Home Instead: Gardening for all ages

Gardening can be a great activity for the young or old. It’s satisfying, productive and a very good way to stay active and get some fresh air. Age can make some tasks harder, but here are some top tips on how to make gardening a safe and fun activity no matter what your age.

Build raised beds

Raised beds make gardening easier if you struggle to stretch or bend down to the plants. They are much easier to weed and maintain, as you can perch on the side and use a trowel to plant and weed.

Try container gardening

Essentially, this means planting into a pot or container of your choice. You can place the garden virtually anywhere so that it’s easily accessible – but remember to use lightweight containers for extra easy handling.

Pick your plants carefully

Choosing plants that are easy to maintain and able to withstand a variety of conditions is essential for an easy gardening experience. This ultimately makes gardening less strenuous overall. Easy-to-grow crops include spring onions, broad beans and carrots. If your soil is poor, try growing hardy crops such as rosemary, sage or thyme, which smell beautiful in the garden and can be used in cooking.

Check paths and decking

Look at the surface of paths to check they don’t get slippery at any time of the year. Wood can also get very slippery, so keep an eye on decking. Algae and moss present risks.

Use the right equipment

Using long-handled forks and spades will mean less digging. Choose tools that are lightweight to prevent arm, shoulder and back injuries. Use a stool or chair to save your legs from having to squat or kneel.

Work within your limits and enjoy

Only take on what you can manage and don’t overdo things. Make sure you stretch between activities and swap around regularly: for example, a bit of digging, a bit of watering, a bit of pruning. Most importantly, have fun!

Following these top tips will enable you to do your gardening safely and effectively.

Home Instead proudly sponsors Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh, returning to ITV in July at 8pm on Mondays. We have ten boxes of our Sensory Seed kits to give away. Each kit contains Lavender (smell), Greater Quaking Grass (sound), Spearmint (taste), Sunflowers (sight) and Silver Sage (touch), all of which are fantastic for anyone with sensory loss or dementia – or who just enjoys beautiful plants!

Boxes will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to be a lucky recipient, just call 01628 299097 or email melissa.johnson@homeinstead.co.uk quoting RG10 Magazine.