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NCHPAD - Building Healthy Inclusive Communities

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Getting Around in the Garden


What the gardeners use to move about will affect the garden's design and layout. As a general rule, anyone that uses assistive equipment such as canes, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs will require that the garden be set up on or abutting firm paving. Paving serves as a mobility aid and a platform for planters and other accessible garden features. Grass or wood chip paths are too soft. Anyone with a shuffling gait, compromised balance and coordination, or using a cane or walker will benefit from paving because of good traction and minimized tripping hazards.

Paved areas should be firm, level, drain well, offer good traction, and require little maintenance. All patios, decks, connecting paths, and walkways must meet these criteria. When determining slopes for paths and sidewalks, let the gardener's tolerance be the guide, but as a rule, slopes should not exceed 5% and grades across paths should not be more than 2%. Patios and decks should be essentially flat while allowing water to drain away. Shared spaces such as patios and decks that serve other functions besides gardening should be large enough for planters and other furniture/functions, yet allow freedom of movement for all who may use the space.

As a start, one can rely on the ADA sections pertaining to grades, widths, and material options, etc. Paving installation is expensive. It is best to first use the existing patios, balconies, and walks before investing in new ones - particularly if gardening is a new activity. To minimize the length of walkways and paving costs as well as energy spent traveling to and from the garden, locate the frequently tended vegetable and cut flower gardens nearest the house.

If made with permanent materials (concrete), connecting walkways must meet local building codes for width, etc. For wheelchair/scooter users, a minimum of 40 inches wide is necessary. By adding interspersed wider places, one can provide for a typical 5-foot turning radius. Someone fully ambulatory will require considerably less.

Paving materials vary in quality and cost. Grass is the most common paving in a garden, but it is too soft for wheelchair/scooter users and may hide tripping hazards. It is also high-maintenance. Commonly used wood chips are also too soft for those using wheelchairs or walkers or those who walk with a shuffling gait. While wood chips do cushion falls, they must be renewed with decay and soon result in very fertile places for weeds to grow. Packed soil will work in drier areas of the country but has clear disadvantages in places with more moisture. Better alternatives include:

Compacted crushed stone or gravel when properly installed is firm, level, well-drained, and is among the less expensive options. It tends to loosen with freeze/thaw action that may require spring compacting; it may track around when wet. Stone mixes should contain a blend of sizes ranging from 5/8-inch (angular, not smooth and round) with everything smaller down to coarse sand ('fines') left in to fill gaps between larger pieces as it is compacted. A mix called 'screenings' is a good, inexpensive choice where available.

Compacted crushed stone paving used to make a path 6 feet wide at a park.
Compacted crushed stone paving used to make a path 6 feet wide at a park.
Asphalt or concrete are the least expensive solid surfaces. Asphalt's dark color reduces glare but also absorbs heat in full sun that may make the garden unusable at certain times of the day. This feature does enable it to dry and melt snow/ice more quickly. It also requires regular sealing that over time can build up and create a slipping hazard when wet. Plain concrete is durable but not very attractive and produces uncomfortable glare in sunlight, particularly for older gardeners. Fortunately, exposed aggregates, coloring added to the mix, and/or stamps that apply hundreds of patterns and textures can be used to make asphalt or concrete attractive - though a bit more expensive - alternatives.

Large 2 foot square textured and colored (to reduce glare) concrete pavers used in a large rooftop garden with 24inch high raised beds.
Large 2 foot square textured and colored (to reduce glare) concrete pavers used in a large rooftop garden with 24inch high raised beds.
Wood is clearly an attractive option for above-ground decking ramps and even walkways. However, planks are slick when wet, require regular protection from the elements, and are more expensive. Some wood preservatives are toxic and should be avoided. Worth considering are the newer versions of plastic 'wood' that are extremely durable and come in a range of colors (avoid dark ones in warmer climates).

 

 

 


Wood deck at home large enough for planters and freedom of movement.
Wood deck at home large enough for planters and freedom of movement.
Brick and other types of paving stones are available in a near-infinite variety of materials, shapes, and colors and offer a beautiful, durable, and low-maintenance choice that compliments any home and garden style. Proper installation is essential for long life and can be quite expensive depending on the material.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wheelchair user tending hanging baskets with long garden tool. Pavers on ground are wheelchair accessible.
Brick can be installed in a variety of patterns and colors.
Installing new paved areas to create access to and around the garden can be expensive. Again, try to use existing areas first, and then expand. Another approach is to use higher-quality brick paving near the house where it will be appreciated and add value while using the cheaper versions (screenings) in more remote locations and for connecting paths where function is most important. Once the proper platform for the accessible garden is established, gardening spaces can then be added using containers, vertical gardening techniques, and larger raised beds.

 

 

 

 

Gardener using a wheelchair watering a group of three large round white plant containers approx. 18, 20 and 24 inches high a long handled watering wand. A standing woman is tending the largest planter.
Gardener using a wheelchair watering a group of three large round white plant containers approx. 18, 20 and 24 inches high with a long handled watering wand. A standing woman is tending the largest planter.
The easiest way to begin an enabling garden is with containers and plants available in a near infinite variety of shapes and materials both store bought and home made in the larger sizes needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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