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Gardens with special features
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Author: Staff writer

Getting out in the garden is a wonderful way to take in fresh air, to get a little exercise, or even just a wonderful way to take a moment and relax. The health benefits of a garden aren’t limited to just avid gardeners between the ages of 35 - 50!

All can benefit from gardening - from tiny children, to their grandparents, to people using wheelchairs and walkers, to visually impaired men and women. Here are some ideas to help people with mobility or sensory deficits enjoy the garden.

1) Pathways

For those with limited mobility, hard packed walkways are a must. Grass or loose gravel surfaces are uneven and could result in a fall. Good options are interlocking bricks, asphalt, or hard packed crushed gravel. They all have a smooth and textured surface that is easy to navigate for those with walkers or in wheelchairs.

Wider walkways are a must for gardens that are going to get a lot of wheelchair traffic. Wheelchairs, especially motorized chairs, have a larger turning radius. Pathways need to be at minimum 3 feet wide with spaced turnouts of up to 5 feet wide. Note that if you’d like to walk next to your friend, the pathway will need to be wider!

Contrasting trim and raised edges are a good idea for both good visualization of the edge of the path and as a physical barrier to keep a wheel from slipping off.

Circular walkways are a terrific for the mentally disabled. Studies suggest that Alzheimer patients benefit greatly from the exercise and peace of a garden - a small garden loop is a manageable adventure. The enclosed garden creates a sense of security, and has the practical feature of keeping people from getting lost.

Slope can’t exceed a certain percentage. Less that 5% change per foot is a guideline. You might want to check with your local community access group for local ordinances. Of course, stairs are an obstacle to many, so you need to plan your path to meander so it can ‘absorb’ any ‘elevation’ gains.

2) Rest areas

All ages and all abilities benefit from a rest area. I think that it is very important to have a place out in the garden where you can just sit and experience all the otherwise missed activity happening in your oasis. Many incredible conversations happen in the peaceful evening in our garden.

Benches with arm rests (to help stiffening knees get going again) are lovely addition. Think about having one rest area in the shade, and one in the sun protected from the wind, so that you can shelter from the weather.

Rest areas should be accessible from many points so that you are never too far from a break. Consider having water accessible if you live in a very hot environment.

3) Raised beds and planters make flowers accessible to all.

Containers and raised box beds should be at wheel chair level. In fact, all backs will thank you when it comes to weed pulling or transplanting time. Walkways should be right alongside so that all noses and fingers can luxuriate. Hanging plants can have pulley systems so that they can be lowered for watering and admiring.

4) Cutting areas

Cutting areas mean that flowers can be removed so that they can be examined and enjoyed closer. Cuttings prolong the garden experience as they can be enjoyed indoors long after an individual’s stamina is gone. Another benefit is that children and others will enjoy the opportunity to touch and explore without damaging plants.

5) Smells should be a part of every garden.

However, it’s even more important in a garden that will be enjoyed by visually impaired people. Create a smell landscape. Also, try putting contrasting colors together.

Even if you don’t have friends with unique needs using your garden, it is a great idea to incorporate a couple of these ideas. As we all get older these features will prolong our enjoyment of our gardens.

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