If you use a wheelchair, the idea of disabled gardening might not have crossed your mind. But let me tell you, it’s more than possible, and loads of fun, too!
If you have a garden, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as creating a friendly and welcoming space for your whole family to enjoy, that you know you have made and maintained yourself, all from the comfort of your own wheelchair.
Top Tips for Disabled Gardening
Let’s face it, whether you’re disabled or not, a lot of the rules surrounding gardening are going to stay the same. You need to have a good idea of what you want to achieve from your garden, a ‘vision’ of what you would like it to look like, and a good knowledge of the plants, flowers and furniture that will go together and survive in the climate you live in. Gardeners also often use their senses well, too. It’s important to have a good sense of colours that complement one another, an idea of the smells you want to create in your new garden, and the tastes too, especially if you’re thinking of growing herbs or vegetables!
If you think you’ve got all of these qualities and would like to give disabled gardening a try, these are a few things that might differ from usual gardening and that you might have to consider in order to make your green fingers a true success:
Disabled Gardening Equipment
Like any other gardener, you are going to need to special tools to get the job done as efficiently and successfully as possible. However, if you are sat in your wheelchair, you might require spades and trowels with longer handles, for example. Don’t forget to look online or visit your local garden centre to see what accessible equipments are available.
Planting at Height
If you are a disabled gardener who is a wheelchair user, you might want to consider planting at height. By this, I mean planting flowers in plant pots that you can move to a higher level to suit you, rather than bending down or getting on your knees to plant flowers in the ground.
Knee Pads!
If you are able to get onto the floor to garden, don’t forget to buy some sturdy knee pads so that you don’t find yourself in too much pain. These are always available from local garden or hardware stores, and even some supermarkets.
Take Breaks
Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say. If you are a disabled gardener, don’t be afraid to do things at your own pace and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Gardening should be enjoyable, not a chore, and it’s a ongoing process that always develops and changes. Plants are living things, so there’s always something that can be done to help them survive and grow. Take your time and enjoy your gardening journey!
Throw a Gardening Party
Sometimes, every gardener needs a bit of help and encouragement, whether they are disabled or not. Don’t be afraid to ask for a bit of outdoor support by hosting a gardening party. Ask your friends to bring their tools and their favourite plant, vegetable or flower so that they can help to make your garden really bloom and flourish. In return, why not put some music on, mix some cocktails and set up a delicious barbecue for all your guests to enjoy? It will be a party to remember!
Hopefully this article has encouraged you to try out some disabled gardening, and create an outdoor space that you, your family and friends can enjoy and be proud of. Have a great time!
