Top tip
If a plant is a problem, it’s better to remove it. This includes rapid growers, extremely big plants, thorny plants and potentially toxic ones.
We believe everyone can enjoy gardening, no matter your age or abilities.
It’s always a good idea to design a garden that you can easily move and work around. For some people, that requires extra thought so gardens are safe, useable spaces. This could mean allowing space for a wheelchair. Or, making it simpler to navigate if you have sight loss. For those with low energy or mobility difficulties, you may focus on designing a garden you can comfortably maintain.
Do you need some help with your garden space or gardening jobs? Read our guide to getting help with your garden for advice.
Read moreThere are many aspects of garden design that can make your garden easier to use, from layout to plants.
General design
Think about your enjoyment of the garden:
Think about how you can safely move around your garden:
We changed most of our planting areas to raised beds, and installed two raised ponds, which we love. We also needed good pathways, ramps and patio areas as we can’t deal with large areas of grass.
Fred, gardener with dwarfism
Think about what you like to do in the garden:
Think about hazardous features:
Lawns
If you want to make your lawn easier to manage, you could reduce the size of it, or remove it completely. If you replace sections with gravel, you can still allow for planting areas within the gravel.
Where you do have a lawn area, opt for clean straight edges instead of curved borders to make mowing easier. Have a solid edge between lawn and borders, e.g. log rolls or concrete based to make it easier to keep edges neat.
Beds and borders
You should be able to reach across flower beds without overstretching or stepping on the soil. Aim for a maximum of 50cm wide if you can only reach it from one side, or up to 1m wide if you can reach it from all sides.
You could choose elevated planters, containers and raised beds instead. As the soil is higher off the ground, it reduces the need to bend, or allows you to work at them from a seated position. Read our guide to container gardening or gardening in raised beds for more advice.
Plants
It’s always good to grow things you like.
If it helps to make plant care less effort, choose lower maintenance plants:
If there are some activities you really enjoy, you could plan plant choices around that. For example, if you love watering, you could grow ferns as they enjoy a drink. Or, if you love deadheading, sweet peas or cosmos will keep you busy over summer.
I choose flowers that are bright, particularly white and yellow as I can see these easier – for example Rudbeckias and light leaved plants like variegated buddleia.
Jean, blind and deaf gardener
If you have any sight loss, there are ways to make your plants stand out. You could opt for bright colours, like yellow, that are easy to make out and plant in large groups. You could also paint fences dark and have light-coloured plants growing against them.
All gardens appeal to the senses in some way. You may decide to choose plants (and other features) that have high sensory appeal. Read our guide to planning a sensory garden for more ideas.
If a plant is a problem, it’s better to remove it. This includes rapid growers, extremely big plants, thorny plants and potentially toxic ones.
Now you’ve had time to review your garden design and plants, you can get going in the garden!
It's always a good idea to take time to stop and look around. Appreciate your surroundings and think about the activities you have most enjoyed.
Gardening is a journey, with no set finish line. If your garden or planting plans don’t work entirely, you can adjust them over time.