Adapt Your Own Gardening Tools
Gardening is good for the soul. It’s also a great way to enjoy exercise while producing beauty around your home. However, it is important to have the right tools to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. There are many companies offering adapted gardening tools for those with difficulties gripping handles and those with limited mobility. I am a frugal shopper, so I have researched some different methods for adapting your own tools.
If you have difficulty gripping handles, there are several ways to increase the diameter and change the surface of the tool. Wrap tape around the handle of the tool until it is the desired thickness and feels comfortable for your hand.
Tape used to cover baseball bats, bicycle handles, fishing rod handles and tennis rackets are found at most hardware stores.
Bicycle grips can be purchased separately and slid on the end of the gardening tool. You can cut a piece of foam into a rectangle, wrap and tape to the handle. I have also seen Velcro grips that can be purchased.
PVC pipe can be cut and fit around the handle or even heated and squeezed to tightly adhere as a grip. Use an L-shaped piece to make a 90-degree angle handle if that is a better way for you to hold the tool. PVC can also be used to extend the length of the handle for reaching without bending.
For a sowing tool, you can cut the end of a long piece of PVC to a sharp angle. Use the angle to dig small holes, put the seeds down through the top of the tube and let them fall into the holes. Cover the seeds with soil while again using the piece of pipe.
Another method of sowing seeds is to place seeds on a damp piece of tissue or toilet paper. Use your long tool to push the tissue with seeds into the soil and cover. The tissue paper will disintegrate leaving the seeds to grow. The seeds can also be put into gelatin and planted in the same way. Smaller seeds can be sprinkled on soil using a spice shaker with holes.
Make watering easy by using drip irrigators or soaker hoses. A sprinkler wand attached to a spray hose is also a great way to gently water. Use mulch in your garden to help retain water around the plants and discourage weed growth.
Use your imagination and find ways to modify your garden tools. Gardening should be fun and therapeutic. Find the most comfortable and enjoyable way to continue your favorite hobby.
If you have difficulty gripping handles, there are several ways to increase the diameter and change the surface of the tool. Wrap tape around the handle of the tool until it is the desired thickness and feels comfortable for your hand.
Tape used to cover baseball bats, bicycle handles, fishing rod handles and tennis rackets are found at most hardware stores.
Bicycle grips can be purchased separately and slid on the end of the gardening tool. You can cut a piece of foam into a rectangle, wrap and tape to the handle. I have also seen Velcro grips that can be purchased.
PVC pipe can be cut and fit around the handle or even heated and squeezed to tightly adhere as a grip. Use an L-shaped piece to make a 90-degree angle handle if that is a better way for you to hold the tool. PVC can also be used to extend the length of the handle for reaching without bending.
For a sowing tool, you can cut the end of a long piece of PVC to a sharp angle. Use the angle to dig small holes, put the seeds down through the top of the tube and let them fall into the holes. Cover the seeds with soil while again using the piece of pipe.
Another method of sowing seeds is to place seeds on a damp piece of tissue or toilet paper. Use your long tool to push the tissue with seeds into the soil and cover. The tissue paper will disintegrate leaving the seeds to grow. The seeds can also be put into gelatin and planted in the same way. Smaller seeds can be sprinkled on soil using a spice shaker with holes.
Make watering easy by using drip irrigators or soaker hoses. A sprinkler wand attached to a spray hose is also a great way to gently water. Use mulch in your garden to help retain water around the plants and discourage weed growth.
Use your imagination and find ways to modify your garden tools. Gardening should be fun and therapeutic. Find the most comfortable and enjoyable way to continue your favorite hobby.
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