By Judith Cline  Dip P&OT, MCPA

 Gardening always seems to involve moving something.  We tote bags of soil, shrubs and perennials, flats of annuals, mulch and compost.  Often the lift into the garden is the last in a long series of lifts from the garden centre display, to the cashier, to the car and out of the car to their special new site in your garden.

 Wheeled carts are a boon.  They are more stable than wheel barrows and usually weigh less.  They also make a handy carry all for the tools we are using, to reduce the chance of leaving favorite pruners somewhere along the way.

 During a major weeding and clean up session they will hold both the garden debris bag and the collection bucket for your compost pile.  It's also a fun vehicle to tote the grandchildren around the yard.

 Gathering leaves in the fall is an activity that loads the back during both the raking and the disposal process.  If we could learn to rake both right and left handed that would be ideal.  Raking involves a prolonged small bend with a repetitive rotation to one side only.  This is a high-risk position for our backs.  Becoming ambidextrous is the best solution.  For those who are hopelessly one side dominant (count me in) decide that 10 minutes raking is the maximum without a significant stretch break.

 Moving those leaves, either to the compost pile, (ideal) or the curb for pick-up gets tough as well.  An old sheet or drape works wonderfully for carrying them to compost area.  Spread it on the ground, rake onto the cloth, fold the corners in and drag.  Dumping on site is easy, just unfold the corners and pull the cloth away.  For bagging consider investing in a lightweight stand for garbage bags that will hold the bags open and upright.

 Two leaf rakes, or a set of “hands” light paddles with straps make picking up the leaves easier and faster.  Remember the nee to stretch often during this bending activity.

 Leaf raking is also a good time to check the bare bones of the garden.  Time to reflect on those areas that worked this past summer and time to dream about the changes to be made next season.

About the Author  

 Judy Cline is a registered physiotherapist who is also an avid gardener.  She is the proprietor of Cline Physiotherapy Associates, a clinical treatment facility and of Health Unlimited, an ergonomic consulting business.  Both are located in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Back to Judith's Archive Page