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A person outside in a wheelchair on a stone path
Time in a garden can work wonders for our wellbeing. If you use a wheelchair, you may want to make some adaptations to garden design and technique. This can make gardening more comfortable, rewarding and accessible.
  • Tending to a garden gives a sense of purpose. Our efforts lead directly to achievements
  • Time spent in nature has been shown to be good for mental health. It can reduce stress and improve wellbeing
  • Actively gardening can help with muscle tone, physical wellbeing and help release tension
  • Gardening provides an opportunity for continual learning and mental stimulation
A gardener in a wheelchair stop to admire beds of purple lavender
A gardener in a wheelchair looking at lavender

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.

  • An article in Mental Health Review Journal reviewed a large body of research. It showed the positive effects of gardening on mental health. This included reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  • A report in Nature Medicine found that hobbies such as gardening, reading, and arts and crafts are linked to lower levels of depression in people aged 65 and older.
  • Mental Health Foundation created a report on Mental Health and Nature. It highlighted how, alongside time spent in nature, that the extent we feel connected to nature is also important for supporting good mental health.

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.

Wheelchair friendly garden design

Find advice and tips when thinking about accessible, wheelchair friendly garden design.

Read more
A person gardens in a wheelchair
A person gardens in a wheelchair

These 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.

Thrive birmingham sow grow wheelchair hedge trimming
A person in a wheelchair preparing to trim a hedge with shears

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.

Top tip

Always try before you buy if possible, to ensure the size and weight of the tool is comfortable.

General gardening tools and items

  • Add on tool handles – these keep your arm and hand in a natural position, avoiding bending and twisting. They can be combined with arm support cuffs.
  • Non-slip table matting – This is ideal when working at a table to stop tidy trays and other equipment from moving.
  • An apron or tool belt that can be worn around the waist enables you to carry small tools with you throughout your garden – such as garden twine, scissors, secateurs and a garden knife.
  • A cup or water bottle holder on your wheelchair is essential to keep you hydrated throughout the day.

Moving things

  • Almost every gardening task involves moving things. Have a range of carrying options that are comfortable to use for different jobs. Wheelchair storage bags or baskets can be very helpful.
  • Scissor action height-adjustable trolleys are essential if lifting heavy compost bags. Electronic ones that raise up and down at the touch of a button are ideal. They can be costly, though.
  • Use a garden trolley on wheels to move your gardening tools. This will help make activities easier to carry out.
  • Long-handled tools can be awkward to carry. Multi-change tool ranges allow you to carry different heads and only one handle. There are also different length handles to choose from. Telescopic tools are also easier to carry when the handle is retracted.

“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

  • Make sure your beds are accessible from all sides. This way you can reach without stretching. Make sure to find a comfortable working position.
  • Some people find that raised beds or elevated planters, such as a raised table or manger, make any digging easier.
  • You could also switch to the ‘no dig’ technique to reduce the amount of digging you do.
  • Never over-stretch and work at your own speed.
  • You can dig at ground level from a seated position with a long-handled trowel or cultivating tool.
  • A perennial spade is a mid-length handle spade. This was originally designed for splitting perennial plants. The length can also make it useful when digging in raised beds.

Read our guide to digging in the garden for more advice.

Weeding

  • Little and often is usually the best way when it comes to weeding!
  • So you need to weed less often, cover your borders with a thick layer of mulch or weed suppressing membrane. Make sure to weed and water the border before laying mulch, to help keep in moisture.
  • Layers of newspaper can also be used as a mulch. Use this to cover a new border. The newspaper will block out light and prevent weeds from growing. You can leave it in place and holes cut in it for plants. You can always cover the newspaper with bark, homemade compost or bought compost.
  • Some people find raised beds and planters easier to manage, as there is less stretching. Weeds are often better contained and less deep-rooted.
  • Choose a lightweight long-handled fork, hoe or trowel to weed at ground level. You could also try a shorter hoe, a push-pull type hoe, or one from the multi-change ranges.

Lawn care

A robot lawn mower going across a green lawn
A robot lawn mower going across a green lawn
  • If you have any lawn, a robot lawn mower can make mowing easier. The technology has improved a lot and they can now produce a decent overall mow and many can be set using an app on your mobile phone.
  • FreeWheel wheelchair attachments are available to make going over grass easier.
  • A core product, that looks like honeycomb, can be laid at the time of laying new turf or sowing grass seed. This provides a sturdier, flatter surface making it easier to traverse your lawn.

Read our guide to mowing the lawn for more advice.

