One of the things that you get to do when you retire is take up new hobbies, and gardening is one popular hobby for many seniors. It’s a great way to get physical and mental exercise in a way that’s not too strenuous, and you also get a beautiful space on your own property for relaxing or entertaining. You’ll have fresh flowers to decorate with, or, if you enjoy cooking, you may also enjoy using fruits, vegetables, and herbs from your own garden in your recipes. However, it’s a good idea to make sure that your garden remains accessible as you age. Even if you’re in great physical shape now, you want to design with an eye to the future, so that you can still enjoy your garden even if you develop mobility problems. Take a look at some tips that can help.

Plant At A Height That Works For You

One of the things that can sometimes make gardening difficult for seniors is the need to get down on hands and knees on the ground to plant, prune, and weed. You can alleviate this difficulty by creating a container garden or planting in raised beds. When you use tall containers or raised beds for planting, you eliminate the need to get down on the ground. You can even choose containers in heights that can be easily reached from a wheelchair or scooter.

You can also use hanging planters to ensure that plants are at a height that’s easy to work with. Hanging planters also have the advantage of giving you space to plant that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Another option is to use table planters – shallow trays of soil supported by table legs. As long as the table planter is high enough to allow a chair underneath, you can sit and garden just the way you might sit at your dining room table.

Make Your Garden Easy To Get To

While you’re planting, or while you’re mapping out where the various beds, containers, and planters will go, make sure that you’re not letting your garden get so crowded that there isn’t room for a pathway through the plant life. If you take the time now to include pathways that are smooth and level – even paved if possible – you’ll be grateful for your own foresight later on. Make sure that your paths are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or walker.

Make Maintenance Easy

Planting, weeding, and harvesting aren’t the only things that go into making a gorgeous garden. There are also a lot of home exterior chores that need to be kept up with. However, you should make these as easy as possible for yourself.

For example, instead of risking your neck by climbing a ladder to clean your gutters a few times a year, you can have gutter covers installed that prevent leaves and debris from entering the gutter system in the first place. This ensures that the rainwater on your property goes where it’s supposed to and prevent clogs and debris from backing up and damaging the outside of your home. Take advantage of devices like these that make outdoor maintenance easier whenever possible – that way, you stay safe and can focus on the fun parts of gardening.

For more information about gutter covers and exterior home maintenance, contact us today.

Written by Del Thebaud