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Garden

5 Gardening Tips for Seniors

by Silverado April 29, 2021

written by Silverado

Gardening is one of the best hobbies for older adults, offering sunlight, fresh air, and a healthy dose of physical activity. Whether you’ve got a lifelong green thumb or you’re picking up the pruning shears for the first time, spending time in the garden is a great way to stay fit and feel great in your golden years. 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors
Like almost any other activity, gardening can become more difficult in old age. But with the right precautions, gardening can be a safe and rewarding pastime for older adults.
Worried that age might get between you and your begonias this year? Here are five ways you can make gardening a more senior-friendly activity.

1. Plant Smarter

A lot of seniors become first-time gardeners in retirement. Meanwhile, others in their 70s and 80s find that gardening gets harder with each passing year. In either case, it’s a good idea for seniors to plant easy-to-care-for plants. Look for plants that are resistant to weeds, that don’t require too much pruning, and that can withstand a little neglect.

2. Grow Up Already!

The biggest reasons most older adults give up gardening is the amount of kneeling and bending involved. If you have joint pain or back pain, gardening can quickly become an unpleasant activity. Here’s a solution: grow vertically. Many senior gardeners switch to raised planters and trellis-based plants so that they put less strain on their knees and spine.

3. Choose Equipment Wisely

Another common issue seniors face when gardening is hand pain. This is typically caused by arthritis-related discomfort. It can also be caused by uncomfortable gloves that chafe or irritate sensitive skin. To avoid these issues, older gardeners should pick their equipment carefully. Make sure to use ergonomic pruners and hand tools, and pick comfortable gloves that offer adequate skin protection.

4. Beat the Heat

Seniors are vulnerable to dehydration, sunburn, and heat stroke. Given these risks, older adults should always take precautions when partaking in outdoor activities during warm months. If you’re gardening, do it during the morning, before it gets too hot. When you go out, wear lightweight, light-colored, long-sleeved clothes, plenty of sunscreen, and a shady hat. Always drink plenty of water before, during, and after gardening, and take breaks in the shade if you’re gardening for longer than 15 minutes at a time.

5. Pick a Partner

Gardening is safer and easier if you can do it with a partner. Many older couples garden together, while other seniors enjoy spending time in the garden with a friend. Seniors who find gardening difficult or somewhat unsafe may wish to partner with a caregiver who can lend a helping hand. This could be a family caregiver, such as a son, daughter, or grandchild. Or it might be a professional caregiver from a local senior care agency.

At Visiting Angels®, our companion care services are a popular option for seniors who need a helping hand with favorite hobbies and activities, including gardening. To learn more about our services, call us at 800-365-4189 today or contact your local office directly.

5 Gardening Tips for Seniors

5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors 5 Gardening Tips for Seniors

April 29, 2021 0 comment

Hobbies

Tending to Your Garden AND Your Health

by Jeff Dailey June 10, 2016

written by Jeff Dailey

With the spring season underway, we’re sure many of us are itching to get outside and enjoy the long-awaited bright, sunny days. And there are plenty of ways for you to enjoy the outdoors this spring – walking in the park or around the neighborhood, playing golf, visiting the local zoo. But there’s another springtime activity that you can do right in your own backyard: gardening! Tending to Your Garden AND Your Health
Calling All Green Thumbs!
Did you know that just 30 to 45 minutes of gardening activity, such as mowing the lawn, weeding and planting flowers, burns up to 200 calories? As an added bonus, gardening can also improve your strength, mobility and endurance. Even though gardening is a great way to tend to your health, it’s important to be aware of the following garden safety tips for seniors so you can stay safe and benefit your health.
Safety First!
When it comes to staying safe in your garden, it’s important to go back to the basics. Before you even begin gardening, take a look at any safety hazards that may be hiding in your yard, such as broken steps, roots, etc. To prevent trips and falls, wear properly-fitted clothing that isn’t too long or baggy along with gloves and sturdy shoes with good traction. And don’t forget about insect repellant to keep those pesky bugs away!
Inspect Your Gardening Tools
Along with checking your lawn and garden for any safety hazards, inspecting your gardening tools is another thing you should do before you start gardening. Make sure all of your tools and equipment is working properly, and if needed, carefully sharpen tools before use. To avoid other accidents, use lightweight tools that are easy to handle.
Fun in the Sun
Gardening is certainly a fun way to get some exercise, but while you’re having fun in the sun, it’s important to remember some sun safety tips. To prevent sunburn and skin cancer, wear long sleeves, long pants, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Remember to reapply sunscreen (with SPF 15 or higher) and drink plenty of water if you’re in the sun for long periods of time.
Keep your Medical Alert Device with You
It can be easy to forget that accidents can happen anywhere – even in your own backyard. All of Medical Guardian’s medical alert systems provide guaranteed, round-the-clock protection both inside and around your home, so you know that you can still get help should you fall or experience another emergency in your garden.
Make it Fun!
Gardening may be a form of exercise, but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t have fun doing it! Be sure to vary your daily gardening activities to keep it fun and to get the most health benefits. Enlist the help of family, friends or even neighbors to add a social component to gardening – this is also a great way to pass on your gardening wisdom to the next generation!
Above all, listen to your body. Know your limitations, and do what is reasonable and safe for you. Just keep these garden safety tips for seniors in mind, and both your garden and your health will bloom in no time!
-Meghan Orner
Medical Guardian
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Links:
http://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/
https://www.medicalguardian.com/medical-alert-blog/health-wellness/summer-sun-protection-checking-for-skin-cancer-

