If gardening is one of your passions or you just plant a few annuals each year – it is important to prevent back pain and injuries while gardening.  This blog entry will provide a few spine wellness tips for gardening.   

  • Think of gardening as exercise.  To keep you muscles loose, warm up before and after gardening, and do a few lower-back stretches.
  • When lifting bags of dirt or heavy planters – use proper lifting techniques.
  • When weeding and planting (tasks that require stooping, kneeling or bending) for long periods of time, take a break every 10 to 15 minutes to stretch and walk around.  Then change your position. 
  • Use a cushion, if you will be kneeling for long periods of times.  When kneeling, keep your back straight and do not sit on your heels. 
  • If you suffer from chronic back pain/problems or arthritis, consider raised garden beds (approximately 2 to 3 feet tall).  This will allow you to sit on a chair/bench while gardening.