Gardening information and advice for people experiencing ... · Some tools can be replaced with...
Transcript of Gardening information and advice for people experiencing ... · Some tools can be replaced with...
Garden memoriesGardening information and advice
for people experiencing memory loss; their carers, friends and family
Contents
Introduction page4
1Gardeningandmemoryloss page5
2Basicdesignpoints page7
3Safetyinthegarden page9
4Gettingstartedinthegarden page11
5Gradinggardeningactivities page13
6Somestep-by-stepgardeningjobs page15
7Gardencalendar page27
Yournotes page35
Acknowledgements page37
Garden memoriesGardening information and advice for people experiencing memory loss; their carers, friends and family
Introduction
GardeningisoneofthemostpopularactivitiesintheUK–anestimated6.5millionpeopleintheUKenjoyit,andaround80percentofthepopulationhaveaccesstoagarden.AtThrivewebelievethatgardeningfostersastrongsenseofhealthandwellbeinginpeoplewitharangeofdisabilitiesandhavefounditcanbeparticularlyhelpfultothoseexperiencingmemorylossandotherformsofdementia.Ifyouareclosetosomeonewhoisexperiencingmemory,lossorareexperiencingityourself,youmayliketogivesomegardeningtasks
*ResearchcommissionedbyThrivefromMintelCustomSolutions,2006.
Ifyouorsomeoneyoucareforisaffectedbydementia,wehopethisguidewillencourageyoutoexperiencethecontinuedbenefitsthatgardeningcanbring.
atry.Wehaveseenhowtheycanhelprebuildconfidenceandalleviateanxietiesandhowsharedtaskswithcarers,friends,andfamilycanbenefitrelationships.
Thriveisanationalcharitywhichhelpspeopleimprovetheirhealthandwell-beingthroughgardening.Formorethan30years,wehaveseenfirst-handhowgardeningcantransformlives.
Ourresearchshowsthatnearlyoneinthree(31percent)ofpeoplewithadisabilitybelievesthatgardeninghasongoinghealthbenefits*.
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Overtime,thoseexperiencingdementiamaynotbeabletomaintaintheirabilitytomanageeverydaytasks,astheirmoodandunderstandingareaffected.Thesechangesmeanhelpmaybeneededtofindnewwaystodothesejobs,suchasbreakingeachtaskdownintostages.
Manyfamiliargardeningjobscanquiteeasilybebrokendownintosmallersteps.Throughthisapproachpeoplecanbeencouragedtocontinuetoachieve.Ifchosenwell,thetasksmayhelpimprovecoordinationandmobility,
Gardeningcanaidconcentrationandconfidence;itisalsoagoodformofexercisewhichinturnhelps
1 Gardeningandmemoryloss
toboostmoodandcanhelpwithsleep.Choosingandtalkingaboutplantscansparkmemoriesandconversation.
Awell-designedgardencanbeasafe,andenjoyableplacethatcanhelpgiveasenseoftimeandcontinuitythroughbeingintouchwiththeseasons.
1 Gardening and memory loss
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1 Gardening and memory loss
Other gardening benefits
Peoplewithdementiaarelesslikelytobecomeagitatedanddistressediftheyhaveregularaccesstofreshairandexerciseandaquietspaceawayfromotherswhentheyneedit.
Agardengivesfreshair,exerciseandexposuretosunlightwhichisvitalforwell-being.
Inagardenit’spossibleforeveryonenomatterwhattheirabilityworkattheirownpace,doingasmuchoraslittleastheylike,whilegainingasenseofachievement.
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2 Basicdesignpoints
Therearesomedesignpointsthatshouldbetakenintoaccountwhendesigningormodifyingagardenforusebythosewithmemoryloss:
Thegardenshouldbeeasytofindfrominside.Forexample,theviewofthegardenorthepathwaytoitshouldnotbeblockedbyfurniture.
Welldesigned,clearandsafepatios,pathsandstepsareimportantpartsofagarden.Theygiveroutestomovefromoneareatoanother,aswellasmakingspacetoenjoy.
Circularorfigure-of-eightroutesroundthegardenareeasiertonegotiateasthereisnoneedtomakedecisions.
Seatingclosetoandawayfromthehousegivessaferestingpointsandsomewheretoaimfor.Seatingcanbeaplaceforconversation,quietreflectionandenjoymentofthechangingseasons.
Bedsorcontainersthatareatcomfortableheightswillmakegardeningmoreenjoyable.