June 10, 2016 0 comment

Home Improvements

10 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden

by Kimberly Johnson October 20, 2015

written by Kimberly Johnson

Growing fresh, healthy vegetables at home isn’t as hard as it may sound. Novice gardeners just need good dirt, easy plants to grow, lots of sunshine and the right amount of water. 10 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden
Once you’ve prepared your garden plot, select one or all of the following vegetables, and then get growing:

Lettuce – Plant lettuce seeds directly into the garden or a pot then repeat every two weeks throughout the spring. It can be cut a few weeks after planting. Some harvest lettuce by pulling it up – roots and all – but cutting a little off the top every few days will keep it growing until summer’s heat turns it too bitter.
Spinach – This vitamin-packed green is planted and harvested just like lettuce.
Cucumbers – Once the danger of frost has passed, make several mounds of dirt near the edge of your garden and place 2-3 plants around the center of each. Cucumbers are notorious for growing vines that overtake other plants. So, be vigilant about keeping them contained.
Squash – Like cucumbers, summer squash is planted on small mounds at the edges of a garden so their vines can be contained. Most varieties, such as yellow squash and zucchini, are quite prolific and just a few plants will feed a large family all summer long.
Green Beans – Early in the spring plant green bean seeds directly into the soil. They should be planted in a long row under a tall fence, trellis or other support system. They love to climb. Sow out more seeds every two weeks for a continual harvest through the summer.
Tomatoes – Purchase plants from your local garden center, making sure to get those which grow best in your area of the country. All plants should be staked or enclosed in a tomato cage because successful plants produce an abundance of large, heavy fruit throughout the summer months.
Radishes – Radish seeds should be planted directly into the soil as early in the spring as possible. Keep planting new rows every two weeks until mid-spring. They grow quickly so should be checked and harvested often. Once summer sets in, radishes become spongy and too hot to eat. So, enjoy early in the season.
Bell Pepper – Bell peppers are easiest to grow from plants. Space them about a foot apart and then watch them take off. Little care is required. The only real trick to growing bell peppers is knowing when to harvest. If you’re growing red, orange or yellow varieties, they’ll start out green then turn color as soon as they ripen.
Carrots – Dig a long, shallow trench in soil that is free of rock. Sprinkle the seeds along the row, cover lightly with topsoil and wait for the top of the carrot to pop through the soil. Once a bit of orange appears, pull and enjoy.
Beets – Nothing beats a beet for its earthy, sweet taste. They should be planted from seed as soon as the ground can be worked in early spring.

October 20, 2015 0 comment

Home Improvements

How to Prep Your Lawn and Garden for Autumn

by Kimberly Johnson September 15, 2015

written by Kimberly Johnson

As autumn colors set in this season, make sure your all-important home and garden upkeep checklist is ready.
Although the lawn is often overlooked during the fall, it’s actually the perfect time to make sure everything is organized before the harsher winter elements take hold. Paul James, host of HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard,” advises homeowners to start early – approximately six weeks before the first good freeze.
Here is a list of some of the tasks and items you should add to your fall checklist this year:
Maintain the landscape. Tidy up the lawn, flowerbeds, bushes, gardens, etc. Remove unsightly foliage, dead stems, piles of leaves and other debris. Fluff your mulch with a rake so water can seep into the subsoil.
Plant fall vegetables. Cool-season vegetable gardens can flourish with the right plants – lettuce, greens, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, potatoes and loads more. Imagine all the hearty stews and delicious soups you could make from scratch.
Keep muscles relaxed, and stay hydrated. Don’t underestimate the fall sun. Summer may be over, but hours of gardening in the sun can still leave you exhausted, strained and parched. Remember to drink plenty of fluids, take breaks and stretch your muscles. If you suffer from backaches and muscle strains, keep some relief like Absorbine Jr. (www.absorbinejr.com) on hand. The natural menthol in Absorbine Jr. helps relieve muscle and back pain to make it a must-have for yard work. Its herbal ingredients also help provide relief from sunburn and gnat and other insect bites.
Make room for indoor plants. Your potted or container plants won’t survive the winter outside, so it’s time to make room indoors for tropical plants, herbs and succulents. Potted perennials can be transplanted into a garden after trimming the roots and some top growth.
Clean garage, shed or outbuildings. Once you organize your storage space, you can neatly put away all of your summer tools or patio furniture. Plus, your newly emptied planters will have a home next to all the other stuff families accumulate.

September 15, 2015 0 comment