ACCESS AND PAVING

Once gardening capabilities are known, the most important consideration is basic access to and around the garden.

Build paths that accommodate wheelchairs and walkers of different sizes making them a minimum of 30 inches wide. For a comfortable turning radius, allow interspersed wide spaces of approximately 5 feet. Grades should not exceed five percent, preferably less.

If all gardeners are able to walk, a woodchip path, commonly used for garden pathways, can also be used as they cushion falls. Also, all pathway surfaces should provide good traction at any time the garden is in use.

Organise the garden according to the gardeners’ abilities to reach the plants and soil comfortably. For people who cannot garden comfortably at ground level, containers and raised beds will be required that raise the soil within reach (a final soil height of 18-30 inches suits the range of most seated gardeners). The maximum width is established by the person’s ability to reach the centre or rear of the container. Link to the Container Gardening TOOLBOX

· Use various vertical gardening methods that employ trellises, arbours, fences, and walls as ways to support plants within easy reach as an alternative to containers and raised beds. Use rope and pulley systems for hanging baskets that can be raised out of harm’s way when not being tended.