Pruning

  • Reaching up to prune can put a strain on your back, neck and arms. Don’t over stretch and do a little at a time.
  • Keep your shears, secateurs clean and sharp. Sharp tools make light of garden work.
  • Always have a bucket or a carrier bag tied to your wheelchair so the prunings can be put into them.
  • You could have a litter picker in one hand to pull branches towards you. With a pair of secateurs in the other hand, you can then prune.
  • To make pruning easier, you could choose plants that need less pruning. Shrubs like rhododendrons, daphne and viburnum are happy with less input.
  • You could opt for plants that are easier to reach. Fruit trees and some soft fruit bushes are available in semi-trained forms such as espalier or cordons. You can keep these to a low height.
  • Cut and hold pruning tools are particularly useful. These have a gripping device that locks onto and holds plant stems. They stop pruned material falling to the ground, making it easier to dispose of.
  • Some people find cordless pruners easier to use. The design means you can operate them with one hand. Some models come with a telescopic pole to reach higher branches.

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

  • Lightweight long-reach / telescopic hedge trimmers are useful if you have good upper body strength. You can trim at height without needing to raise your arms above your head.
  • If you find long-reach tools too heavy, you may want to use conventional hedging shears. Try to work with the shears close to your body, just below chest height, to avoid neck, back or arm strain. Only cut where you can reach comfortably.
  • Hedging plants can also be grown in planters. This makes them easier to manage without bending.

Read our guide to trimming hedges for more advice.

Sweeping

A broom beside a pile of leaves on a patio - from Pixabay
A broom beside a pile of leaves on a patio
  • When sweeping, it will be easier to do if you sweep towards you instead of away from you.
  • A short-handled outdoor broom is good for sweeping patios and hard areas.
  • A lightweight, ‘witches’ besom broom can also be a good choice. Add a slip-resistant band to the handle to make it easier and more comfortable to hold.
  • You can find brooms with multi-change handles, giving greater choice on how long the broom is.
  • A long-handled leaf grabber is helpful for collecting large piles of debris. You could place this in a garden bag.

Read our guide to sweeping the garden for more advice.

Raking

  • Try to only rake flower beds if they are narrow and easy to reach across with paving around for stability.
  • Different sorts of rakes are useful for different raking tasks.
  • For raking the soil in beds, borders and containers, a lightweight steel rake is useful. You may have a combination of borders at ground level and raised beds / containers. If so, look for a short-handled, telescopic or multi-change model. This will help you can get the correct length.
  • Spring tine rakes / rakes with fan-shaped heads are useful for clearing leaves and light debris. Short-handled and telescopic versions are available.
  • Instead of raking leaves and light debris, you could use a lightweight, battery-operated leaf blower. Blow the leaves into a corner then collect using long-handled leaf grabbers. You can then use these to make leaf mould.

Read our guide to raking for more advice.

Watering

  • There are plenty of ways to reduce the amount of time spent watering. Adding a layer of mulch to beds and containers in spring will help keep in water. Water-retaining granules make water last longer in containers and hanging baskets.
  • You can also reduce watering time by choosing plants that like dry conditions. Try agapanthus, lavender, hardy geranium, geum, rock rose, sedum and grasses.
  • For smaller gardens or balcony gardens, you could use a lightweight watering can. A plastic model with flat sides should be easier to manage than a round one. Fill it half way, so it is easier to transport.
  • For medium or larger gardens, you might like a lightweight curly hose. These easily spring back into place after use.
  • To comfortably reach borders, containers and hanging baskets, add a watering lance attachment to a hose.
  • Another option is automatic watering or irrigation systems. You can set these up to water plants in borders, pots and containers.
  • Try to collect your own rainwater in a water butt – the water is then free! Alternatively, create a dunking station with the use of an open water butt or even an old bath.

Sowing seeds

  • If you are sowing seeds into trays, have a comfortable table set-up to work at. A tidy tray is extremely handy. It keeps compost, seeds and all other items in one place. A washing up bowl or kitchen tray can do the job if you don’t have one.

Read our guide to sowing seeds in trays for more advice

  • When sowing seeds in the soil outside, if you are using elevated planters hand tools are fine.
  • If sowing seeds at ground level, use a long-handled hoe or a bamboo stick to mark out where you are sowing.
  • To put seeds in place, you could use a length of tube or piping, or a long-handled rolling seed sower.

Read our guide to sowing seeds outdoors in drills for more advice.

Planting out

AM wheelchair garden outside planting
A person in a wheelchair working at a table in the garden

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.

  • Planting can put a strain on the back and arms. Avoid overstretching to reach the soil surface.
  • If you are planting at ground level, a long-handled trowel is an essential tool for digging the planting hole and guiding the plant into place.
  • A litter picker can be used to move a plant into a hole in the ground. Then, use the litter picker with a pot upside down in its jaws to scoop the excavated soil around the plant. Firm down the soil with the flat end of the pot.
Mark Lane
Garden designer and Thrive ambassador Mark Lane

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.

Mark Lane shares how gardening has helped him

Advice last reviewed: November 2024

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Written in collaboration with
Mark Lane, garden designer and Thrive ambassador

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