Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

How Seniors Can Prepare for Gardening Season

Gardening can be an excellent activity for seniors. Not only is it productive, but it also keeps one active and occupied for a few hours every day. Moreover, according to many psychologists, gardening can be quite an effective form of therapy for depression or anxiety. Preparing for the gardening season is a must, and there are a number of ways in which seniors can do this.

Gather Your Gardening Supplies

The first thing to do, is to stock up on the equipment needed for the upcoming gardening season. This would include buying fertilizers, plants and flowers you want to put in your garden. Make sure you plan on planting those plants and flowers or vegetables and fruits that are compatible with the upcoming season or are evergreen. Look up suitable plants online or ask your friends who garden for the best plants that are easiest to grow or that work well for each season.

Plan Your Garden: The Pros of Vertical Gardening for Seniors

The next step is to plan your garden in way which allows you to move comfortably. People who have difficulty in mobility can try to have a vertical garden. A vertical garden would make pruning and arranging plants a lot easier. Furthermore, with a vertical garden you won’t have to bend to low when you are doing your daily gardening. Vertical gardens also allow seniors to build benches or stools where they can sit while tending to their garden.

Raking and Preparing Your Garden

Moving on, once you have decided on the layout of your garden, take time to rake it. This would allow you to get rid of the dead grass and shrubs and inspect the land. Raking not only allows the garden to be prepared for the upcoming season but it also allows you to see if there is any kind of disease present or not. In case there is, you can ask a local gardener or someone with the expertise to advise you on appropriate measures. Since fall is the best time for seeding, it is advisable that the raking should be done before that.

Cleaning and Composting Before Planting

First, before planting any new plants and shrubs, get your garden in shape. Start with the planter beds and then work your way through. Check all the flowers and see if any edges or borders need to be repaired in case they were damaged by frost. Secondly, clean out the dead plants to make room for more. This would also be a good time to add compost to the soil. And last but not the least, clean bird feeders and baths and your garden is ready for the growing season.

The main thing to keep in mind is to be sure your gardening fun and easy for you. It should be a source of comfort and not stress. So, don’t rush into things and exhaust yourself, but rather, go step by step and work your way into your beautiful garden. Evergreen flowers and plants are the best to have as they require minimum supervision and care but nevertheless add a lot of color and liveliness to your gardens.

Happy gardening, folks!

About the Author: Eric Daw is an Older Adult specialist and the Owner of Omni-Fitt. Omni-Fitt is committed to the health of seniors through fitness and all areas of wellness. Eric motivates and encourages seniors in Toronto to take responsibility for their independence and health through positive mentoring experiences. You can find his work at Omni-Fitt or follow him on Facebook.

Categories