Senior-Friendly Tips to Help Your Green Thumb Flourish

Gardening is a hobby, passion, and lifestyle for many people. Spending time outdoors and seeing the fruits of your labor is rewarding, but as we get older it can become more difficult to get down and dig in the dirt. Rather than let your green thumb turn grey, read on for helpful tips you can use to ensure gardening continues to be an enjoyable activity without strain.

Put Safety First

Gardening brings plenty of health benefits, both physical and emotional. It is a low-impact form of exercise, and brings with it all the advantages of physical activity including bone health, muscle growth, and the prevention of age-related issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Seniors may also experience stress relief, mood boosts, decreased feelings of depression, and heightened self-esteem. However, in order to continue to experience these benefits, gardeners must put safety first, especially during the hot summer months. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, plenty of water kept nearby can help mitigate effects of sun and heat.  A sturdy gardening stool can reduce risk of falling and exhaustion; gardening gloves for protecting hands.  Keeping a phone nearby makes good sense should you need to call for help.

Several forms of gardening are well suited for the senior set, reducing the need to stoop down and move about while putting plants where they can be enjoyed and cared for easily.

Raised Bed Gardening

A raised bed garden not only means less bending, but having your plants high off the ground keeps them away from airborne weed seeds and many pesky insects. A raised bed can be built as high as needed, and using stone, decorative blocks, brick, or timber makes it an eye-catching landscape feature as well.

Vertical Gardening

If you have an available fence, wall, or can have one built, vertical gardening is a unique gardening method to try. Climbing plants are grown in containers and trained upon a vertical panel. You can create your own or buy a tower with ready-made slats; some plants can even be purchased with their own trellis. This method is also good for those who have limited space.

Container Gardening

Container gardening is likewise a great option for those with limited space, as pots can be moved around for easy access and optimal sun exposure. Let your creative side show through by painting terra cotta pots or opt for lightweight plastic pots which often are a dead ringer for their decorative ceramic counterparts. Ornamental plants are the go-to for many container gardens, but for edibles on a small scale, consider herbs, vegetables, or small citrus trees as well.

Keep it Low Maintenance

Working in the yard is labor intensive, from watering and weeding to hoeing and tilling, but there are excellent plant selections for building a lower maintenance garden. Perennials such as peonies, hostas, and daisies are heat-resistant and return year after year with the beauty of annuals. Drought tolerant plants such as coneflower and butterfly weed require less water and are ideal for areas with frequent watering restrictions. Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and prevent weeds, and consider having a drip irrigation system installed to avoid having to carry bulky hoses and watering cans.

Don’t Forget About the Lawn

While you are putting your heart and soul into your garden, don’t let your lawn wither away. In addition to looking nice, a well-kept lawn helps reduce erosion and pollution, reduces water runoff, aids in oxygen production, dissipates heat, and attracts wildlife such as birds. Plus, a lush, green, and attractive lawn encourages us to get outside more and enjoy all the benefits of fresh are. Mowing is essential, requiring strength and stamina, but a riding mower makes this task easier; artificial turf in Santa Barbara is popular and eliminates maintenance almost altogether.

Gardening is a rewarding pastime and a source of happiness and relaxation for many seniors. Getting on in years doesn’t mean your green thumb has to fade away. By adjusting your gardening methods, you can continue gardening for as long as it brings you joy.

Excerpted from Bret Engle on DiyGuys.net

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Jorge CortezContractor and Owner

California Landscape Licensed Contractor. Having grown up right here in Santa Barbara, Jorge Cortez graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in 2007 and went on to join the United States Marine Corps. After completing a tour in Afghanistan and receiving an honorable discharge, Cortez continued his education at Santa Barbara City College. Today, with over fifteen years of experience in landscape maintenance, he combines his passion for the land with his business acumen as owner of SB Evolution Landscape.

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