Making Gardening Easier
Gardening Hints for People with Arthritis
EM 8499-E
June 1992
M. Jewell and J. Powell
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Arthritis is a painful joint disorder that can discourage
its sufferers from gardening. The techniques mentioned in this
publication can help gardening remain a source of pleasure for
people suffering from arthritis.
- Whenever possible, garden in raised beds or containers.
Raised beds minimize bending and prevent the overuse
of arthritic joints. Container gardening enables you to move
the garden to more convenient places for maintenance. Almost
any plant can be grown in a box or pot. Everything from dwarf
trees to rhubarb thrives if it is planted in the right size container.
Place containers on wheeled caddies for easier moving. Place
hanging baskets on a pulley system for easier watering, feeding,
and grooming.
- Select your plants carefully. Plants
can provide food, color, interest, aroma, or they can simply
be good friends who listen and don't talk back! When you select
a plant, consider the plant's height, its expected life span,
and the amount of attention it needs, including watering and
spraying. Consider what you want or need--vegetables, flowers,
or herbs.
- Make work areas accessible. If possible,
make walkways 3 feet wide with a non-slippery surface. Provide
hand-rails or handgrips where possible.
- Use inexpensive foam rubber pads when you kneel.
This helps protect your knees. Use lightweight
tools. Wear a carpenter's apron. Its deep pockets are perfect
for carrying tools, seeds, etc. Buy gloves that are one or two
sizes too large and put foam padding in them. This eases joint
pain. Foam padding added to tool handles allows better gripping.
Canvas or cotton gloves help your joints feel less bruised.
- "Click seeders" are very practical. With
them, you don't have to grasp seeds in your hand, and they help
you space the seeds when planting in rows. Seed tapes help too.
- Many specially adapted tools are on the market. For
example, there are kneeling benches with handles on both sides,
tools with enlarged handles that allow decreased gripping, and
lightweight equipment that is easier to carry and use.
- For watering the garden, find a sprinkler that covers
the area. Leave the sprinkler in place. When you
want to water, just turn on the faucet--no hoses to pull and
roll and no heavy water cans to carry!
- Plant more perennials. You won't have
to reseed each year, yet you have bloom, vegetation or fruit
every year. Many are adapted to almost any sun or shade situation.
Examples of flowering plants are bleeding heart, hosta, peony,
delphinium, and phlox. You can also try perennial vegetables
and fruits like asparagus, herbs, horseradish, rhubarb and strawberries,
or woody perennials such as blueberries and currants.
- Wear a whistle around your neck. Especially
if you are alone in the garden. You can use it to call help if
you need it.
- Pace yourself and don't overdo. Take
a rest now and then. Your garden will wait. Don't let rain and
arthritis dampen your gardening zeal!
Prepared by Maggie
Jewell, Master Gardener volunteer, and Jan Powell, education
program assistant, Oregon Master Gardener Program, Oregon State
University.
June 1992.
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