EverEdge's guide to Senior-Friendly Garden Design

24 August 2023

Regardless of age, gardening enhances well-being and improves dexterity. It’s a pursuit that brings joy, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression as it feeds a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It’s a fantastic way to keep active, connect with nature and enjoy being outside.

However, the bending, lifting and stamina needed for garden and lawn maintenance can become more of an issue as we age. The passion for gardening may remain unwavering but physical limitations can make traditional gardening practices more of a challenge. Integrating thoughtful garden design elements deliver a practical solution and help garden enthusiasts continue enjoying their outdoor space.

Garden design elements for a senior-friendly garden

As leading providers of garden edging products in New Zealand, EverEdge offer insights into successfully transforming an outdoor space through a well-planned garden design that focuses on convenience, accessibility, and ease of maintenance.

Create raised garden beds

Raised garden beds are practical for older people, and suitable in both rural and urban gardens. Your budget will likely dictate the material used to construct them, but if you can afford brick raised beds, they are the ideal (they are sturdy enough to sit on while you do your gardening).

The height of the raised bed means less bending is needed to weed and maintain them, but with control over the soil type and greater ability to keep pests out, less overall maintenance is required than for ground level garden beds.

Suitable gardening tools

For any gardening job, it is crucial you have the right tools. You may have a stash of much used and loved garden equipment stored, but it’s worth investing in quality lightweight tools you can use without putting additional strain on your body. Look for tools with long handles so you don’t have to bend down so much.

Simplified maintenance with steel landscape edging

EverEdge's range of garden edging products plays a pivotal role in both aesthetics and functionality of a senior-friendly garden design.

Garden edging reduces soil compaction and enhances soil aeration, so with vastly improved drainage the plants develop a strong root system and thrive – without the need for intensive human interaction.
Maintaining trees and shrubs is challenging for gardeners of any age. Metal tree ring edging simplifies the process by creating a defined border around the base of the tree or shrub which prevents grass and weeds from encroaching on its root zone, freeing up your time and energy.
Steel landscape edging defines garden borders and lawns while minimising the maintenance requirements. Its durability and clean lines create a polished look, hugely reducing the need for frequent hand trimming, edging, or weeding.
Steel edging defines paths and walkways for trip-free safe navigation around the garden while reducing the maintenance requirements from neighbouring lawn or flower beds on the paths. The edging’s ability to prevent encroaching weeds from establishing means the paths remain slip-free for longer.
Once installed, the metal edging requires no further attention, it’s strong and durable withstanding even extreme climate conditions.

EverEdge's garden edging products can be integrated into the design to delineate pathways, separate planting areas, and add visual appeal. The combination of these garden design elements enables you to prioritise maintenance and safety without compromising the aesthetic of a well-tended garden or reducing the therapeutic benefits of gardening.

If you need advice or guidance how or where to install EverEdge products, call us today on 021 925 389 or email simon@everedgenz.co.nz.

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A red lawn mower is cutting grass on a gravel road

Winter lawn care: preparing your lawn and edges for a strong spring comeback

30 July 2025

Winter might give you a break from summer’s relentless mowing schedule, but it’s no time to forget about your lawn. While grass growth noticeably slows in the cooler temperatures, your lawn still needs some attention through the colder months. With just a little care now, you’ll be rewarded with a healthier, more resilient lawn that requires less maintenance and attention come spring – and at the heart of a healthy lawn is EverEdge garden edging . Mow smart Whereas growth warm-season varieties of grasses like kikuyu, couch, and buffalo slow, cool-season grasses such as perennial rye, fescue, and Kentucky blue grass remain active through winter and benefit from regular mowing. Every 3–4 weeks should do the trick, depending on growth. Keep the mower height up a little higher than you usually would set it to allows for a thicker leaf area to absorb more light and helps the lawn stay robust. Mow on a dry day and use a catcher to reduce fungal issues. Sharpen mower blades and clean them between cuts to prevent disease spread - healthy grass starts with clean tools. Light and airflow matter Low winter sun and a change to trees can put your lawn under stress. Your lawn needs light to be able to photosynthesise so where necessary, prune overhanging branches to allow more light through to vulnerable areas of lawn. Regularly raking leaves prevents the blanket of tree debris smothering the lawn and helps reduce the risk of disease. Moss and fungal issues thrive in damp, low-light conditions, so improving air and light circulation is key. Feed roots, not leaves Feeding your lawn in winter isn’t essential, but it can be beneficial - particularly in warmer regions or for cool-season grasses. But it’s important to choose a formula that supports root development and soil biology – this helps to improve resistance to stress and fungal issues.