The best gardening tools for disabled people

Whether it’s a space you use to socialise with friends and family, a place to put your green-fingered skills to work, or an area to simply relax, a garden should be a place that works for you and your needs

If you have limited mobility or you are disabled, it shouldn’t put you off gardening, as there are so many benefits associated with it. There might be some tasks in the garden which you find more difficult than others and, in some cases, you may need some assistance with certain jobs, but gardening can be an accessible activity.

This guide  puts together a list of garden tools for disabled people and those with limited mobility  that you might find useful for your garden.

The best gardening tools for people with limited mobility

• Berry Picker
• Long-handled garden tools
• Garden Kneeler
• Container plant pots
• Pole Saw
• Wheelchair-Accessible Elevated Garden Bed
• Gardening chairs for disabled people

Berry Picker

If you’re lucky enough to have berries growing on your plot of land, then a berry picker is essential, as it can halve the time of harvesting. Grandchildren will also find hours of fun when using this colourful and clever product, which you’ll be pleased to hear is dishwasher friendly.

A berry picker is one of the best tools for gardeners, as it helps you avoid having to pick berries all by hand in amongst thorn-covered bushes.

Modern Mint is a site which shares ideas that people can use for their gardens and homes. They spoke about the benefits of using a berry picker: “The comb separates the berries from their stems, enabling you to pick your fruit much faster, and with a little less mess. Perfect for picking redcurrants, whitecurrants, bilberries, blueberries, elderberries, gooseberries, sloes and damsons…you just have to get there before the birds! People say to us… “A berry picker? That’s a brilliant idea!” And guess what? It’s not just a great idea - it works too.”

Long-handled garden tools

For keen gardeners these tools are a handy addition to their kit. Small in size, yet extremely sturdy, long-handled trowels and forks are perfect for container gardening and bulb planting, as well as the dreaded task of weeding. Not only this, but they are well-crafted and aregreat-looking pieces of equipment which are sure to get pride of place in your shed.

There are many long-handled garden tools for disabled people or older adults available, and a popular choice for many keen gardeners are long-handled trowels and forks. These useful pieces of equipment provide extra reach when planting bulbs, seedlings and bedding plants, so wheelchair users and gardeners with limited mobility can carry out these tasks seamlessly.

These accessible gardening products allow you to work without bending over and straining your back, and many products feature non-slip handles (even when wet) with soft grips that are comfortable for arthritic hands.

You can often buy a set of these adaptive gardening tools, which can often include a hoe, cultivator, trowel and fork.

Garden Kneeler

This is another bit of kit which will greatly benefit gardeners, especially those with arthritis or knee trouble. Providing a comfortable platform to kneel on, you’ll be able to prune your flowers and shrubs to your heart’s content, only stopping when it’s time for a refreshment break.

Modern Mint talks about why garden kneelers are a useful piece of equipment: “We have never felt comfortable wearing knee pads in the garden so always used a garden kneeler for weeding in the front of the border, from the edges of the vegetable patch or on gravel driveways."

Container plant pots

If you don’t want the hassle of growing plants in a flower bed, then another accessible option that you could use are container plant pots.

These are particularly charming, as you can add a personal touch to your garden, choosing which plants you would like to decorate your garden with.

Here, Alexandra Campbell, who writes for The Middle-sized Garden blog gives her top tips for creating your own.

“Container gardening is one of the easiest ways to enjoy growing things. A window box can supply you with a lettuce mix for weeks - and salads grow all the year round if you buy a 'year-round salad mix'. Having herbs in pots makes a big difference to cooking and it's also cheap to make your own herbal teas from potted herbs. If you like chillies, these grow surprisingly successfully in the UK too, and a couple of pots will keep you going for weeks.

“Almost anything can be grown in a container. Generally, you should look for a pot that is a bit larger than the roots of the plant you want to grow. The larger the container, the easier it is to keep it watered- lots of small pots will need watering every day. If you have mobility problems with filling or moving containers, get a friend or relative to help you set your container garden up, but from then on it will be easy to look after.

Pole Saw

One of the most popular gardening tools are pole saws. This power tool is perfect for trimming high shrubs and tree branches without a ladder.

The modern pole saws are lightweight and have comfort grips, making them easier to hold. There are some saws that extend to 10 feet and certain models come with a 20-volt battery, charger, tensioning wrench, sheath and an extra extension pole.

Before using a pole saw, you should always be certain that you can handle the weight of the tool before using it. Many pole saws weigh less than 10 lbs.

Wheelchair-Accessible Elevated Garden Bed

A popular choice for gardeners with limited mobility are wheelchair-accessible elevated garden beds as not all raised flower beds are suitable.

They might not technically be a “gardening tool for disabled gardeners,” but these elevated garden beds provide ample space underneath for wheelchair users to access them, and many models feature two shelves to accommodate various plant root lengths. They are often constructed of sturdy, pressure-treated cedar or cypress, and they allow gardeners to tend to plants from the furthest corners without uncomfortable or dangerous overreaching.

These garden beds can be used to grow fruit and vegetables or you can grow flowers and shrubs in them. They are very adaptable.

Gardening chairs for disabled people

There are so many different options when it comes to gardening chairs for disabled people. There are rocker rolling seats that let the seated gardener tilt forward to easily reach plants and they can roll smoothly from side to side so people don’t have to keep getting up and down.

With any gardening chairs, it is important that they are comfortable, but most importantly can help gardeners who have limited mobility carry out the tasks they want in the garden. Some things you should check is whether the seat height adjusts, and what safety features are in place.

This article was brought to you by Handicare, working with Age Co, who provide a range of home mobility products such as stairlifts, homelifts and walk in baths and showers. For more information about how they can help make your home more accessible, please get in touch.

Image Credit: cheeseslave (Flickr.com) Modern Mint, Middle Sized Garden.