Top Tips for Safe Garden Watering

There is nothing nicer than growing and then harvesting and eating your own vegetables. Ongoing beautiful weather can easily lead to a hosepipe ban. If this happens, how should you be taking care of your body and keeping your plants and flowers alive? Here are our top tips for watering safely, looking after your garden and your body.

11 Top Watering Tips

1. Water in the morning and/or evenings
2. Don’t allow tubs/ pots / baskets to dry out as the water will then run off when you water.
3. Carry a watering can in both hands – keeps your body balanced and reduces the trips. However, if you are treating this as a workout remember to alternate hands for each trip!
4.  Think about the height of the container you are watering, and then only fill the watering can so you can lift it easily.  It may be that you water the lower containers with the first half and then the higher one when the watering can is lighter.
5. Think about the size, shape and material of the watering can – can you lift it?  Does it need a longer spout?
6. If your container is above shoulder height, consider using steps as you are lifting and reaching with a weight. My experience is you are also more likely to end up getting wet!
7. Check if you have the range of movement in your shoulders. If you don’t, you will extend into your back or lift the arms by shrugging your shoulders up to your ears. This creates tension in those muscles.
8. Resist leaning forward when watering.  Stand closer to the container / area to be watered.
9. Support the watering can using both hands if needed – most are designed to be used in this way.
10. If you have hanging baskets or wall containers, and are able to lift them off, then putting them into a bucket of water to soak is a really good idea. Remember they will be heavy when you re-hang them.
11. Small containers dry out more quickly, so for next season consider this. You can also get products to put in the soil that help retain the moisture.

At Shefford Osteopathic Clinic we thoroughly recommend spending time outdoors know that many of our patients enjoy their gardens. We hope that these tips for watering your garden help you enjoy yours pain free. Should you feel any aches or pains, please let us know. We’re here to treat and alleviate pain as well as offer lifestyle advice.

This article was written by Karen Robinson, formerly a Registered Osteopath.