5 Gardening Activities For Seniors

Gardening is a favorite hobby for many seniors. It can improve your overall health, help with reducing stress and make you sleep better at night.

If you’re interested in taking up gardening as a hobby, here are some gardening activities that you can consider: 

1. Design your backyard

As far as fun and fulfilling activities for seniors are concerned, few pursuits can come as close to gardening in terms of mental and physical benefits.

For starters, working in the garden inevitably requires the use of almost all muscle groups in the body.

Plus, you get to spend time outdoors and surrounded by plants and their innate beauty. Moreover, those gorgeous flowers and bright leaves and the enticing aroma of the soil put your brain in its Zen zone. So, if you haven’t yet tried gardening, this would be the right time to start.

Unfortunately, many older adults give up gardening because they find it too physically taxing at one point. But folks, now there are so many senior friendly gardening tools available that you can go right back to your plant growing and nurturing pursuits, without worrying about how your muscles and bones will react to them.

These gardening tools make every step of the plant growing and landscaping process as easy as they once used to be. You can read more about ergonomic and senior-specific gardening tools here.

2. From seeds to saplings

If you lack the space to create your very own garden, fret not. It is always possible to start seeds and then offer them to friends, neighbors and family members, who can nurture them into thriving plants.

Seed starter kits are easily available and don’t take up a lot of space. But, you will have to be diligent about serving those seedlings as they grow.

Personally, I prefer flowering shrubs like petunias that are loved by all. But, you can opt for something else.

3. Organic farming

Another way to monetize your gardening efforts is through organic farming.

No, you don’t need a large scale operation. As long as you have enough space in your backyard for a couple of pots or plant beds and the drive and desire to grow herbs, you will have a fledgling business on your hands in no time at all.

The thing about herbs is that they are easy and quick to grow and don’t need a lot of maintenance. Plus, they grow exceptionally well in pots and respond very well to hydroponic gardening as well.  And if that is not enough, there is always a demand for organic herbs. So, I am sure you will be able to find plenty of buyers in your own neighborhood once word gets out about your herb garden and its bounties.

4. Park maintenance

This is not an option in every town but in areas where the park management allows it, seniors should take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy gardening and contribute to their community while at it. This can be done by adopting a small area of the local park.

When you adopt a patch of the park, it means that you are responsible for its upkeep, including plant care and landscape management.

In a lot of towns, the seeds and saplings needed are provided by the management and residents of the neighborhood are actively encouraged to participate in planning and maintaining their park to the best of their abilities. To know if your local park has such a facility, get in touch with park management.

5. Flower arrangements

And this is one more way in which you can use the fruits of your labor to spread cheer where it is needed and possibly make you some money. If you enjoy growing flowering plants, like my mother does, you have a potential money making product on your hands.

Look up videos on flower arrangements and use your roses and dahlias and orchids to create your own colorful arrangements. These can then, either be sold or sent to senior care centers, local hospitals or to your loved ones.

Where the arrangements go doesn’t really matter because there isn’t a soul in the world who does not experience a sense of joy at the sight of beautiful flowers.