Arthritis can make everyday tasks difficult, but there are ways you can make gardening with arthritis easier. In fact, research has shown that it is better to stay active doing things that you love. You just may need to use a few adaptive methods.

Not only is it good for you physically, it is also good for you mentally and emotionally to continue to stay active.  With a few adaptations, gardening can still be an enjoyable hobby. These helpful tips can make gardening with arthritis more enjoyable.

  1. Plan ahead for the best time for you to garden and plan your gardens for the least amount of effort.
  2. Take your time and take breaks often. Don’t try to do too much at once. Break up your gardening into smaller tasks spread out over several days.
  3. Choose the right tools. Ones that are ergonomically designed and are easy to grip and handle. Look for ones that have cushioned grips to reduce stress on your joints.
  4. Reduce the amount of bending and carrying you will have to do. Keeping all your gardening tools in a tote will reduce the number of trips you have to make from the garage to the garden. Transfer larger items with a wheeled utility cart.
  5. Choose raised beds or containers so that you don’t have to bend down as much. Use a potting bench or stool to avoid kneeling.
* This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn commissions.*
** All comments and recommendations are my own and should not be taken as medical advice. **

Ergonomic Gardening With Arthritis

#1 – Plan Ahead for the Best Time of Day to Garden

gardening with arthritis

Garden during the time of the day when you are the least tired, and the least affected by pain. If the heat from the sun also affects you negatively, you will also have to take that into consideration. If you are experiencing a flare-up of arthritis, leave gardening for another day. Do not push beyond what is comfortable.

#2 – Plan Your Garden for The Least Amount of Effort

  • gardening with arthritis 2
  • Perennials make great choices. They come up year after year all on their own
  • Place the plants that require the least amount of care in the back of the garden or the center of the garden.
  • Place plants that will require regular deadheading and weeding along the outer border of your garden to prevent having to reach to get to them.

#3 – Use the Proper Body Mechanics During Gardening

  • garden with arthritisWarm up your muscles and joints before gardening by doing gentle stretches.
  • Use your palms rather than your fingers to pick up smaller items, such as seedling pots. Keeping pressure off the finger tips decreases the risk of inflammation and deformity in the fingers in the future.
  • Use your forearms to carry heavier gardening items, such as trays of seedlings. This reduces strain on your smaller hand joints.
  • Hold your arms close to your body when lifting or carrying to reduce pressure on the joints and helps distribute the weight of the item.
  • Roll heavy items, rather than lifting them from one spot to another in the garden, to decrease pressure on joints and muscles.
  • Work in the area directly in front of you while gardening. This will help you avoid twisting or leaning to one side to prevent injury and residual stiffness.

#4 – Choose the Right Tools

Invest in Ergonomic Gardening Hand Tools

This may not be something you really ever stopped to think about. You probably just grab a shovel and start digging or planting. I have a lot of flower gardens. So that means a lot of planting in the spring.

Before I invested in my ergonomic garden tools my hands would end up swollen and black and blue from the pressure of the shovel. Last summer I started investing in some adaptive garden tools. OH MY! What a difference it made! It was an easy decision this year to complete my set.

There are a lot of garden tools sets that claim to be ergonomically designed. However, many times they really don’t end up being any different than anything else. The garden tools that I purchased were from Radius Garden. They have cushioned handles, which is great. But the best part about these tools is the design of the handle. The curved handle is designed to reduce the strain on your hands and wrists. And it really does work!

I was a little skeptical at first, so I bought just one shovel. However after using them, I would definitely recommend to go ahead and buy the set. You’re going to end up wanting to buy all the tools anyway and it will save you money in the long run to buy them all at once. But, if you aren’t quite ready to take the plunge, you can purchase each of the tools separately.

Radius Garden Ergonomic Garden Hand Tool SetRadius Garden Ergonomic Garden Hand Tool SetRadius Garden Ergonomic Garden Hand Tool Set

Keep Things Close

Have some kind of a garden tool bag to keep all your gardening tools in. This will help reduce the amount of stooping, bending and reaching you have to do. Not to mention the many trips back and forth to the shed or garage to get all the tools you have forgotten. Keep all your gardening hand tools together in one place with one of these handy garden tool bags.

Amazon has some great garden tote bags to choose from.

