Gardening is one of life's greatest pleasures. Anyone who has made something grow would agree. It can improve your mood, move your body, and give you a sense of accomplishment that money can't buy. However, as we enter our golden years, gardening is not without its challenges. Things that used to be easy or energizing can seem difficult and draining. Luckily, with a little bit of help, motivation, and inspiration, everyone can reap the rewards of gardening.
4 Benefits of Gardening in Your Golden Years
Whether it's a lifelong passion or you're thinking of starting it as a new hobby, gardening can drastically improve your quality of life. According to a study by SAGE Open Medicine, here are a few perks to getting green fingers:
Physical benefits: Gardening makes you stronger, helps with mobility, and can improve your cardiovascular health.
Positive aging: It can give you a more positive outlook on life by helping you stay (and feel) productive and boosting your self-esteem.
Psychological benefits: Spending time in or around nature can reduce stress and improve mental health.
Social perks: Gardening with others in your home or community can help you connect with others and reduce loneliness.
Spring and Summer Gardening Tips
Plant hardy, low-maintenance plants: These include plants that are waterwise and ideally indigenous to your area because they're designed to thrive in your climate during the warmer months.
Check your timing: Transfer seedlings or plants in the late afternoon or early evening so they have time to settle before the heat of the day strikes.
Stay safe in the sun: The sun can be brutal on aging skin. Wear a light long-sleeved shirt, a hat, and sunscreen, and keep a water bottle nearby. Like plants, we need to stay hydrated.
Raise the stakes: Or the beds. Raised beds and containers are your friends. They make your work area more accessible and mean less heavy lifting, bending, or kneeling. If kneeling is an option for you, remember to have a kneeling pad ready and a pair of helping hands to get you back on your feet.
Fall and Winter Gardening Tips
Spend time prepping your garden: This is the time for pruning plants and preparing beds. You can add mulch to beds, prune plants that have gone to sleep for the winter, and plant perennials.
Move things inside: Winter is a great time to plant seeds or let seedlings establish themselves before they get planted in the warmer months. If you live in an area with frost or snow, take pots with fragile plants inside or cover them up to protect them from the elements.
Indoor gardening: So many plants will happily grow (and thrive) indoors, so don't let the weather stop you. Give your indoor plants attention, especially winter-blooming flowers. Find old pots or containers and start an indoor herb or veggie garden. The ceiling's the limit!
Get Your Caregiver Involved
Allowing your caregiver to get involved in your gardening endeavors is a great bonding opportunity for both of you. They can give you company while they help make things more accessible. Another perk is that they can carry bags of potting soil or tools, keep up with weeds and maintenance, and help you get around the garden.
If Gardening Sparks Joy, Don't Stop!
Gardening in your golden years can give you great benefits, like improving your mental and physical health and giving you a sense of community. With a little help from your caregiver, you can get the full gardening experience and reap the rewards regardless of the season.
And remember, whether you want plants in outdoor spaces or on your windowsill, with the right conditions, you'll be able to enjoy gardening wherever you find a space to make things grow.