If you have a bad back, limited mobility or working from a wheelchair making gardening
difficult and would prefer to purchase specially adapted gardening tools, rather than adapt your own. Skip this bit and take look at some I have tested and listed on this page. If you don't
mind a bit of DIY, maybe have an elderly or physically disabled relative or
friend who could do with a bit of help. These simple tips to make or adapt gardening tools really can make many difficult or uncomfortable gardening jobs easier, Adapting or making your own
tools is a lot cheaper too.
Easy to make or
adapt Gardening tools.
Tools for sowing seeds.
Back pain can be a deterrent to sowing seeds, if a painful
back or knee condition make the job difficult this simple homemade tool reduces the need for bending and kneeling.
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To make a seed sowing tool that will help to sow seeds without bending.
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Cut a four foot length of 2 ½ inch PVC pipe making a 45 degree angle at one end.
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Use the sharp end of the tool to make furrows or holes in the soil.
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Put the seed or seeds in the top and let them fall down through the pipe into the soil,
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Use the pipe to cover the seeds over with soil.
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If you have a weak grip or arthritic fingers a roll of toilet paper can be a useful planting tool for gardeners,
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Pour the seeds on to a piece of dry light coloured cloth,
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Dampen a piece of toilet paper and use it to pick up the seeds, the seeds will stick to the toilet paper, push the paper the seeds are stuck to into
the hole and cover with soil.
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For sowing small seeds over a wide area
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Take an empty pepper pot or any container with a lid that has holes just large enough to let the seeds through.
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If you need to make the holes bigger pierce with a small screw driver or scissors.
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Sprinkle the seeds like you would pepper.
Tools to adapt if you have a weak grip.
Making the handles of rakes, spades and shovels, etc. thicker, make the tools easier to use if your grip is weak.
Tools with wider padded handles are easier to grip if your hand grip is not as strong as it used to be. Adapting your own tools by padding out the handles with foam is a lot cheaper than
purchasing new ones. The tools will be just as comfortable to use and a lot cheaper.
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How to make tool handles thicker, easier and more comfortable to grip.
- Cut rectangles out of foam that are long enough to fit your hands and wide enough to wrap around the handle.
- Slice about three-quarters the way through the width of the foam rectangle, stopping an inch short of the top.
- Fit the handle of the hoe, rake, spade or shovel into the notch and secure the foam with strong waterproof tape.
Long reach gardening tools for gardeners working from a seated
position or with bending difficulties are more difficult to make or adapt yourself. They provide additional length to assist reaching ground level, or across wider garden beds. Because of the
balance and resultant stress on your wrist and arm are best used with an Arm Support Cuff to improve weight distribution and control. .
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There are a couple of fairly simple ways to extend the handles of hoes and rakes.
- One way is to fasten a broomstick handle or similar length of wood, either by screwing or using waterproof tape, parallel to the handle. Make sure the overlap is sufficient to take the
weight.
- Another way is to fit a longer handle to the existing tool head.
If adapting your own tools is going to prove difficult I have listed some here I have tested that you can purchase through amazon.