SITHON Gardening Tote (Bag Only), Garden Tool Kit Holder Home Organizer Storage Carrier with Handle 8 Roomy Pockets, Heavy Duty Wear Resistant for Indoor Outdoor Gardening (Blue/Black)SITHON Gardening Tote (Bag Only), Garden Tool Kit Holder Home Organizer Storage Carrier with Handle 8 Roomy Pockets, Heavy Duty Wear Resistant for Indoor Outdoor Gardening (Blue/Black)WORKPRO Garden Tool Bag, Garden Tote Storage Bag with 8 Pockets, Home Organizer for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening, Garden Tool Kit Holder (Tools NOT Included), 12WORKPRO Garden Tool Bag, Garden Tote Storage Bag with 8 Pockets, Home Organizer for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening, Garden Tool Kit Holder (Tools NOT Included), 12

 

WORKPRO Garden Tools Set, 7 Piece, Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Gardening Tools with Wooden Handle, Including Garden Tote, Gloves, Trowel, Hand Weeder, Cultivator and More-Gardening Gifts For Women MenWORKPRO Garden Tools Set, 7 Piece, Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Gardening Tools with Wooden Handle, Including Garden Tote, Gloves, Trowel, Hand Weeder, Cultivator and More-Gardening Gifts For Women MenGarden Tools Bucket Bag,Gardening Organizer Tote for 5 Gallon Buckets with Pockets,Garden Bags for Tools Garden Caddy Great Sturdy Canvas Tool Storage Set for Women Men Gardener (Bag Only/No Tools)Garden Tools Bucket Bag,Gardening Organizer Tote for 5 Gallon Buckets with Pockets,Garden Bags for Tools Garden Caddy Great Sturdy Canvas Tool Storage Set for Women Men Gardener (Bag Only/No Tools)

 

Large Garden Tool Bag with 10 Oxford Pockets for hand tool storage with Iron FrameLarge Garden Tool Bag with 10 Oxford Pockets for hand tool storage with Iron FrameMYDAYS Canvas Garden Tool Tote Bag, Heavy-Duty Gardening Pouch, Vegetable Herb Garden Hand Tool Storage Tote, with 8 Pockets and Leather Handle, Floral Gardening Gift, Tools Not Included (Grey)MYDAYS Canvas Garden Tool Tote Bag, Heavy-Duty Gardening Pouch, Vegetable Herb Garden Hand Tool Storage Tote, with 8 Pockets and Leather Handle, Floral Gardening Gift, Tools Not Included (Grey)

 

Transfer Your Garden Supplies With a Wheeled Utility Cart

Use a low-to-the-ground, wheeled utility cart to transfer gardening supplies to the garden to prevent excess pressure on your hands, wrists, elbows, knees and shoulder joints. Enlist the help of someone to load the cart when possible, especially heavy bags of soil and fertilizer. If you are on your own, buy soil and fertilizers in smaller, easy-to-lift bags.

Amazon has a wide variety of wheeled utility carts made by Gorilla Carts.

The “Amazon Choice” model is

Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart with Steel Frame and 10-in. Pneumatic Tires, 600-Pound Capacity, BlackGorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart with Steel Frame and 10-in. Pneumatic Tires, 600-Pound Capacity, BlackBuy on Amazon

Purchase Long Handled Garden Tools

Using long handled garden tools will decrease the amount of bending, stretching and reaching required. This will help prevent excess stress on your muscles and joints.

Radius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel Floral ShovelRadius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel Floral ShovelRadius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel Digging ForkRadius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel Digging Fork

 

Radius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel ShovelRadius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel ShovelRadius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel SpadeRadius Garden Ergonomic Carbon Steel Spade

 

#5 – Raise Your Garden

If bending and kneeling are out of the question, consider using raised garden beds or planters so that you can avoid these positions. You can then sit on a stool or chair to tend to your plants or during weeding.

You can order kits like these on Amazon or you can build your own with these plans.

Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed 48x24x30-inch Elevated Wood Planter Box Stand for Backyard, Patio, NaturalBest Choice Products Raised Garden Bed 48x24x30-inch Elevated Wood Planter Box Stand for Backyard, Patio, NaturalBuy on Amazon3 Tier Raised Garden Bed Wooden Elevated Garden Bed Kit for Vegetables Outdoor Indoor Solid Wood 49 x 49 x 21.9in3 Tier Raised Garden Bed Wooden Elevated Garden Bed Kit for Vegetables Outdoor Indoor Solid Wood 49 x 49 x 21.9inBuy on Amazon

 

The key to a pleasant gardening experience is to balance work and rest and change from light to heavy tasks regularly.

Once you are done for the day treat yourself to a hot bath and a moist heating pad.

Other Gardening  With Arthritis Articles You May Be Interested In:

Best Gardening Tools for Arthritis Sufferers

Raised Gardening Beds – Perfect For Arthritic Gardeners

Vertical Plant Growing Systems for Arthritic Gardeners

Best Hose Nozzle for Weak Hands

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Gardening With Arthritis

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