Gardening Tips For Baby Boomers

• Is an enjoyable form of exercise.
• Increases levels of physical activity and maintains mobility and flexibility.
• Encourages use of all motor skills – walking, reaching and bending – through activities such as planting seeds and taking cuttings.
• Improves endurance and strength.
• Helps prevent diseases like osteoporosis.
• Reduces stress levels and promotes relaxation.
• Provides stimulation and interest in nature and the outdoors.
• Improves wellbeing as a result of social interaction.
• Provides nutritious, home-grown produce.

• Skin – fragile, thinning skin makes the elderly susceptible to bumps, bruises and sunburn.
• Vision – changes in the eye lens structure, loss of peripheral vision and generally poorer eyesight can restrict activities.
• Mental abilities – mental health, thinking and memory abilities may be affected by dementia and similar conditions.
• Body temperature – susceptibility to temperature changes and tendency to dehydrate or suffer from heat exhaustion are common concerns with outdoor physical activity for older people.
• Skeletal – falls are more common because balance is often not as good. Osteoporosis and arthritis may restrict movement and flexibility.

• Use vertical planting to make garden beds accessible for planting and harvesting – try using wall and trellis spaces.
• Raise beds to enable people with physical restrictions to avoid bending and stooping.
• Provide retractable hanging baskets, wheelbarrows and containers on castors to make suitable movable and elevated garden beds.
• Find adaptive tools and equipment – these are available from some hardware shops.
• Use foam, tape and plastic tubing to modify existing tools.
• Use lightweight tools that are easier to handle.
• Provide shade areas for working in summer months.
• Have stable chairs and tables to use for comfortable gardening.
• Ensure that there is a tap nearby or consider installing a drip feeder system for easy watering.
• Make sure the toilet is nearby.

• Attend to any cuts, bruises or insect bites immediately.
• Take care in the use of power tools.
• Secure gates and fences if memory loss is an issue.
• Ensure that paths and walkways are flat and non-slip.
• Warm up before gardening and encourage frequent breaks.
• Prevent sun exposure by working in the garden early in the morning or late in the day. Wear a hat and apply sunscreen frequently.
• Drink water or juice, and avoid alcohol.
• Wear protective shoes, lightweight comfortable clothes that cover exposed skin, a hat and gardening gloves.
• Store garden equipment safely.

• Wear a facemask and gloves.
• Do not lean over an open bag of potting mix. This avoids the risk of breathing in spores.
• Moisten contents of potting mix bags when you open them.
• Wash hands with soap and water after handling soil.

• Digging
• Planting
• Watering
• Harvesting food and flowers
• Crafts and hobbies associated with plants
• Food preparation.