How can I make my yard more wheelchair friendly?
by
Suzi
+4
Two of my furbabies are in wheelchairs. I have cobbled together a ramp but the yard is so rocky that it is not good for them. Many times they prefer to be able to just drag themselves around but that tears up their skin. Any ideas on what landscaping material I could put down to allow them access to the outside? I have seeded for grass two years in a row but it really did not take. Most of the yard is rocks and dirt.
Suggested Project Book
Why not rake the rocks out to level the yard then install artificial turf as is done in a lot of places that have a desert climate? The liquids they do will go right down through. You will have to scoop the solids if you don't already, then you can blow debris off with a leaf blower and rain will take care of washing the residue of the liquids out just like on real grass. It's a bit pricey if you want to cover a large area but not too bad to do a small area for your babies to enjoy the outside on.
https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-lawn-Artficial-Grass-Synthetic/dp/B00UT5G910/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Maybe come artificial turf?
Good for you! The reason the grass did not take is because it needs to be regraded and sifted. Then sow seed properly. Irrigation needs to be installed if you do not have enough rainfall to keep the grass growing. Even if you want artificial grass, the yard needs to be cleared. Another option is to lay a concrete paver patio for them.
Hi SKJ.....I am so touched by you caring about your wheelchair bound furbabies. I have been thinking about them all day. I'm not sure if this would help, but it would make the ride a little easier. Can you take a garden hose and create a circular design or serpentine shape in your garden. It would be the basic idea of creating a pathway in the back. Make it and oval or figure eight shape...anything that you can edge with plastic or metal edging. You'll have to play around with it, since I have no idea how large your yard is. Make it about 2.5 ft to 3ft wide and stake it off. Tie string or tape along the sides for the sides of your path.
When you have the path you like, you'll need to edge it next. Use 10" concrete pavers and place them edge to edge like parallel runways. If your yard is very rocky, you may have to partially fill this with crushed rock fill and tamp it down as flat as you can before the concrete pavers. The least expensive fill for the path will be a mixture of crushed and pea sized rock. This is really very physical work. Ask a church youth group or Boy Scouts to help with the heavy stuff.
I hope you're getting the picture that you will have a circular path of sorts with flat pavers to get those furbabies out in the fresh air and a smoother ride.
Check back for any questions. My directions may not make much sense now that it's after midnight where I am! Good luck and hug to babies!
Outdoor flat woven rugs. Remove large rocks & level as much as you can then put down the rugs. Anchor them at corners & where needed with metal tent hooks that Wal-Mart sells for 49 cents each in their camping section.
Watch for yard sales & thrifts along with flea markets for cheap rugs to put down for them. Kind I'm talking about are flat woven & wheels roll over easy.
Hugs & my best to you & those fur babies!!!