Whether you have a green thumb or hoping to develop one, deteriorating vision doesn’t have to stop you. Here are 6 tips to help you get back in the garden:
- Wrap garden tool handles with bright colored tape, to make them easier to see in the grass.
- If you have raised garden beds: glue pool noodles, sliced lengthwise to the corners to protect yourself from sharp edges.
- Place distinctive plants in different areas and use your sense of smell to orient yourself around the garden. For example: citronella plants in your herb garden, or lavender in your butterfly garden.
- Fountains, wind chimes, or other accessories can also be used as landmarks around the garden.
- Smartphone apps like WayAround, Be My Eyes and Aira can be helpful to identify plants.
- Ask for help. Join Hadley Growers, a monthly discussion group, to hear from gardeners of all levels. The National Library Service (NLS) also has a variety of gardening books free to access.
If you’re just starting out, or are limited in space, container gardening may be the way to go. We have a few tips to get you started in our Container Gardening workshop series.