The realization that I’m no longer a “spring chicken” gardener anymore has slowly dawned on me. Gone are the days of heading out into my landscape at daylight and continually working until dark. My knees and back, arthritic hands, and energy level have definitely let me know those days are over. Being a “certified plant geek” and developing my landscape for over 47 years, I sometimes ask myself, “What were you thinking?” My new mantra is to embrace diversity and let go of perfection. Gardening at this time of my life should allow me to slow down and enjoy being outdoors.
I started developing my landscape in 1977 and planted my first tree, a pencil-thick, knee-high Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) seedling my husband gave me for my birthday that year. “Mother Maple” is now the star of my garden. I’m extremely lucky that I’ve been able to live in the same place most of my adult life. My garden is full of memories, a timeline of anniversaries, and plants shared by friends.
“Mother Maple”, a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), was planted as a seedling in 1977. Here she is in all her glory in the summer.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
In November, “Mother Maple” shows off her stunning fall color.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Here are some suggestions that I’ve embraced to garden smarter, not harder as I age:
- Dress appropriately and stay hydrated. Wear sunscreen, proper clothing, supportive boots, and a sturdy pair of gardening gloves. Always have a water bottle handy, as staying hydrated reduces body stress and injury.
- Do a few minutes of warm-up stretches to reduce muscle strain. Keep your cell phone with you to call for help if needed.
- Take breaks and enjoy looking at your progress. So often, people rush to get gardening chores done. I call them gardening joys instead of chores. I’ve got benches and other sitting areas scattered around my garden, so I can take periodic breaks and take pleasure in my accomplishments. Remember the old saying, “Take time to smell the roses.”
Place a bench in the garden to take a break and enjoy looking at your progress.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
- Reevaluate your gardening tools. Replace old tools with more ergonomic designs that will lessen the strain on arthritic hands and reduce the chance of injury. You’ve all heard the saying, “Right plant for the right place.” This also applies to the gardening tools you use. Choose the correct ones to do a particular job to prevent stress, strain, or injury.
Invest in a good pair of pruners with ergonomic handles.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2024 HGIC, Clemson Extension
- Invest in a good kneeling bench to make getting up and down easier. Gardening carts are much safer, better balanced, and require less effort than a wheelbarrow. I’ve got a small RTV with a dump bed that makes picking up and hauling off debris less difficult.
- I always have a pair of deadheading scissors and pruners close at hand where I can easily deadhead spent flowers or prune an errant branch. You will be surprised by what you can do in a 15-minute stroll around the garden.
Good work gloves, deadheading scissors, pruners, and a kneeling bench make garden joys much easier.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2024 HGIC, Clemson Extension
- Gone are the years of planting masses of annuals in the ground. It’s cost-prohibitive, along with too much maintenance. Choose colorful frost-proof containers to plant with annuals for seasonal color. Place them where you can enjoy a pop of color.
Containers with seasonal annuals will brighten up an entrance.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
- Consider using raised beds to reduce back and knee strain.
- Choose one gardening joy to complete before moving on to another, allowing you to see your progress.
- Before choosing a new plant, do your research. Native plants tend to be more insect- and disease-resistant and more adaptive to our hot South Carolina climate.
- Design beds to have curved lines to reduce maintenance. If you have a lawn to mow, following a curved bed line is easier than using a string trimmer to trim sharp corners.
Design beds to have curved lines to reduce maintenance.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
- Look out your windows. What can you do to make the view from inside the house more aesthetically pleasing?
This is the summer view out of my sunroom window.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
In autumn, the fall color of Japanese maples brightens up my sunroom view.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
- I don’t have the perfect lawn and never plan to have one. I keep my lawn area as healthy as possible (without using herbicides) to reduce weed pressure, but embrace the dandelions, henbit, or other weeds that tend to populate the lawn. They provide nectar and pollen sources for pollinating insects. In the fall, I intentionally plant Dutch white clover seed to enhance a pollinator-friendly lawn.
Dutch white clover is allowed to grow in the lawn and will provide a nectar and pollen source for pollinating insects, a perfect example of embracing diversity.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2023 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Remember that those beautiful photos of spectacular landscapes you see in gardening magazines have owners who usually have a gardening staff to do the work. At my house, it’s me (my husband will help when asked) and my dogs to keep me company. I’m happiest when I’m in the garden.
I do most of the planting and yard maintenance in my garden. The dogs keep me company and supervise.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2024 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Decide what works best for you or not. Don’t hesitate to remove plants that haven’t performed well, are too insect or disease-prone, or you just don’t like them. Remember the “blue leisure suits and white shoes” of the 70s? You wouldn’t be caught wearing them in public now, so consider the undesirable plants in your garden the “blue leisure suits” and get rid of them. Then, you can visit your local garden center or nursery to replace them with plants that are easier to care for.
