Gardening tips for seniors: Easy ways to get more from your garden
Discover simple gardening tips for seniors from 90-year-old Kathy.
A keen gardener, regional Victoria’s Kathy gives us her best advice from a lifetime of gardening.
Kathy's top tips for gardening at home
- Keep a compost to build nutritious soil and a good environment for worms.
- Mix compost with horse and cow manure.
- Banana skins are great for roses.
- Feed roses twice a year with a good-quality fertiliser.
- Use a straw mulch to keep moisture in during summer and to prevent weeds.
- No cutting back bulb plants when they die – allow them to go back into the earth to ensure better flowering the next year.
- Water with a liquid fertiliser after they die.
- Easy things to grow include lettuce, herbs and baby tomatoes.
- You can grow geraniums in pots easily, and Kathy believes red ones will bring even more joy!
If outdoor gardening becomes too strenuous or your space is limited, there are still plenty of ways to stay connected with plants — see our article on three excellent indoor gardening ideas for seniors to bring greenery and joy inside your home.
Kathy’s favourite flower is Edelweiss. It is a traditional Austrian flower that grows in the snow. She has tried to grow it in Australia but had no luck. Please let us know if you have any tips for growing it in Australia. We'll pass them on to Kathy.
Independent living with extra support
Nonagenarian Kathy credits seeking more support with the quality of life she still enjoys in her beloved home – read her story here. For more on how extra support can make life easier, explore how help at home gives you time to grow.