2 Basic design points
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3 Safetyinthegarden
Safetyinthegardenisofprimeimportance,andthemeasuresneededtokeepthoseexperiencingmemorylosssecuredependsonindividuallevelofawareness.
3 Safety in the garden
General safety points to consider
Safeaccesstothegarden.
Paths,patiosandstepsneedtobefirm,levelandnon-glare.
Anenclosedgardenreducesthelikelihoodofwanderingoff.
Anywaterfeatureneedscarefulconsideration.
Poisonousplantsshouldbeavoided.
Thegardenshouldbecheckedforotherhazards,suchasun-cappedcanes.
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Safety checks for paths, patios and steps
Paths,patiosandstepsprovidetheaccessroutesaroundthegarden,soitisimportantthattheyaresafetouse.
Looseandunevenpathsandpavingcancausetripsandfalls.Replacethemwithafirmandlevelsurface.
Softpathssuchasgrass,barkandsomegravelsurfacescanbehardtowalkon.Replaceareaslikethiswithafirmersurface.
Plantsspreadingareanotherhazard.Cutplantsrightbackawayfrompathandpatioedges.
Makesuretherearenoobstructionsonoroverhangingthepath,suchasbranches.
Moss,algae,ordebriscanmakepavingslippery.Keepitcleanwithaproprietarycleanerandclearanydebris.
Areasofpavingthatbecomeslipperyinwetweathershouldbere-laidwithamaterialwithbettergrip.
Paleconcreteandpavingareascancauseglareinbrightsunlightwhichcanbeuncomfortableanddisorienting.Replacewithdarkersurfaces.
3 Safety in the garden
Peoplewithreducedmobilitycanfindnarrowpathsandstepsdifficult.Aminimumwidthofonemetreisbest.
Avoidstepsofdifferentheights,astheycancauseaccidents.Replacewithstepsofthesameheight.
Avoidstepsaltogetherifpossible.Iftheyareneeded,installasturdyhandrail.
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Usesafe,well-maintained,familiartools.Familiaritycantriggernormalresponseandactivityinthoseexperiencingmemoryloss.Keepingtoolswellmaintainedwillalsohelpastheywillbeeasiertouse.
Sometoolscanbereplacedwithitemsthataremorefamiliarandeasiertouse.Scissorscanbeusedinsteadofsecateursforlighttrimmingjobs.Theyareeasiertohandleandtheactionofthescissorsismorelikelytoberemembered.
Gardeningcanbesmall-scale,likeplantingawindowboxorsometubs,ortendinghouseplantsorindoorbulbs.
4 Gettingstartedinthegarden
4 Getting started in the garden
Thoseexperiencingmemorylossusuallygardenbestwhenlefttoworkattheirownpaceandwithpeoplewhoguidebutdonottakeover.
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Taking care – helpful hints
Forthosewhohavelittlestrength,lightweightandlong-handledtoolscanbeeasierandlesstiringtousethanfull-sizedones.
Year-round activities
Someactivitiescancarriedoutallthroughtheyear,androutineactivitiescanhelptogiveasenseofcontinuity.Suggestionsinclude:
clearingandtidyingthegarden,patioandpaths
preparationandplanningforgrowingandsowinglookingatmagazines,seedcatalogues,etc.
4 Getting started in the garden
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It’salsopossibletogardensittingdowniftubsareattherightheight.
Wearingcomfortableclothesthatsuittheseasonmakegardeningmorepleasantandasimplewarm-upexercise,suchasashortwalkaroundthegarden,beforestartingishelpful.
Strainbyliftingheavythings,orbendinguncomfortablyforlongperiodsshouldbeavoidedandbreaksareimportanttoavoidtiredness.
Nooneshouldfeeloverwhelmedbythework.Breakingthejobsintosmallersectionscanhelpmaketasksmanageable.
5 Gradinggardeningactivities
5 Grading gardening activities
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Hereisasequenceofactionstohelpthis.
Wherewilltheactivitybedone?
Howwillitbecarriedout?
Whatequipmentisneeded?
Whatplantmaterialisneeded?
Whatwillbeneededtoclearup?
5 Grading gardening activities
3. What equipment is needed? Seedtraysorpots?Seedlingsdon’t
needtobeprickedoutifdividedtrays,whereeachseedlinghasitsowncellofcompost,areused.Useapropagatororatraywithalid;dibber,levellingboard,generalpurposecompost,apottingtrayorcomposttidytray,sieve,wateringcanwithafinerose,labels,pencil,rubber.
