Great Gardening Hacks For Senior Citizens

Great Gardening Hacks For Senior Citizens

What kind of plant should you get for your elderly parents or grandparents? Should they get perennials, annuals, or something else?

Gardens are always a great way to brighten your day and improve your health. If you live alone, gardening can also be a nice time to spend with family members. Nowadays, seniors have plenty of ways to enjoy their gardens and take care of them at home.

They don’t even need to leave their homes anymore. Some simple hacks can make their outdoor living space look beautiful and even save some money.

Planting and Gardening Tips If you're planning to plant in clay soil, you need to prepare the ground first. Dig holes twice as wide as your shovel blade and two times as deep as the pot being placed into the hole. Once the hole is dug, fill it with compost and top off with sand.

Then water thoroughly and wait until the next day to plant. If you're planting in sandy soil, dig a four-foot-wide trench and cover it with organic matter. Top that off with six inches of well-rotted manure. Water again, then wait 24 hours before planting.

Most gardener Sydney Wide even recommend using sphagnum moss, since it holds water better than peat. But whatever kind of material you decide to use, plan to put down a thick layer of mulch.

Mulching prevents weeds from sprouting while protecting root rot or roots from drying out.

Gardening lawns with the best mulching tools

15 garden hacks for senior citizens to create a perfect backyard paradise 1. Use Low-Maintenance Plants This is the best hack for those who want to grow vegetables without spending too much time.

You will only need to water once every two weeks if you choose vegetable plants that require less attention.

It takes about 4 months before these types of plants begin showing signs of blooming. They are suitable for beginners as well as experienced gardeners.

2. Create A Pond A pond is one of the easiest things to build. All you need are some rocks, sand and a hose pipe.

Your next step would be to buy fish that will provide food for your plants.

3. Add An Outdoor Kitchen The kitchen garden is an essential part of any garden. This includes fruits, herbs, veggies, flowers and more. It provides fresh produce all year round.

4. Use Simple Tools To Cut Grass And Mow Lawns You do not need a fancy tool kit to cut the bottom grass or to do lawn mowing. Just some scissors and a hand-held clipper will be enough.

5. Grow Edible Flowers Instead Of Bulbs If you like tulips, forget about bulbs and go for edible flowers instead. As long as you keep it cool during summer, you can easily harvest fresh nectarines from your garden when it comes into bloom.

6. Build A Fire Pit When you are alone during winter, this is the perfect place to relax. Building a fire pit is very easy. All you need to start off is to buy a metal bucket filled with stones.

7. Design The Garden With Their Taste In Mind When planning your landscape design or designing the garden, think about what your loved ones love and eat. Consider which kind of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers may interest them most.

8. Plant Flowering Trees Trees that flower attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Once planted, these trees will give you free fresh flowers throughout the year.

9. Make A Vegetable Patch Outside Your Back Door One quick way to increase the size of your garden is by starting seeds outside your back door.

This will help you to expand your garden clean quickly. You just have to remember to keep the soil moist so that the seedlings can grow properly.

10. Get Rid Of Weeds, Trimming and Pruning Weeds compete with other vegetation for nutrients and sunlight. Trimming weeds helps prevent the overgrowth of weeds and improves air circulation around your plants. Pruning shrubs and trees make them healthier and reduce damage caused by pests and disease.

11. Choose Appropriate Sunlight Plants need light to thrive; however, shade is good for indoor plants. Try to position your house in such a way that plants receive adequate sunlight. Also, consider placing plants where they will get direct sun but still be shaded by trees.

12. Buy Plants That Provide Food Many people use herbaceous perennials to feed their pets and livestock. Perennial vegetables like lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli and cabbage can also be used to make nutritious salads.

13. Grow Herbs Herbs can be grown indoors or outdoors. Indoor herbs can either be placed inside a pot or directly in the ground. If you decide to plant pot herbs outside, make sure you select a location that receives adequate sunlight.

14. Include Colorful Shrubs Some small bushes give a finishing touch to a backyard. These include crape myrtles, dwarf boxwood and viburnums. You can even choose seasonal plants ficus and rubber plants that offer colourful foliage.

15. Install Rainwater Tanks Rainwater tanks collect rainwater and store it until it rains again. They also provide water for irrigation systems. Installing a rainwater tank is an inexpensive way to conserve water.

Growing Vegetables From Seed Plants should be spaced at least 18 inches apart, depending on how tall they grow. Taller plants take more room, so keep that in mind when picking locations. Choose spots that get plenty of sunlight but aren't too exposed to wind.

Make sure your garden bed has adequate drainage, either through the soil or rain gutters.

Another option would be to fill larger or bottom pots with a mixture of gravel and potting soil, then place these containers on a shelf in your kitchen and use them as decorative accents.

If you’re unsure where to start, consider calling gardening services in Sydney. Some gardening teams offer different services like rubbish removal, tree trimming, tree removal etc. Check local listings or search online for “gardener Sydney” to help you out.