Wheelchair Gardening Tips
Wheelchair Gardening Tips (wheelchair gardening)
The experts say that anyone can garden, no matter what your situation or how much space is available to you. Gardening could very well be the reason that people using wheelchairs or walkers want to stay in their own homes, instead of heading off to some assisted living facility or retirement condo with little of their own private outdoor space.
Wheelchair gardening is possible, and it is also feasible to design a space that doesn’t scream that it is handicap accessible. Gardening tools and techniques have made gardening accessible to almost anyone who wants to do it. It is all a matter of design, smart shopping, and creative problem solving.
Enjoy your yard and your patio by incorporating some universal design ideas into your landscaping plan. Wendy Jordan in her book Universal Design for the Home (well worth a read, whether you are remodeling or not) discusses general universal design specifications for outdoor spaces.
To begin with, think about gentle ramps, handrails, no threshold entries, smooth paving, raised planter boxes, protective edgings, low maintenance plantings, walkway lighting, covered areas for outdoor seating and wide level pathways. Most adaptations such as slightly wider doorways, low or no thresholds, gentle ramps, smooth walkways and outdoor lighting can be attractive and subtle to the point of not looking out of the ordinary at all.
Wide sliding or French doors with low thresholds can provide an easy transition from house to outdoor gardening/lawn areas. Bring the ground up to meet the edge of the patio or deck, if necessary use a gentle ramp or install smooth pathways throughout the garden and around the perimeters. Raised planters that are accessible from both sides put the planting areas within reach of most gardeners and eliminate the stretching and squatting necessary for ground work.
A gentle wheelchair ramp can be so gradual that handrails aren’t needed. With a little bit of planning it can be decorative and functional as well. Flowering shrubs lining a low ramp can even hide the incline from view.
Walkways need to be kept in good repair, so you can easily access and navigate your garden. They should be level and wide enough for two people to walk side by side and with handrails that can support 250 pounds. Benches can be strategically located so that people with limited strength can rest.
A variety of outdoor lights are available to enhance safety and visibility. Consider floodlights, spotlights, and landscape lighting near walkways, decks and patios. Automatic sensor lights are convenient for people dealing with memory problems, limited vision or mobility. Place outlets at 18 inches from the deck or patio floor to cut down on the amount of stretching or bending for those with joint or back problems.
For the garden itself, consider raised beds, deck railing planters, containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets that can be raised and lowered with a pulley set up make gardening easier from a wheelchair. Raised beds can be hand-built or purchased as kits and can be custom made to fit any location. Consider installing raised garden spigots that can be easily reached for watering or soaker hoses or automated irrigation systems. Last but not least, look for specially made grabbers, forks, spades and other tools that are ergonomically designed to make gardening easier for you.
An overhang or awning can provide shade for people who are light sensitive or have limited vision. Trellises and arbors can also add beauty to your yard and garden. Providing shaded areas in your outdoor design makes working out of doors more comfortable in the warm months.
Even if you're not in a wheelchair yet and hope it's years off, start thinking about accessibly concerns now--don’t wait until mobility is already an issue. By making changes over a few years you can create a workable garden for yourself that make outdoor living a pleasure for years to come without costing a fortune.
Sources:
Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances
The Accessible Home: Updating Your Home for Changing Physical Needs
Thorness, Bill. “Breaking down barriers for an accessible garden," Seattle Times July 18, 2007).
Smith, Virginia. “Gardening that works for all,” (Philadelphia Inquirer, August 4, 2006).
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