Things You'll Need:
- Gardening kneeler
- Telescoping handles
- Two-wheeled wheelbarrow
- Ratchet
- Reaching stick
-
Step 1
Look for tools with a lightweight but thick shaft for ease of manipulation and a firm grip. Choose trowels and cultivators with curved handles that keep the wrist in a neutral position to prevent fatigue and strain.
-
Step 2
Use a gardening kneeler with raised handles to give you a lift when you rise to a standing position. When you flip the stool over, it becomes a bench for working on potted plants.
-
Step 3
Buy telescoping tools such as rakes, hoes, brooms and pruning tools. The handle length of these tools adjusts so you don't have to strain your back with unnecessary reaching.
-
Step 4
Haul your garden waste with a two-wheeled wheelbarrow. One-wheeled versions are notoriously hard on backs as you attempt to stabilize the load. A garden cart works even better for those with lifting restrictions.
-
Step 5
Choose ergonomic pruning tools with a ratchet to cut through thick stems easily with minimal exertion. You insert the stem into the clipper, squeeze until the blades meet the stem, and release. The ratchet then applies the cutting force.
-
Step 6
Consider a reaching stick if you have difficulty bending down to retrieve small objects. You can also use them to drop plants in planting holes. Look for these at a medical supply store rather than a garden supplier.
