Container Gardening for Senior Living
Surrounding yourself with green plants and flowers is beneficial to your physical and mental well-being. Beautiful floral displays and aromatic and therapeutic herbs may bring joy to anyone, but especially to senior citizens. Container Gardening for Senior Living can truly be the missing link.
Problems with yard gardening
Though gardening activities help to stave off osteoporosis, taking care of a large yard is often overwhelming to the aging and disabled. Even master gardener types who once kept a large manicured lawn may find excessive and unacceptable levels of pain and soreness from the following activities:
- Digging
- Weeding
- Raking and cleanup
Advantages of container gardening
You do not need an acre of land to enjoy the advantages of gardening. If your beloved senior has just moved to an assisted living care center you can have an incredible green or colorful display with planters and containers. Some of the advantages of container gardening include:
- Puttering instead of back-breaking digging
- No raking or major clean-up
- Easy maintenance such as watering and pruning
- Close proximity to living quarters, making it easier to enjoy the visual and aromatic beauty of the plants and to use fresh herbs for cooking
What to grow in containers
Of course, what you grow in your outdoor space will depend on the climate. You also need to consider factors such as wind and sun exposure. Your nursery will most likely have plants categorized according to the amount of sun needed.
- Flowers add visual and aromatic beauty. Annuals are usually the best choice for containers, especially if you experience harsh winters.
- Herbs are both utilitarian and lovely. You will want to keep them in small pots if you decide to bring them in for the winter. Make sure to prune and use your herbs often to avoid bolting.
- Fruits and veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries also do well in containers.
The best thing about container gardening is that once you complete the initial setup, all that is left is minor maintenance such as watering and pruning. Make sure to add some comfortable seating to your space to enjoy your morning coffee or evening glass of wine in your mini oasis.
For more information about container gardening for seniors contact us.