Top tip
Always try before you buy if possible, to ensure the size and weight of the tool is comfortable.
There are around 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK according to the NHS. They do also admit this figure is quite old.
The reason for being in a wheelchair and degree of physical mobility are many and varied. Around a third of wheelchair users are ambulatory. This means the individual is capable of walking in some circumstances.
If you use a wheelchair, to get the most from your garden it may help to adapt the layout of your garden or consider the best tools and techniques. Find advice below to support your gardening.
Gardening can be an enjoyable part of supporting your health and wellbeing.
There is a growing body of research confirming the ways that time in gardens and nature is good for you.
A decision to go outside one day in my wheelchair saved my life. Sitting in the sun, my shoulders dropped, my breathing slowed and my conversation picked up. Something had changed and it felt very positive.
Mark Lane, gardener designer and Thrive ambassador
Some people prefer to garden alone. But it can also be a social activity, helping you connect with others. This could be through getting help with the more demanding gardening jobs. Or you could share gardening tips, successes (and less successful parts!) with family, friends, and neighbours.
Find advice and tips when thinking about accessible, wheelchair friendly garden design.
Read moreThese are some tips before you start gardening to help make it more comfortable to do. Taking a bit of time to prepare can make a big difference.
Have suitable clothing and protection
Wear suitable clothing to protect your feet and lower legs. Always wear sun protection, such as SPF 30 – apply to arms, face and neck and consider wearing a hat with a wide or long brim.
Gather everything you need
Gather all the tools and equipment you will need together before you begin. A tool trolley on wheels comes in handy. This will avoid frequent trips to the shed or garage.
Set up your table for success
If you are sitting at a table to work, place items within easy reach. This avoids overstretching. Slip-resistant roll-out rubber matting can prevent items rolling away.
Plan short bursts of activity
Plan how long you will spend on an activity. Allow time for breaks and stop work before you get too tired. We generally recommend around 20 minutes doing an activity before a break or change.
From digging to weeding, find advice on making gardening activities easier to do when you garden in a wheelchair.
There is a wide range of gardening tools and aids that can help. Find them in garden centres and online. When choosing tools and aids, don’t feel the need to stock your shed with everything at once. It’s better to only get equipment as you plan to use it.
Always try before you buy if possible, to ensure the size and weight of the tool is comfortable.
General gardening tools and items
Moving things
“I’m fortunate as I can get out of my wheelchair and shuffle on my bottom to get among the plants. Camping shops are brilliant for finding accessible products such as fold-out cushioned carpeting. This can be laid out, so I don’t get a wet bottom.”
- Mark Lane
Digging
Read our guide to digging in the garden for more advice.
Weeding
Lawn care
Read our guide to mowing the lawn for more advice.
Pruning
Read our guide to pruning for more advice.
During the winter when plants have gone underground, I also use a roll out track, which enables me to get to the centre of the borders in my wheelchair. Then I use a mix of long-handled tools, especially ones with changeable heads.
Mark Lane
Trimming hedges
Read our guide to trimming hedges for more advice.
Sweeping
Read our guide to sweeping the garden for more advice.
Raking
Read our guide to raking for more advice.
Watering
Sowing seeds
Read our guide to sowing seeds in trays for more advice
Read our guide to sowing seeds outdoors in drills for more advice.
Planting out
When placing new plants in the soil, you may find raised beds, containers or elevated planters easier. For small plants, you could use a bulb planter to dig the planting hole.
Mark Lane is a professional multi-award-winning garden designer. He is also a Thrive Ambassador, presenter on BBC Morning Live, BBC Gardener’s World, QVC and the RHS Flower Shows. Mark has also appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, Pointless Celebrities and Celebrity Weakest Link, as well as the Royal Beat Book Club (True Royalty TV), The Secrets of the Royal Gardens (Channel 5) and Prue Leith’s Cotswold Garden (ITV). In 2021, Mark was nominated as Celebrity Of The Year at the National Diversity Awards. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Kent University in 2022 for his contribution to television and disability. He was also named on The Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 List in 2023 of the UK’s most influential disabled people.
He describes gardening as a lifesaver for him, following a serious car accident in 2000. In this video, he talks about the profound effect of a simple decision to sit outside his wheelchair.
Advice last reviewed: November 2024