7 Gardening Safety Tips for Seniors ...

By Neecey

It’s wise for everyone to know the basics of safety in the garden, but gardening safety tips for seniors are a little more relevant since as we age, quite simply, we become more vulnerable and less physically able. Gardening is a fabulous hobby for seniors, keeping bodies fit and active and minds healthy and alert. Rest assured, gardening safety tips for seniors don’t take any of the fun away – just makes it less risky for injury.

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1

Slippery Surfaces

Even the most sure-footed adult can find themselves slipping in the garden during fall. Rotting falling leaves can easily cause surfaces to become slick. One of the most basic gardening safety tips is to get rid of fallen leaves as soon as possible. Also, be aware of any surfaces that have a tendency become slippery after rainfall.

2

Trips

A garden that’s your pride and joy might consist of many different surfaces coming together – that means lots of edges – such as path meeting gravel, lawn edges meeting soil of flower beds, decking meeting paving stones etc… Be sure-footed and where possible, avoid stepping and standing on where two disparate surfaces meet. On the same issue, ensure loose paving and stonework is repaired quickly.

3

Steps

Steps can add interest but can be a major factor when it comes to safety in the garden. Steps should be wide enough to get your whole foot on and shallow enough for the climb to be an easy one. You might consider adding lighting or a hand rail.

4

Hoses and Tools

We’ve all seen the cartoons where someone steps on a rake and it springs up and hits them in the face. Funny on a cartoon - not funny when it happens for real. Don’t leave garden tools lying around so they can become a trip hazard. The same goes for your hose. Store it on a reel and wind it away immediately after use. Avoid using ladders on your own and also, make sure your garden furniture is easy to get in and out of.

5

Lifting

Manual handling is one thing practically everyone learns at work, but bending and lifting improperly is one of the most commonly forgotten rules of health and safety. Poor lifting techniques are responsible for so many back injuries and they can be easily avoided if you remember to 1) Bend your knees when lifting and 2) not attempt to lift anything too heavy. I am always surprised just how heavy large terracotta pots filled with soil and a plant really are. Not to mention bags of compost.

Famous Quotes

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

Aristotle
6

Layout

As much as you might love your garden, as you age, you should consider the layout of your garden; particularly if you want to continue to maintain it yourself. You can continue to enjoy the garden well into your twilight years with a few tweaks. Gardening safety tips to consider are introducing raised beds and borders to reduce the amount of bending and stretching, gardening in pots and containers, and removing high maintenance shrubs/trees that have overhanging branches.

7

Gear

Your well–being in the garden also comes down to what you wear. As well as dressing appropriately for the weather, remember to put on your sunscreen and when particularly hot, a hat is a good idea. You should also protect your hands with sturdy gardening gloves.

I have been reading that other gardening safety tips for seniors includes the consideration of having a panic button in the garden or at least carrying a personal alarm, so that if something untoward should happen you are able to call for help. (Of course, you could always keep your cell phone in your pocket!) Gardening is so beloved by many seniors and if done sensibly, can be enjoyed well into old age.

Do you have any gardening safety tips to share?

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