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Gardening and outdoors?

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, Jul 20, 2019

Sort of new to this group, there may be a sub-group I don’t know about. I love to garden - not all aspects of it, of course. But mostly it’s fun. Growing raspberries ( a true challenge in SC), blackberries, blueberries, currants, figs, many vegetables, and lots and lots of fragrant shrubs, flowers, clematis varieties, etc. After initial arthroscopic knee surgery (useless), followed by TKR almost a year ago, I am hoping to hear from other equally engaged gardeners how to best deal with/ work around the knee issue. I’m over-stressing my back, but so far I’m more concerned with all the plants I need to either dig up and toss, or dig up and move, this fall. Both knee surgeries were Oct/Sep. of previous years, so I’m 2 years behind the curve.
Basically hoping for any suggestions for the best way to deal with the limitation. Knee pads are often not an option due to dense plantings. Would love to hear from other back yard grubbers.

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lioness | @lioness | Jul 24, 2019

@sandytoes14 That's great . If I get down now I cant get back up my knees now have arthritis in them just had a shot of cortisone not to long ago but don't like taking a steroid . A couple of weeks ago I found a product called Bio-Cell collagen that has hyaluronic acid in it hope it helps my arthritis. The Dr. injected my thumb ,have bone on bone , and it has been good since 2013 I'm in an apt. now and use rocks in the bottom of my pots. Never thought of peanuts. Get so many wondered what to do with them . Good tip thanks have a good day

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 24, 2019
In reply to @sandytoes14 "@lioness Raised gardening is what my husband and I have done. Many of the home improvement..." + (show)
@sandytoes14

@lioness Raised gardening is what my husband and I have done. Many of the home improvement stores have a “kit” for raised beds. We also use beautiful lightweight extra large pots. Instead of filling them solely with soil, packing peanuts — those styrofoam shapes that protect items during shipping — or water bottles in the bottom of the pot before soil and plants are added. I grow some tasty cherry tomatoes on my patio this way. Having fibromyalgia and chronic spine pain I find sitting on a low step stool while working with my plants helps.

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@sandytoes14 Jen that water bottle idea is great! I'll keep that in mind as we move north and I start a new gardening area.
Ginger

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jul 24, 2019
In reply to @parus "Wanted to share my Day Lilies from my garden. They place a smile upon my heart." + (show)
@parus

Wanted to share my Day Lilies from my garden. They place a smile upon my heart.

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@parus Just gorgeous!, I have the simple yellow ones. They have taken over my garden and no one wants to take them!

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ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Jul 25, 2019

Thanks for all suggestions. For pots: do not use styrofoam peanuts. Eventually you will have to dump the old soil, and then it’s a mess. I use either empty plastic bottles, or just take one or more of those generic black pots that the plants come in and put it upside down in my planter. Regarding raised beds: perhaps at some point, strictly for the vegetables. I have way too many in-ground flowers and shrubs (and the unavoidable weeds cropping up in spite of mulch and Preen and Roundup) - to make that practical. Semi-tended or untended yards on either side of my backyard provide tons of wind-blown or bird-dropped seeds, so the supply is endless. As mentioned, THIS fall my knee should be in good enough shape to dig up the finicky plants, and scale down. But in spite of all the challenges, gardening gets me outdoors, and it does have its benefits. I.e. where in SC (or even NC, I think) could I buy red currants, early season raspberries, pink blueberries, or ground cherries?

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1 reply
ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Jul 25, 2019

Some of my early berry crop... not sure if the attachment will work...

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ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Jul 25, 2019

That was 1 day’s worth of berries. Repeat every day for about 3 weeks in late May/early June.

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 25, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "That was 1 day’s worth of berries. Repeat every day for about 3 weeks in late..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

That was 1 day’s worth of berries. Repeat every day for about 3 weeks in late May/early June.

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@ellerbracke Yummy yummy yummy. I spy toppings for yogurt, granola, ice cream. Or a cobbler!
Ginger

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tennbee | @tennbee | Jul 25, 2019

Gardening is just good for you all the way around....and you have the bonus of fresh vegetables. Of course, there's always challenges to overcome whether it be from the weather or insects.

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tennbee | @tennbee | Jul 25, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "Thanks for all suggestions. For pots: do not use styrofoam peanuts. Eventually you will have to..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

Thanks for all suggestions. For pots: do not use styrofoam peanuts. Eventually you will have to dump the old soil, and then it’s a mess. I use either empty plastic bottles, or just take one or more of those generic black pots that the plants come in and put it upside down in my planter. Regarding raised beds: perhaps at some point, strictly for the vegetables. I have way too many in-ground flowers and shrubs (and the unavoidable weeds cropping up in spite of mulch and Preen and Roundup) - to make that practical. Semi-tended or untended yards on either side of my backyard provide tons of wind-blown or bird-dropped seeds, so the supply is endless. As mentioned, THIS fall my knee should be in good enough shape to dig up the finicky plants, and scale down. But in spite of all the challenges, gardening gets me outdoors, and it does have its benefits. I.e. where in SC (or even NC, I think) could I buy red currants, early season raspberries, pink blueberries, or ground cherries?

Jump to this post

I wouldn't use anything plastic in the bottom of beds or pots but stick with something natural. I don't know what that might be for beds but for my pots, I just pick up a few small rocks or used pieces of broken terra-cotta pots. Never been a huge fan of Roundup and have used it very sparingly but this year I decided to try the vinegar, salt , dish soap mixture and am surprised at just how well it works.

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