My Garden in Early Summer 2005
Specialized Gardens
This section is about gardening for those who find it difficult or impossible to reach down to ground level or who have trouble bending over. Some of us, myself included, are getting older and experience pain in the back, hips or knees when working in the garden. Others may be living with a disability or handicap that prevents normal gardening activities. If you know what I'm talking about, this page is for you!

Gardening for the handicapped or injured

First of all, let me say that these ideas are not my own, but learned from Mel Bartholomew.   you can check out his information on his website. The methods I use the most are Container Planting, Raised Gardens and Widening spaces between planting areas.

Container Gardens

I often use large planting pots for portable gardening areas. They can be moved easily into/out of sunlight if needed, and can be placed on top of raised platforms of any kind to improve ease of access. I use the cheapest ones I can find - free if possible (I usually have a few left over pots laying around)! Any kind of container works well as long as: 1) it has drainage holes; 2) it is large enough for the plant(s) you want to put into it; and 3) it is not constructed of any toxic materials (make sure it doesn't contain leaded paint for example).

You can use a large pot (about 12 or 14 inches across) for: 1 large plant such as a tomato plant OR 4 medium sized plants OR 9 small plants, or 12 extra-small plants such as green onions, radishes or carrots.

Raised Gardens

Raised gardens can refer to two different concepts. The raised gardens in my own garden are merely wooden frames that are 4 feet square and 8 to 10 inches high - these frames are laid out on top of soil where the only preparation is to remove all weeds (there is no grass in the area). This gives me about ten inches advantage when bending over to do gardening work.

For those in wheelchairs or with more severe pain, you can construct your frame with a ''floor'' of plywood covered with a plastic liner (such as a large trash bag cut open). You will need to drill a few holes in the floor to provide for adequate drainage. The entire garden frame can then be placed on top of two sawhorses so that a wheelchair can access the garden easily. If sawhorses are not readily available, the fram can be placed on top of almost anything that is sturdy enough, including short patio walls or raised brick planters, etc.

Other Adjustments

Spacing between your beds is one of the best adjustments you can make. I used to make one large frame containing four 4' X 4' beds with wide boards laid down on the soil to make walkways between my squares. But regardless of their width, it was painful for my knees to stay balanced in the area provided while bending over and reaching into the garden.

I found that by creating a separate frame for each 4' X 4' bed, I could leave as much room as I wanted for a walking path. My personal preference is 2-1/2 to 3 feet between beds, giving me plenty of room to maneuver comfortably, especially considering that I use raised beds (8 to 10 inches above ground level).