Rebecca's Gardening Tips for Seniors

Article submitted by Home Instead Senior Care.
For more information, they can be reached at 239-643-6688, or visit their website: www.homeinstead.com.

With a little assistance and creativity, seniors can continue to enjoy the kind of gardening that they've always loved, says "Rebecca's Garden" star Rebecca Kolls. Following are six tips for seniors and the family caregivers who help them.

1. Herbs grow anywhere and are great for seasoning. Kitchen herb gardens are wonderful for seniors. The more you pinch and pick the herbs, such as basil, parsley and chives, the more vigorous they grow.
    
2. Think height, filler and spiller. When you're creating flowerpots, consider height, filler and spiller. Plant a variety that will grow at least two times as tall as the container, fill in with plants that will grow to no more than half of the height of the taller plants, and then plant a variety that will cascade down.
    
3. When it comes to annuals, pack them in. When you create flowerpots, pack your annuals in because they will become root-bound and grow up and over the pots. You'll get drama and a beautiful arrangement.
    
4. Look for equipment that can make the job easier. There are many wonderful tools available that can make gardening easier for anyone including seniors. Bud-Eze tools, which can be found on the Internet, are a good option, as are bionic gloves (www.bionicgloves.com), according to Kolls. In addition, the Arthritis Foundation has a product and services directory for senior gardeners and others with mobility problems. Log on to www.arthritis.org.
    
5. Garden right outside your front door or back door. Container gardening allows seniors access to flowers or vegetables in one pot and also gives them the height that helps make gardening easier for them.Team with others to garden.
    
6. If a senior can't garden anymore, enlist the help of others who might enjoy sharing the work and any produce or flowers from the garden. Or call Home Instead Senior Care to find a CAREGiver who would enjoy gardening with that person.

For more senior gardening ideas, visit these internet sites: www.rebeccasgarden.com or www.seasonsbyrebecca.com. In addition, log on to the National Gardening Association's non-profit website at www.garden.org to discover zone maps and other gardening advice.

Master Gardener Rebecca Kolls hosts the half-hour nationally syndicated gardening series "Rebecca's Garden." In addition, Kolls has served as a gardening and lifestyle
contributor for ABC's "Good Morning America" since. In this role she offers advice on a wide variety of gardening, crafts and creative cooking ideas that make use of the garden. Additionally, Kolls occasionally fills in as GMA's substitute weather forecaster.

For a free four-color "Making Gardening Fun Again for Seniors" guide, call your local Home Instead Senior Care office.