For anybody living with a disability and/or lack of mobility, devices such as wheelchairs, wheelchair access ramps, and an outdoor half step, could help you take back your independence so that you aren’t relying on other people. During the summer months, there is nothing better than heading outside and getting some fresh air, whilst doing a spot of gardening and helping to really make your garden look as spectacular as you can. Now, you may think that suffering from a disability or limited mobility would make it tough to get out into the garden and help tidy it up, and you’d be right, but just because it could potentially be tough, that doesn’t make it impossible. Whether you’re thinking of doing a spot of gardening yourself, or simply enjoying the garden in the sunshine, here we’ll be providing you with a few garden layout tips to help make your garden much more accessible and disability-friendly.
Install an Outdoor Half Step
Unless your house and garden are all perfectly flat and level with one another, which is extremely unlikely, there is a good chance that you may need to consider installing an outdoor half step, or steps, for various parts of the garden that are slightly uneven. Many gardens have steps and steep inclines, and for somebody who can barely lift their legs, these steps and inclines could potentially be too steep. With an outdoor half step however, the step is designed to literally cut the height of the original step in half, meaning that the individual has less distance to lift their legs. It may not seem like much, but an outdoor half step can make a huge difference, so it is seriously worth considering.
Wide Paths
At a minimum, it is recommended that you install a path that is at least around 1.8 metres wide, as this should provide plenty of room for manoeuvring wheelchairs and/or mobility scooters, with plenty of room to spare. Most manual wheelchairs have turning circles of 1.6 metres, although for larger electronic ones, this could be as much as 2.4 metres, so just bear that in mind. Put simply, the wider the path, the easier it will be to get around the garden.
Level Path Surfaces
Although gravel paths may look nice, if you were to try to get a wheelchair through deep gravel, well, it would either get stuck, or prove to be incredibly difficult to move, so gravel for garden paths is not very practical unfortunately. When installing paths, make sure the surfaces are level and even, with good grip as well. You may wish to go with a concrete path, or with a tiled path perhaps. So long as the surface is even, flat, and gives good grip, life will be much easier.
Choose the Right Layout
Finally, when designing a new garden, you will need to get the layout right, so that it not only looks great, but so that it is practical in the process. For example, if your garden is large, install plenty of seats and benches around the place, so that you can have a rest, have a change of scenery, and get your breath. Although ponds can look great, unless you choose a wild pond, maintaining them can be a nightmare, so just bear that in mind. For optimal gardening conditions, think of raised flower beds and boxes, as you will then be able to reach them from your wheelchair, without having to bend over etc. It may take a while, but if you plan the layout down to the last detail, life in the long run will become much easier.