I’ve had to rethink gardening this year at my new apartment home. Chronic injuries have limited my ability to create a garden.
I had two choices: Give it up or change the way I gardened.
So I started looking into adaptive garden tools for the disabled for ways to continue gardening.
Raised Garden Bed:
A raised garden bed is one thing to consider to ensure that I don’t have to bend down while gardening.
Below is an elevated raised garden bed I found.
This raised wood bed is 48x24x30 and of ergonomic height with a 200-pound capacity. It also comes with a raised garden bed liner that separates the wood from the soil.
There are several sizes to choose from.
Wheelchair Accessible Raised Garden:
For the wheelchair-bound, below is a wheelchair-accessible raised garden sold at Gardener’s Supply Company.
I’ve shopped at the Gardener’s Supply Company for years. And I’ve never been disappointed with any of their products.
I had a blue raised garden bed that I ordered from Gardener’s Supply years ago at my other apartment.
I planted perennials in my 3-foot by 6-foot raised bed and they came back every year I was there. You can see it here.
Here is another idea that I might consider for my new yard space: The 3-tier garden planter kit.
I could roll around on my garden cart and plant and work in this type of raised garden bed.
Extended Reach Hoe and Cultivator:
Here is an extended reach hoe and cultivator for the disabled person or senior who needs the extra length.
Extendable reach hand tools are designed for working in raised-bed gardens, small gardens, and tight access locations.
Retractable Garden Hose:
The wall-mounted design of this hose reel is a space-saver as well as a time-saver.
Pull the hose out to the length you want, and it automatically locks into place.
When you’re done watering, give the hose a gentle tug and the hose reel will automatically retract back in.
Extended Pruners:
This long-reach pruner is 5.75 x 62.25 x 2 inches.
The head rotates, tilts, and swivels for unlimited cutting positions.
No ladder, no bending, and no stress with this extended pruner.
Extended Loppers:
These extended loppers adjust in length for someone who can no longer climb ladders.
These loppers extend from 27 inches to 40 inches.
Ways To Make Gardening Easier For The Disabled:
- Plant perennials that come back every year
- Plant in raised beds or containers
- Use plant caddies so you can easily move containers around without lifting
- Buy gardening tools that are extendable
- Use a rolling garden cart to sit on so you can move around more easily
Just because you are physically limited does not mean that you have to give up gardening. Get creative and Google “gardening for the disabled” as I did for even more solutions.
Buy tools that will help you with chores that are too difficult for you to manage anymore.
Gardening is a wonderful hobby and you can still enjoy doing it as long as you desire.
Read more here for ideas in designing gardens and gardening tools for the disabled gardener.
Here is a book about gardening for the disabled: Accessible Gardening for People With Physical Disabilities.
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You’ve found some great ideas. Recently on one of my favorite YouTube channels, the lady showed tower gardening, they are call “green stalks” Amazon has them in different heights. I’m thinking of getting one to plant herbs in and also thinking about putting it on wheels..I like that garden seat on wheels you linked too…thank you
I think your apartment & your gardens look awesome 🤗
Such good tips and I have noted these for myself (in the not so distant future:)
One note about the raised planter bed on legs, if someone in your family or a friend is handy with a drill, a raised planter bed could be a simple DIY build and save money especially if you need multiples. To someone with a bit of skill it “may” even be easier than assembling purchased ones!
I recently thought about building one and I found many YouTube videos and blogs out there, most with free building plans. But you will need someone to do it and also lumber is at a premium right now, so it is not for everyone.
If you want to take a look at one, here is a link from blog Angela Marie Made. She also has a You Tube video with a tutorial.
https://angelamariemade.com/how-to-build-a-raised-garden-bed-with-legs/
Anyway for what it’s worth and thanks again for the great summary of products and tips for all of us who want to continue to garden as we get older!
Brenda definitely some “food for thought”, thanks for once again giving your readers useful ideas and possible solutions for making life easier for us seniors.
Excellent gardening info that is sure to be helpful to many people. I really should put my heavy pots on bases with wheels.
I started doing that a few years ago and it sure makes moving the pots easier.
These are exactly the kinds of garden supplies I am starting to need. Sure appreciate your doing so much research for the rest of us! 🙂
I’m with you. I am starting to need them to. Figured I should look into them for all of us.
I LOVE the raised beds that are waist high… I want a few to line the south side of my house. I want to walk along and work and NOT have to lean over, squat or stoop anymore. I still have alot of gardening beds that are ground level so I need to get down on my hands and knees. I rolling cart may be a good idea. I would like one that I can sit on and roll, plus has a real “cart” area to hold all my weeds I pull out.. and then a way to pull it, like a wagon, to the garbage can. I wonder if there IS such a thing. I’ll have to do some research on it. Thanks for the good tips. Marilyn
That sounds like the one I just purchased. You can pull it . See it here…https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TM8K7E?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
What a helpful and informative post. Well done!
Kaye
Many of us are going to need these things sometime in the future if we want to continue gardening. So I didn’t mind spending a few hours checking into them.
We bought 2 hoselinks, retractable hoses. They are wonderful!!
I’ve never had one that is retractable. That sounds wonderful.
Except for the North side of my house everything else is a sun garden. I am liking a shade garden more and more. The perennial hostas and bleeding heart are huge and easy to grow which is a plus! It is nice they don’t fry in the heat and you can weed in the shade. I gave away a pile of smaller planters this weekend. People are always asking for them on Freecycle and I am phasing in larger pots on the porches.
I hadn’t even thought about being able to weed and care for them in the shade. Good point!
These are such helpful ideas, Brenda. I have ordered from Gardener’s Supply in the past and they are excellent. My garden is a balcony garden – I have SO many containers, flowers and herbs and love it so. I moved from a small house about five years ago and left my beloved garden – I know I mourned it. But here, an over 55 active adult condo, I’m on the second floor of three and gardening is therefore limited. It is my joy. I do know how you feel about re-adjusting gardening plans. It gets better, and my aging self knows it is best for me.
I know just how you feel. I’m coming around from being sad about my old patio. As I continue to decorate this patio with plants, I’m beginning to like shade gardening more and more.
That’s what I need is some loppers like that bc no heights for me! Lol
All the rain we have had made my backyard grow to fast!
No heights for me either. I don’t climb ladders anymore.
Thanks for this Brenda!! A wonderful bunch of ideas!!
I hope what I found is a help to you.
So many wonderful things and ideas. There’s that old adage “where there’s a will, there’s a way”.
Your patio has quickly become your happy place, Brenda! And that’s a very good thing, isn’t it?
Enjoy everything about your day!
I stopped being sad about my old patio and found my will, then I found a way!
Fabulous ideas, Brenda! Thank you for doing this research and sharing with us. My “garden” is several pots on two buffet tables. So far, so good!
Well you have to start somewhere.