Though it happens every year, the arrival of spring is always a source of joy. For many of us, spring is the time for tending lawns, planting flowers, and beautifying decks, patios and window sills. The benefits of being out in nature are well known but bear repeating. According to the Greater Good Science Center at University of California, Berkeley, spending time out of doors in natural spaces reduces stress … makes you happier … relieves attention fatigue, increases creativity … may help you to be kinder and more generous and make you feel more alive.”
Like everyone else, people with disabilities reap tremendous benefits from experiencing nature. Yet, they may face greater challenges when it comes to creating and maintaining their outdoor spaces. Thanks to adaptive gardening tools, and thoughtful landscaping design, the challenges are surmountable. Here are some tips for making gardening accessible to all.
1. Make room for a wheelchair
Make sure paths are flat, hard, and at least three feet wide to accommodate a wheelchair. Paved paths are ideal for wheelchair users but if that’s not possible in your garden, keep grass well-mowed and dirt paths even and well-maintained. If there are stairs in your garden, replace them with a ramp.
 2. Raised Beds
Raised garden beds enable gardeners who use a wheelchair, walker or have difficulty bending over for long periods of time to reach their plants. Jeff Stafford of HGTV.com recommends building beds “to a height of 28 to 30 inches with easy access to the bed center so you can water and tend to the plants from any side.” This will greatly reduce bending over and eliminate gardening on your knees.” Another option for gardeners who need to work while sitting down are table gardens which are simply raised beds that are elevated with room underneath to accommodate a chair.
3. Lighten your load
Minimize the work but keep the garden beautiful by planting more perennials (that come back every year), fewer annuals (that must be replanted every year), and mulching to maintain moisture and decrease the need for weeding.
4. Consider container gardening
Grow plants, vegetables and flowers in pots and other types of containers. You’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of plants and flowers and the nutritional advantages of fresh veggies without putting undue strain on your body.
5. Purchase adapted gardening tools
Adapted tools such as Enabling Devices’ adapted garden spray make a world of difference when it comes to gardening. Other tools to invest in include rolling seats, long handled tools, and support cuffs or add-on handles that make it easier to control and grip gardening tools.
