With a knee replacement on the cards, our intrepid gardener Geoff Stonebanks has had to find new ways to tend his garden.
Over the last five years, I have been unable to kneel properly, which posed real problems when gardening, never mind anything else. So, I’ve been practicing how to get by with a dodgy knee for some years now.
Gardening with arthritis
Like many of us, I have been diagnosed with arthritis as I have got older. I’m now waiting for a knee replacement. It’s also in my hands but thankfully not so bad as yet. My right knee is also going to need replacing in the not-too-distant future too! So gardening is at times difficult.
I think one of the hardest things to reconcile, especially when you are a bit of a control freak like me, is asking for help. Or indeed, the need or the necessity to rely on others to do the things in the garden that you were so used to doing yourself. There are times, as you get older, you are going to have to ask for help with the tasks to hand or just reconcile you need to pay “A N Other” to do the job for you.
When I think back 20 years to when I began the garden at Driftwood, I was a relatively fit 50-year-old, newly retired and able to tackle most things in the garden. Now, approaching 72 I’m afraid I can’t say the same.
Staying safe
I recently had to pay a tree surgeon to come in and tidy up the large conifer in the garden and while, in the past, I may not have gone climbing to the very top, I would have been able to trim the lower areas myself.
My olive tree has just been given a proper trim too. It’s something I’d have done myself if I didn’t have the aches and pains! But it’s important to stay safe.
Up until a few years ago I trimmed all the tall boundary hedges around the plot myself, until I felt it was probably not wise to continue climbing ladders to get the job done. I’m extremely fortunate to have a local guy whose team have done lots of work for me in the garden and now come every January and cut back the tall boundaries on all sides and the grass bank at the front of the house. It’s not a cheap job but one that guarantees my safety so well worthwhile.
Little and often
Over the years I have realised that one of the best ways to succeed in pain free gardening is to try and vary what you do. If you have a number of garden beds to weed in one day, you’ll likely be in the same position for a long period of time and that puts a lot of pressure on your back, neck, and knees. To avoid that, vary tasks to force yourself to get up, walk around, and stretch out your legs. Doing something like watering the flowers between weeding projects will help you stay more flexible.
Another thing to do, which is something I have done religiously over the last two years, every single morning, in order to help my knee, is to exercise. I consulted a sports therapist, who recommended a series of exercises every morning to strengthen my knees. I really do feel that the sustained approach extended the use of my knee and hopefully will put me in a better place once the replacement is fitted.
Pacing yourself
We’ve probably all fallen into the trap of panicking and having to get the entire garden prepared and planted in one weekend. But that’s likely a lot of work for just one or two days and it’s also a good way to overdo it and end up sore or injured. It’s important to know your limits and to listen to your body. If your knees or back start to feel sore, take a break or hang up the shears for the day. Not easy I know but trust me the older you get, you don’t have much choice.
Along with back pain, knee pain is another major risk in gardening, don’t I know it! To avoid sore knees at the end of the day, invest in a foam pad or kneepads to provide a cushion between your knees and the ground. Some foam gardening pads even have handles on the side to help you stand up without straining your back. I never used to rely on anything but now the state of my knees means that I do.
Forward planning
In some ways, I’m slightly dreading the 2025 open garden season, I’ve committed to take pre-booked visitors between 1st June and 3rd August through the National Garden Scheme and the BBC Gardeners’ World 2 for 1 scheme, but what happens if my knee prevents me from preparing the garden and the actual operation ends up being scheduled in the middle of it all??
Needless to say, I am going to have to ensure I have a plan in place for some support on all fronts, helping to get everything out of winter storage and set the garden up and maybe some help on the days visitors are booked in. Fingers crossed it all goes off without a hitch!
Gardening is a major part of a lot of our lives, especially in the spring and summer, but it’s also a lot of work and has the potential to leave you sore and achy. As you get older you must pay attention to your body while you’re working and take the time to stretch and loosen your muscles. Trust me, you’ll be much happier at the end of the day and it will make your time in the garden much more enjoyable.
