Off-the-shelf garden tools found in the hardware store

Simple garden shovel used in raised bed

Raised garden bed and large potted plants with flowers

Lightweight plastic shovel with easy grip

Clippers with side strap secures a comfortable hold

Modified handle of digging tool allows for comfortable grip

Locating specially designed tools for the garden can be a challenge because there is no single source. Many different hardware stores, garden centers, and mail-order gardening supply companies sell a selection of ergonomically designed tools designed for people with disabilities or simply to perform a task more efficiently. Some rehabilitation supply catalogs carry a selection of gardening tools, but more often these will have other useful items such as reachers, handle adaptations, wrist supports, and utensil holders that are readily converted for use in the garden. Horticultural, occupational, and physical therapists, along with assistive technology professionals, are excellent resources for adaptive equipment and tools. In addition, it is likely that many modifications to items used around the home for daily living can be transferred to the garden, as well - handle adaptations in particular.

The following basic principles can be used as guidelines for gardening tool selection:

• Select lightweight tools made with newer metal alloys and stronger plastics. This is especially important for tools that extend a person's reach.
• Use long-handled tools to decrease the need to extend or bend the body to work areas beyond the gardener's reach. Longer handles also improve leverage and also encourage two-handed use that distributes force over more muscles and joints. They are most comfortably used with hands gripping the tool while held close to the body rather than extended, so adjust length accordingly. Long-handled watering wands and pruners are particularly useful.
• Increase comfort and gripping ability by modifying handles with soft padding. Simple pipe insulation can be used, as well as special foam designed to be slipped over tool handles, then shrunk with heat for a tight fit. This helps those with wakened gripping strength or arthritis. Wearing gardening gloves will also pad the joints of the hand and protect sensitive skin.
• Use levers on gate latches and hose spigots rather than round handles.
• Use inexpensive rehabilitation equipment such as cuffs, utensil holders, and braces to aid those with little or no hand function. Gardening hand tools and modified eating utensils can be attached to cuffs and wrist splints for use as garden tools.
• Keep all cutting edges on digging tools and pruners sharp to reduce the force needed to use them.
• Children's garden tools are often helpful to the wheelchair user and seated gardener. They weigh less and have shorter handles and smaller blades that require less strength to use.
• Consider using knee pads or kneelers for tasks close to the ground.
• Work at a comfortable pace, and change tasks and positions frequently; adopt good body mechanics; take plenty of breaks to admire the garden.

Whenever possible, try to handle a tool before purchase to make sure the weight and balance are good as well as judge its ability to do the intended task. Adaptive tool collections can be sought out at local healthcare agencies and public gardens with horticultural therapy programs for people with disabilities. Many of these programs will have outdoor enabling gardens with many ideas to try at home.

The good news is that garden tool designers are now factoring in our aging society, resulting in more models with lightweight ergonomic designs that are much easier to use without injury and fatigue.