Gardening Tips 
Don’t let vision impairment spoil your enjoyment of gardening. With some planning, care, and a readiness to ask for help when you need it, you can have a garden that appeals to all of your senses
Getting Around Your Garden
Most gardens have a lawn which is attractive and also cushions accidental falls but, grass can also hide uneven ground, which can throw you off balance. A good idea to use some sort of paving for navigating in the garden .Paths and paved areas should be smooth, level, and firm. Paving materials should have good traction. Wood, for example, becomes very slippery when wet. To aid in orienting yourself in the garden you can include wind chimes, fountains, or other objects you can hear. Avoid raised edges which can create a tripping hazard.
Make the Garden Easy to Work In
Raised beds make it easy to reach the soil and the plants. Raised beds are stable and heavy enough for you to sit on the edge or lean on for support, gardening in this way also cuts down the number of special tools you'll need to tend your garden. As a precaution, be aware of structures with sharp corners and edges. If planting an entire garden seems overwhelming, do some container gardening instead! An advantage of containers is they can be moved and take up less space.
The Right Tools
Select tools that are durable, lightweight, and easy to use. Look for commercially produced garden tools with brightly colored handles that will contrast with the ground or with your plant bench. Or apply contrasting tape. Most garden jobs are easier and less strenuous when you can use both hands, which may be difficult if you carry a cane. You can wear a garden apron or tool belt with lots of pockets so that you can keep your hands free. A four-wheeled wagon can carry several larger tools and can be pulled with one hand. Always return your gardening tools and supplies to their proper storage locations. Do not leave them in the garden or on the lawn.
Planting
Choose plants for their sensory qualities. Explore new plant varieties and focus on each plant’s sensory qualities. For example, in addition to planting geraniums, also consider mint, lemon, lavender, a variety of roses. You might consider plants with interesting textures, such as lamb’s ear or trees with exceptional feeling bark. An orderly garden is easier to maintain. For a vegetable garden, plant your crops in straight rows spaced evenly apart. This can be done in several ways.
- You can run a rope with evenly spaced knots across the garden, and plant your seeds or transplants at each knot.
- You can cut evenly spaced notches into a wood board and use that as a template.
- Or you may want to poke a 1-inch hole in the bottom of an egg carton and position the egg carton/spacer on the soil. Place one seed into each hole and cover with soil. Gently remove the space and continue to planting.
Any plant that is not along this line bay be considered a weed.
To identify different plants construct large print signs/labels with index cards and a wide-tip black marker. Laminate the cards or seal them in plastic sandwich bags. Attach each card to a small craft stick.
Watering
Container plants may need to be watered more often, sometime once or twice a day. You can water these with a hose or a watering can. Keep your hand along the top of the container, so you can feel if you are overfilling the container. To avoid accidents, keep hoses off paths, and try to avoid getting walkways wet and slippery.
Vegetables, annual flowers, trees, and shrubs all do best with 1 inch of water each week. You can use a rain gauge or make an inexpensive but functional rain gauge out of a coffee can, a pickle jar, or anything with straight sides. Place it in the garden where it is easy to find then use a tactile or Braille ruler to measure the amount of water you've collected. Mark the back of the ruler, so you can feel how high the water measures on the ruler. Overhead sprinklers waste water and can increase plant disease problems. A soaker hose or drip irrigation system will keep water off of the leaves, and cause less waste.
Weeding
If weeds appear in your garden, the easiest way to get rid of them is to pull them. Weeding once a week is sufficient. Two or three layers of mulch or landscaping fabric between garden plants will also reduce weed problems.
Pest Control
Consider using natural or organic fertilizers and pest control treatments, especially if you use your uncovered hands to feel your plants or tend your garden.
The garden is a magical place that can and should be enjoyed. To learn more about general gardening call Vista Center to speak to an ADL instructor.
Gardening Tips (MS Word)