Lawn & Garden Tips for Seniors

Maintaining a lawn and garden can be burdensome for many seniors. The constant bending and reaching to weed flower beds or spread mulch can aggravate backs. Mowing lawns and trimming bushes can be exhausting for seniors with low endurance. The risk of heat exhaustion or even experiencing a fall can be enough of a reason for some seniors to throw in the towel and let their garden beds grow wild.

However, for some seniors, gardening might be a favorite hobby. The thought of not working in the dirt might bring more aches and pains to their emotional and mental well-being. Fortunately, there are many ways to adapt garden and lawn care so that seniors can continue to enjoy the great outdoors. Here are a few lawn and garden tips for seniors, perfect no matter the color of your gardening thumb.

Protect Yourself

Any time you head outdoors, you want to start by protecting yourself. Whether you plan to be outside for a few minutes or an entire afternoon, you want to be sure to wear sunscreen and grab a hat and sunglasses. Check your garden gloves from last season and replace if they are worn or torn. Senior skin is more fragile, so it’s important that your gloves are in good shape to prevent pricks or scratches from typical garden work. If you plan to be outdoors for a long time, it’s a good idea to wear long pants and long sleeves as added protections against harmful UV rays. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, bring a water bottle with you, and always keep your cell phone on you.

Raise It Up

Avoid excessive stooping by installing raised garden beds. There are a variety of ways to create a raised garden bed and many local hardware stores sell kits that you (or a family member) can put together at home. Consider your outdoor space and place a raised bed near or on a backyard patio. This will provide more stability and even easier access. If you don’t have space for a large raised garden bed, check out our next tip.

Downsize to Containers

Another alternative to raised garden beds is container gardening. Many vegetables and herbs can grow abundantly in smaller pots or containers. Since container gardening can take up a lot of valuable patio space, select your favorite vegetables and devote your time and energy to nurturing them throughout spring and summer. Try incorporating some herbs in your flowerpots to save space and add variety to your potted plants. Some greenhouses even offer starter plants in containers, taking the guess work out of planting.

Increase the Green Space

As you evaluate your lawn and garden beds, it might be time to consider increasing your green space. This means transforming some garden beds back into lawn, so that you have less to maintain. You want to leave some curb appeal in the front of the yard, but backyards and side yard garden beds can be cut back to create less outdoor work. While you’re evaluating your lawn, consider areas where you can create more natural habitats that require less work. You can also replace high maintenance annuals or perennial plants with hardy perennials, leaving you with beautiful beds that require little effort.

Hire Routine Help

Another great tip is to hire a lawn and garden maintenance company to service your lawn for you. This is extremely helpful if you have balance difficulties, mobility challenges, or simply get tired after a few minutes of exertion. Enlist the help of grandkids, especially those who are in high school or college and are looking for little extra income. Hiring help doesn’t mean that you need to be completely hands-off. You can still enjoy gardening, but in smaller spurts. Plant potted flowers or your raised vegetable bed. Leave the more challenging work for the younger generation.

As you evaluate your lawn and garden needs, perhaps it’s time you reach out to Visiting Angels South Elgin for more support. We offer a variety of senior home care services that allow seniors to stay active, safe, and independent in the comfort of their own home. We can even assist seniors outdoors, helping them with simple garden tasks that bring them joy. If you are ready to take that next step, please contact us today so that we can learn more about your situation.