Spring into Action – Get Gardening!

 Gardening is one of America’s favorite hobbies; you get outdoors, exercise a little, and reap the rewards of caring for plants. But there can also be lots of bending over, and extended periods of time where you’re kneeling and possibly over-exerting oneself. However, with today’s innovations and a few small tricks, there are still plenty of ways that one can enjoy this popular pastime.
Oakmont Senior Living encourages gardening amongst its residents because there are many benefits of this activity outside of a few hours of sunshine. When you garden fruits and vegetables, it’ll make for great healthy eating down the road. In addition, gardening is wonderful for seniors because it not only helps increase physical activity, but it also helps with cognitive function and motor skills. Because gardening is a relaxing hobby, this can help lower blood pressure, assist with increasing awareness, and help with flexibility and mobility.
Below are some tips that will help make this hobby as fun and comfortable at any age.
• Purchase a kneeling stand for crouching or kneeling for extended periods –These are usually heavily padded low-to-the-ground stools that allow you to comfortably sit or kneel with little leg pain.
• Use ergonomic or foam handled pruners – These special handles will help ease knuckle and joint discomfort when trimming plants and are helpful for anyone who suffers from arthritis, or can’t hold tools for a long amount of time.
• Try planting in a raised bed – At Oakmont, we provide our residents with waist-high raised gardening beds so kneeling isn’t as required and reaching out to the center of the bed isn’t as difficult.
• Garden for plants that require trellises – Plants that require trellises usually have vines and enjoy growing vertically, which means bending to prune isn’t as necessary. Some plants we recommend are cucumbers, tomatoes, and jasmine.
• Have a place to sit close by – Make sure to add a bench or chair under shady areas nearby to take breaks.
• Have slopes incorporated in your garden – Consider using a gentle slope in your garden to any raised areas as opposed to stairs because this makes it easier for walkers and lowers the risk of injury.
• Add lighting – Install solar powered decorative lights in the garden for low-maintenance and low-voltage lighting.
• Use brightly colored gardening tools– Gardening tools can get lost among the foliage of the garden, so we recommend painting your garden tools a bright vivid color so they can be spotted easily. Another method is to wrap bright duct tape around the handle.
For more information on senior living contact Oakmont of Santa Clarita at 661-265-2025 or visit our website www.oakmontofsantaclarita.com.