4. What plant material is needed? Packetsofseed
5. Clearing up Cleanandstoretoolsand
equipment.Positionsownitemswheretheywillgerminate.
Tohelp,hereisanexampleforsowingseeds:
1. Where will the activity be done? Greenhouse,shed,kitchentable,
gardentable?Sowntrayscanbeplacedonawindowsill,orinaconservatoryorgreenhouse.
2. How will it be carried out? Dependingonability,thegardener
mightbeabletodothewholeactivityorjustoneormorepartsofthejob.Choosingamanageabletaskappropriatetoconcentrationlevelsisimportanttosuccess.Asingletaskcouldbefillingthetrayorpotswithcompost.Collectingitemsandclearingcouldalsobedonebyoneperson.
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Thefollowingexamplesareapproachestovariouscommongardeningjobs.
Overfillaseedtraywithseedcompost.
Levelthecompostusingasawingaction.Placealevellingboardovertheseedtrayandpressfirmly.
Seedtrayandcompost,seeds,wateringcan,labelandpen
You will need...
1 2 Inastandardtray,spacetheseedoutevenly,startingfromonelongandoneshortsideofthetray.
3
6 Some step-by-step gardening jobs
Sowingseeds
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6 Somestep-by-stepgardeningjobs
Puttwohandfulsofseedcompostintothesieveandsprinkleathinlayerofcompostovertheseeds.
Labeltheseedtray.Waterthetraywithawateringcanwithafinerose.
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6 Some step-by-step gardening jobs
Sowingseeds(continued)
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You will need...
Prickingout
Levelthecompostwithapieceofwood.
Smallpot,seedlings,compost,dibber,widget,pieceofwoodforlevelling,wateringcan,labelandpen
Overfillapotwithseedcompost.Tapthepotonthebenchthreetimestosettlethecompost.
1 2 3 Placeawidgetundertherootsofahealthyseedlingandlifttheitoutbyoneleaf–notthestem.
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Makeaholeinthecentreofthepotwiththedibber,penoryourfinger.
Puttheseedlingintheholewithleavesjustabovethecompost.Tapthepotonthebenchtosettle.
4 5 Labelandwater.6
Prickingout(continued)
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You will need...
Pottingon
Smallpot,largerpot,compost,wateringcan,labelandpen
Selectapotthenextsizeup.Putasmallamountofcompostintothebottomofthispot.
Taketheplantoutofthepotandplacetooneside.
Putthesmallpotintothelargerpot.Makesurethatthetopsarelevel.
1 2 3
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4 5 6 7
Pottingon(continued)
Holdthesmallpotstillinthecentre.Fillthegapbetweenpotswithcompostandfirm.
Takethesmallpotoutbytwistingandliftingit.
Droptheplantintothehole.Taptolevelthecompost.
Labelandwater.
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You will need...
Takingsemi-ripecuttings
Chooseashootwithoutflowersorflowerbuds.Trimthebottomfewleavesoff.
Makeastraightcutabout7-10cmfromthetopoftheshoot,justbelowanode(wherealeafjoinsthestem).
Filla12.5cmpotwithamixofhalfsand,halfmulti-purposecompost.
Spacethecuttingsaroundtheedgeofthepot.Labelandwater.
SomeplantsorshrubsthatcanbepropagatedinthiswayareHebe,Deutzia,Cornus,PhiladelphusandWeigela.
1 2 3 4
Secateurs,12.5cmpot,sandandcompostmix,wateringcan,labelandpen,smallcanesorsticksandaplasticbag
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5 6 7 8
Takingsemi-ripecuttings(continued)
Putfourcanesorsticksaroundtheedgeofthepot,placeaplasticbagoverandfixittothepotwithstringorelastic.
Openthebagfromtimetotimetoletinair.
Tocheckifthecuttingshaverooted,gentlytugoneoftheleaves.
Putthepotinabrightplaceoutofdirectsunlight.
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Plantingbulbs
1 2 3Makeaholeintoclearedgroundusingabulbplanter.Loosenthesoilaroundthesides.
Putasmallamountofbonemealintothebottom.
Putyourbulb,withitstipfacingup,intothehole.
Chooselarge,firmbulbs.Bulbspreferrichwelldrainedsoilandasunnyspot.
You will need...
Bulbplanter,bulbs,bonemeal,wateringcan
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4 5 6
Plantingbulbs(continued)
Releasethesoilfromthebulbplanterbackoverthebulb.
