Fall brings challenges. Unsurprisingly, yard work presents one of the biggest challenges for seniors who must age in place each fall. Seasonal tasks can be difficult for seniors, especially the elderly and those with physical and mobility issues, and range from raking leaves to cleaning gutters.
Knowing exactly what needs to be done is crucial whether you choose to do the yard work yourself or hire a pro. A list of fall yard work has been compiled by our team of senior care experts after consulting with experts in home improvement. We sincerely hope you can use it.
Senior Yard Work Checklist
Keeping a yard neat and tidy can be challenging for seniors to do on their own and oftentimes, they will need assistance from loved ones. Here are a few ways family members and friends can provide yard work help for seniors:
- By placing pest-repelling torches close to seating areas, you can both get rid of and prevent pests. You should also keep wasp-killing sprays close by just in case.
- By storing hoses, gardening equipment, and other items, tripping hazards are eliminated. Add extra soil or pave stepping stones to uneven areas to further prevent falls.
- By shutting off outdoor water, draining sprinkler systems, and outdoor spigots, and cleaning gutters, you can address your worries about water damage.
- Protect yourself from wandering risks by giving your loved one GPS shoes or wristbands that send alerts if they leave a certain area. Make sure the yard has enough lighting, including solar lights along walkways and bright porch lights.
- Rake leaves, prune plants, and use other aesthetic techniques to improve the appearance of the yard.
- Examine the roof, window seals, and door seals of storage sheds and housing areas to ensure their safety.
- Apply mulch and fertilizer to the plants and grass to keep them from freezing.
Senior Yard Work Tools
Pop-Up Garden Bags
Make it simpler to remove leaves and debris from your yard work. These pop-up garden bags do exactly what their name implies; they expand into a sturdy container that you can quickly fill with leaves and other debris. When finished, flatten them out once more, then hang them in your garage or shed. Making yard work simpler!
Wheeled Plant Dolly
You can use a plant dolly in place of lifting heavy potted plants when moving them from one location to another. They are available in various colors and sizes, and in a pinch, they can also be used to move a bulky bag of mulch or soil. Here is a list of moving advice for various heavy objects.
Garden Saw
Due to its adaptability, a billhook saw is one of the best gardening tools. They are intended for cutting vines, severing roots, and pruning branches as well as trimming shoots and stems. Try a 13- or 18-in. hoe if your garden is overgrown or full of coarse ornamental grasses that need to be pruned back. billhook saw.
Aerator Shoes
Aerating your lawn manually with a coring aerator tool or renting a gas-powered aerator are both daunting options for your compacted lawn. But, there’s another way to loosen that thatch! Get a pair of aerator shoes instead because they make tiny holes in the grass to let water, air, seeds, and fertilizer penetrate the soil where it is needed.
How Do Help With Yard Work for Seniors?
Depending on the decision you make, helping a senior with yard work may require a weekend or just a phone call. Depending on your preferences, you might want to do it alone or with your family. If your loved one is willing, you might even want to involve them.
Here are three approaches to yard work for seniors that our elder care professionals advise.
With Your Loved One’s Help
Just because your parent or grandparent can’t clean the gutter doesn’t mean they can’t handle less demanding tasks, like pruning plants. Yard work is good exercise for seniors, helping them maintain healthy bones and muscle strength.
Together With Your Family
If a member of your family or close friend lacks the strength or mobility to assist with yard work, you can handle it on your own. Set aside one or two weekends to work on big projects, or if you live nearby, finish the job little by little each week.
Seek External Help
You can always use a professional yard service if you’re in a hurry or live far away. For quick and simple yard work, your neighborhood ought to have a variety of professional options. Look around and read reviews to find an affordable, reliable service. Here are a few things you should do before taking the plunge:
- To help with price determination, measure the area of your lawn.
- Determine the tools you’ll need, such as lawnmowers and gardening tools.
- Decide what treatments, such as fertilizer and testing, you’ll need.
- Costs for tools like lawnmowers, weed eaters, and other necessities should be determined.
Summary
A tidy yard will cheer up seniors in any season, whether it be spring or fall. They will be pleased that you are doing the yard work yourself to assist the elderly, but you can also select some outside services to reduce your effort further.
FAQs
The Best Time to Do Yard Work for Seniors?
To minimize disturbance and maximize efficiency, the best time to mow your lawn is in the morning, around 8 am to 10 am. This way, it’s not too hot for physical exertion, and it’s late enough that the morning dew has dried. As a bonus, many of your neighbors will have already left for work or school, so you shouldn’t be causing too much of a disruption.
