before going outside and wear sunglasses and a big brimmed hat. I also wear a sports headband to catch sweat, and it keeps my brimmed straw hat from falling off when I bend over. Insects can be aggressive at times, so I keep my favorite non-chemical type of repellent with me.
- With a few changes and a little bit of planning, you can keep growing what you love. Happy gardening!