Seven Safe Gardening Tips

Now that summer is here, people are spending many hours in their gardens and yards. Below are some tips to keep you in the garden and out of pain:

1. Keeping up with the weeds

Many people would say that keeping the weeds out is a never-ending task. Try to keep up with the weeding as they come along, as to not have to spend eight hours at a time at this task. There are also great tools available to help keep up with this task. Consider using weed mats in the spring and environmentally safe weed deterrents throughout the season to keep your job minimal.

2. Helpful tools

The marketplace is filled with ergonomic garden gadgets that are designed to help you work more efficiently and safeguard your musculoskeletal health. There are many long-handled tools that can help reduce bending or kneeling. There are also more lightweight options available for all gardening tools that can prevent back pain or overuse. 

3. Garden tote

Having a garden tote with all your supplies nearby can help you avoid the perils involved with overreaching and twisting. Make sure you carry your garden tote close to your body to reduce strain on your back and make sure to lift with your knees to help save your back.

4. Bring the plants to you

If possible, by using planters, hanging plants or even potted plants, you can reduce the amount of time kneeling or bending in the garden. Also, investing in a good watering can help reduce the amount of strain to your back. 

5. Low maintenance

Consider introducing low maintenance options for your garden or landscape needs, in order to reduce the amount of time and effort involved in gardening. This will allow you to still enjoy the pastime without hurting yourself. Scale back to a smaller garden, plant perennials instead of annuals, and set manageable goals.

6. Be kind to your body

Whether you’re weeding, planting, or just puttering, bending and kneeling can be both awkward and painful. Staying in one position for too long can increase the risk of repetitive use injuries or overuse injuries. Try kneeling on a gardening pad, squatting instead of kneeling or even kneeling on just one knee to reduce the strain on your lower back or knees.

7. Ask for help

The most important of all the tips; ASK FOR HELP! It’s important to know your own limits. If you need a heavy potted plant moved, don’t try to do it yourself. Always ask for help with bigger jobs like moving bags of mulch or transporting nursery plants from the car to the garden. Being aware of your limits will help to ensure that you can enjoy your hobby for the whole season.

Resources

http://www.chiropractic.ca/blog/sevenways/