Firmin. Waterwell.
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Takinghardwoodcuttings
1 2 3
You will need...
Forsythia,willowanddogwoodaresomehardwoodplantssuitableforcuttings.
Chooseastemthatisasthickasapencilandatleast30cmlong.Cutitoffaboveanode.
Takealltheleavesoff.
Secateurs,largepot,sandandcompostmix,wateringcan,labelandpen,smallcanesorsticksandaplasticbag
Measure15-20cmupthecuttingandmakeaslopingcutaboveanode.
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4 5 6
Takinghardwoodcuttings(continued)
Pushfivecuttingsintothecompostsothatthetopnodesareshowing.
Thecuttingscouldalsobeputstraightintointoopengroundratherthaninpots.Cuttingstakeuptoayeartoroot.
Fillalargepotwithhalfsand,halfmulti-purposecompost.
Labelandwaterandplaceoutdoors.
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7 Gardencalendar
Hereareaselectionofseasonalgardenjobideas.Asalwaysgardenersshouldpickandchoosewhatisappropriatefortheirlevels.
Activity Equipment
7 Garden calendar
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Season–Spring
Sowingcalendar,seeds,pottingtray,sieve,wateringcan,labels,stringandline(foroutdoorsowing)compost,pots,seedtrays,levellingboard
Paint,paintpots,dustsheets,brushes,sandpaperandblocks,dustpanandbrush,masks,overallsoraprons
Birdseedandfeeders,equipmentformakingfatcakes–seed,fatandsuet,terracottapots,microwave.BirdIDsheet,wildlifebooksandguides
Sowingvegetableandflowerseeds
Paintinggardenstructures,fences,etc.
Feedingthebirds
7 Garden calendar
Activity Equipment
Season–Spring
Pots,compost,dibber,prickingouttool,trowel,levellingboard
Barkmulch,wheelbarrow,spades,shovelandrakes
Lawnmower,edgingiron,edgingshears,dustpanandbrush,wheelbarrow,plank/boardtoedgeagainst
Weedingknives,buckets,kneelers,hoes,shovel,broom,dustpanandbrush,sand
Prickingoutortransferringseedlingsandpottingon
Mulchingborders
Grassmaintenance
Patiomaintenance
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Gardencalendar(continued)
Activity Equipment
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Season–Summer
Liftingspringbulbsifinthewayofsummerbeddingdisplay–storeindryconditions
Removingspring/winterbedding
Plantingtubsandhangingbaskets
Watering,especiallypotsofvegetablesandflowers
Plantingoutvegetablesintubsortheground
Stakingandsupportingplants
Harvestingmaturevegetablesandfruits
Trayslinedwithnewspaper,labels,trowelsandbuckets,secateurs
Trowels,handforks,pots,compost,wheelbarrows,buckets
Tubs,hangingbaskets,mossorbasketliner,summerbeddingplants,compost,slowreleaseplantfoodorpellets,wateringcans
Hoseorwateringcans
Vegetableplants,stringandline,trowels,spades,wateringcan
Hazeltwigs,bamboocanes,canecaps,string,scissors
Trays,secateurs,bags,punnets,buckets,trowels,handforks
Activity Equipment
Season–Summer
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Gardencalendar(continued)
Mowingandedginggrassareas
Sowingwinterbedding(pansiesandviolas)
Deadheadingfadedflowers
Preparingsemi-ripecuttings
Pickingflowersandcreatingdisplays
Patiomaintenance
AsinSpring
Seedsowingequipmentandseeds
Secateursand/orscissors,buckets
Sandandcompost,potsortrays,wateringcan,secateurs,bucket
Secateurs,scissors,baskets,vasesorbowls,OasisandOasisholder;tape
Weedingknivesandscrapers,buckets,kneelers,hoes,shovel,broom,dustpanandbrush,sandtofillinthecracks.
