How do you plan an easy raised garden?
by
Carolyn
+4
Those of you who have mobility problems, what's your best use of a raised garden? Round, square, long rectangle, triangle, raised levels, more than one tier? Interested in contained gardening for those who can't get down and cannot reach above shoulder height. Wheel chair users ideas would be welcome too. No patio, starting from scratch. I think the users of the raised gardens are the best judges of what works.
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I built rectangular boxes about 8' long, 2' wide and 28" high. This way I do not have to bend over to work in my raised garden.
I don't have raised beds, but I do know that, having a somewhat physically challenged husband what should work. Narrow for those in a wheelchair would be best so that they can reach at least to the middle or beyond and have access on the other side for going around to tend to that side. Round would be difficult for someone sitting, long rectangular would probably be best. You will want to measure the persons reach at a comfortable height to know how high to build the raised bed. Some handicapped people can still walk fairly well and could probably do fine with a stool at a comfortable height that can be moved along as they tend the raised bed. If you have more than one tier it may make tending the garden a bit more uncomfortable height due to having to stretch higher. My veggie garden is atop two steeply tiered hills, so hubby can't make it up very often, so he has his own potted Jungle by the garage and house. We have a stool that is just the right height for him to sit on and tend to the veggies we plant in large pots, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, peppers and herbs. He just rolls to the next plant when he is ready. He mostly just waters the plants and I do the rest, he has a green thumb with houseplants, whereas I kill any houseplants, but can't kill outdoor plants we have. Twenty four inch pots on a castor base that we make is the perfect height for his stool or transport chair he keeps in the garage. The biggest thing with dealing with handicapped persons would be to find out their comfort zone first and what their abilities are as far as tending the plants. I hope this helps you Carolyn!
4 hours and: 1 Board, one 2×4, 3.2 Bags of Manure and 30 nails per Hour. Don't forget a Hammer.
Hi ! I don't know if this will work in your case , but I use large plastic type barrel planters for growing my herbs. I find there isn't too much bending, but I am short ! I know many vegetables do well in containers. Good luck !
I'd still like some more options but at this point it looks as if I need to do a combination of those who have posted so far. Not sure exactly what yet. Thanks Jeffery, Nancy & Hubby, and Pamela.