Accessibility of Yard and Patio

One of the big reasons that you want to stay in your own home is that you like working in your yard, listening to the birds and enjoy looking at your trees and flowers. 

You can continue to enjoy and care for your own yard by incorporating some ideas for easy accessibility into your plan.

Walkways: Uneven walkways can be a problem at any age, but think how difficult it might be to maneuver a walker or wheelchair over uneven slabs or cracks in your existing sidewalks. Keep your concrete walking areas in good repair by patching or making sure they are level.

Pulling or killing weeds that grow up between the cracks, installing an ice thawing system in cooler climates, putting in handrails or include benches along the walkway. Increase the width of the walkways for wheelchair or walker use and perhaps make it wide enough so that two people can walk side by side. Lay concrete from the garage to the front door and from the front entrance to the back door and be sure to use materials that are not slippery when wet.

Entryway: Make sure thresholds are flush with or no more than ¼ inch high. If the deck or patio are higher than that consider replacing with a ramp. A ramp of gently sloping concrete, wood or brick will make all entrances accessible for wheelchair users or someone with limited leg or ankle strength. Lighted and covered entryways to protect people with limited mobility from the elements when gaining access to their house is a good feature to incorporate. 

Lighting and Electrical Modifications: Floodlights, spotlights, landscape lighting near the walkways, decks and patios to prevent falls and help those who are visually impaired detect boundaries. Automatic senor lights for security and convenience and use of full spectrum bulbs to enhance visibility. A combination of outdoor lighting fixtures will enhance nighttime visibility and safety. Consider a phone jack on the deck and patio so calls can be handled easily without rushing. Outlets that are at least 18 inches above the floor are easier to reach from wheelchair high or without bending or stooping.

Planters and Gardens: Built raised flower or garden beds so that people with reach or mobility problems can tend to the beds without bending or stretching. Planting flowers and bushes along the walkways and adding a trellis or an arbor can mark boundaries and provide shade.

Watering: Raised garden spigots that can be reached easily for watering or install an automated watering system.

Shades Areas: Glare and light sensitivity are a real issue for those with visual impairment. Shaded areas, an automated awning, trellis and trees to provide shade are ideas to be considered when landscaping or designing your lawn.

Furniture: Select easy to care for outdoor furniture than can withstand the elements and be kept out of doors year around. Styles can be found that are fast drying and be treated to prevent mold growth. Select chairs for safety and durability.

Comments

[Landscape Lighting World]

Accessibility will be the driving factor on how much you take care of your yard in the future. If there are places in your yard that are hard to get to you will never want to take care of those spots. We all hate doing extra work so it's important to create as little work as possible for yourself when it comes to landscaping.