Activity Equipment
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Season–Autumn
Deadheading–removingdeadandfadedflowers
Harvesting
Watering
Planningforwinterbeddingorbulbs
Takingsemi-ripecuttings
Seedsowingperennials
Weeding
Edgingandgrasscutting
Secateurs,bucketsorbags,kneelerpads
Secateurs,collectingtrays,bags,punnetsandelasticbands,handforks,trowels
Lightweightwateringcansorhose
Seedcatalogues,bigsheetofpapertodrawplan,pens,scissors,magazinestocutout
Sandandcompost,potsortrays,wateringcans,secateurs,bucket
Seeds,seedtrays,compost,sieve,wateringcan,labelsandpencils,rubber
Shortorlong-handledtrowelsorforks,rakesorhandrakes
Mower,edgingironsandshears,plank/boardtoedgeagainst
Activity Equipment
Season–Autumn
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Gardencalendar(continued)
Bulbplanting
Plantingonionsetsandgarlic
Makingfatcakesforthebirds,observingbirdandwildlife
Pruningroses
Liftinganddividingperennials
Sweepingandrakingleaves
Removalofsummerbedding
Sowingsweetpeas
Bulbs,bulbplanters
Onionandgarlicsets,trowelsorbulbplanters,stringandline
SeeSpring
Secateurs,buckets
Largeforks,smallforks,spades,wheelbarrow,potsandcompost
Springtinerakes,wheelbarrow,leafcollectors,shovel,brooms
Trowels,handforks,wheelbarrow,bucket
Seeds,9cmpots(square)compost,levellingboard,dibber,wateringcan
Activity Equipment
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Season–Winter
Planningworkfornextyear
Preparingnewbedsfromscratch,ifthegroundisnotfrozen
Feedingthebirds,makingfatcakes
Makingacompostbinorleafmouldarea
Preparingnewareasornewbedsforplanting
Takinghardwoodcuttingsfrom:Forsythia,dogwood,Viburnum,Weigela,hazel,Winterhoneysuckle,willow
Propagationofstrawberryrunners
Sweepingandrakingleaves
Flowerandvegetablebooks,pensandpaper,largepaperforplans,seedcatalogues
Boardsandtapemeasure,edgingirons,spades,forks,wheelbarrow
SeeSpring
Instructions;chickenwireandoldpallets,saw,nails,workbench,posts,pliersandsecateurs
Spades,shovels,forks,wheelbarrow,handforksandhoes,buckets,secateurs
Sand,compost,buckets,2litreor1litrepots,secateurs,labels,wateringcan
Pegs,pots,compost,secateurs,strawberryplants
SeeAutumn
Activity Equipment
Season–Winter
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Gardencalendar(continued)
Xmascrafts,tabledecorationorwillowwreaths
Potwashing
Pottingonsweetpeas
Cuttingbacksomeperennialstotheground;leaveoneswhichlookgoodinwinterorthatneedthedeadfoliagetoprotectthemfromthefrost
Checkingsemiripecuttings
Foliagecollectedfromthegarden,string,scissors,OasisandOasisdish,tape,secateurs,buckets;willow,hazel,pinecones,baubles,spraypaint(silverandgold)glitter
Brushes,washingupliquid,cloths,plasticcontainersforcleanandsoapywater
Dibber,prickingouttool,composttrays,pots,compost,labels,wateringcan,levellingboard
Secateurs,buckets,wheelbarrow
Thesecanbepottedonwhenrooted
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Yournotes
Yournotes
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Thisguidehasbeencreatedtoprovideinformationandadviceforgardeningwithsomeonewhohasmemoryloss,theircarers,friendsandfamilies.Wewishtoacknowledgetheideas,contributionsandsupportgivenbyallthosewhohavehelpedproducethisguide.
Acknowledgements
LiabilityThriveacceptsnoresponsibilityfortheconsequencesofanyactionsundertakenasaresultofadviceofferedinthispublication.Onlyattemptwhatispossibleforyouandthepersonyouarecaringfor,andalwaysconsultahealthcareprofessionalbeforecommencinganewexerciseregime.Allinformationwascorrectatthetimeofgoingtoprint.
CopyrightAllrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybestoredinaretrievalsystemorreproducedinanyformwhatsoeverwithouttheprioragreementandwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
PhotographyPhotographscopyright2010Thrive.SpecialthankstoMr.JBroadyforhisassistance.Selectedimagespages1,2,3,8,9,11,12,27,34licensedbyIngramPublishing.
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TheproductionofthisguidehasbeenmadepossiblewithfundingfromThePartnershipDevelopmentFund,BerkshireWestPCT.
ThriveNational OfficeThe Geoffrey Udall CentreBeech HillReadingRG7 2AT.
T: 0118 988 5688 E: [email protected] W: www.thrive.org.uk www.carryongardening.co.uk
Thriveisasmallnationalcharitythatusesgardeningtochangethelivesofdisabledpeople.
ThriveisregisteredintheUKasTheSocietyofHorticulturalTherapy.Thriveisregisteredcharitynumber277570andalimitedcompanynumber