April Showers Bring May Flowers

It's quickly becoming the season that most of use choose outdoor activity over indoor chores. And gardening is a great way to enrich your life in many ways, physically, mentally and spiritually. But it can also be hard work, especially as you get older. That does not mean you have to stop gardening, though. It simply means you have to rethink how you garden.

Consider incorporating some of these garden planning principles:

Raised Beds and trellises

They are easier to reach and maintain than in-ground garden plots. Raised beds filled with deep loose soil and surrounded by low supports for kneeling on provide permanent access to gardening without tilling. Watering, weed control and harvesting are easier in raised beds, and soil warms up more quickly in spring because of the added height.

Keep in mind that creating your beds will require an initial output of physical labor (enlist a friend, neighbor or family member!), but once you have them you will never go back to gardening the old way. Making your raised beds no more than four feet across will minimize long reaches.

Watering

This can be an arduous task unless Mother Nature blesses you with enough rain to maintain strong green growth all summer. One gallon of water weighs eight pounds and carrying multiple buckets of water to and fro will take a toll on muscles, joints and energy levels.

If possible, try to design your garden so your water source is nearby. And use mulch of straw, hay, newspaper, black plastic or wood chips to retain soil moisture and cut down on the need to water. An added bonus of mulching is increased weed control. Also, consider using a soaker or drip hose snaked throughout the garden instead of hauling water gallon by gallon.

Gardening Tools

It's a good idea to keep your tools as close to your garden as possible. When in use, try pulling them along in a gardening caddy or wagon. There are large-grip tools available that make gardening less stressful on finger joints, knee pads for cushioning knees while kneeling, and adaptive tools whose ergonomic designs reduce strain on muscles, joints and lower back.

Also consider getting a watering wand. Attached to your hose, it can extend it up to 36 inches, allowing you to reach high places or across beds. To avoid unnecessary searching around garden beds, take the time to paint the handles of all your tools a bright easy-to-see color. An alternative to paint is colored tape or ribbon - anything to catch your eye among the greenery.

Other tips to put on your short list include:

• Plant your garden near your house - you will visit it more often and see its beauty from your windows.
• Garden in the morning before the sun's rays are too strong and while your energy level is highest.
• Protect yourself. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Loose cotton clothing is cooler than polyester. Garden gloves will protect you from cuts and bug bites.
• Gardening requires lots of water, mostly in the form of perspiration! Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Buy supplies in smaller packages to avoid the stress of lifting heavy bags.
• Garden leisurely and stop to rest in the shade. Gardening is part work, part enjoyment.
• Start small. If you can handle your compact garden with ease you can always decide to enlarge it.
• Share your garden with a child and show them how satisfying growing food and flowers can be.
• Share your flowers and vegetables with those around you who don't have the good fortune of enough time and space for a garden.

And always take time to smell the flowers. Happy gardening!