my first lesson as a professional gardener (longer ago than i care to remember) was never never kneel.

I may only be 39, but my poor old arthritic knees are about 70, LOL! I use
a short stool (a step stool) when I can, but when the ground is too soft and
mushy for a stool, I use knee pads:) Both work well:)

Angie


"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 20:31:46 GMT, Mindy Wallace
wrote:

My knees have just about had it as far as gardening or seriously
cleaning any type of floor. What does everybody do to cut down on the
strain? Do you kneel on something, or squat, or use a short stool?
TIA
Mindy


I use a pair of knee pads when laying brick, stone, or floor
installations. I had a knee replacement 5 years ago. It makes a big
difference.

wrote in message
oups.com...
About 2 years ago, I bought knee pads from Lowes. Now I can stay on my
knees for quite a long time. I use them indoors and outdoors. They
easily attach to my legs with Velcro straps. Occasionally I have to
adjust them, but in general they stay in place. They are washable. They
show no sign of wearing out. What could be better?

Being 19 again?

I tried stools, the legs sink into the ground, so that didn't work; I
used the little plastic wagon called "Grasshopper" that worked till I
got so bad I couldn't get up from it; tried a "Radio Flier" wagon to
sit on and roll myself along the garden path, weeding or what ever; and
finally tried a 5 gallon plastic paint bucket with a lid and a bail
that allows me to cary it around where I need it. It gets a bit
tiresome leening over my fat belly too long, so I do a little, then
change jobs for a few minutes then come back and do some more. works
pretty good.!

I can't use knee pads as I can't get up without help. I also use those
crutches that have a fore-arm band so that I can carry it with me but
still use my hands. I really don't need them to walk all that bad, but
it helps stabilize me going up and down the terraces and rough areas.
Hope this helps.
leo/lee

Eyebright expounded:

my first lesson as a professional gardener (longer ago than i care to
remember) was never never kneel.

I have no problem kneeling, but I have an excellent kneeling pad, it's
a big thick red one with indents for my knees. I've seen them offered
in catalogs, but I can't remember which one now. The guys who
installed my front brick walk/terrace used it and raved about it. If
I stumble across it again I'll post it here in wreck.gardens.
--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

When I Froogled (Google's shopping website) for "garden kneeler," I found
this, which looks like the step that David mentions on his website:
http://www.homevisions.com/hvprod/pr...ner=6982&CP=00
There is also a companion product that has wheels instead of legs. (I was
given a folding kneeler/seat, but it's metal and the pad is very flimsy, so
I rarely use it.)

Also, Gardener's Supply offers a "tractor scoot" with a seat that swivels:
http://www.gardeners.com/Shopping/se...cmCategoryID=9
..

Anne Lurie
Raleigh, NC


"David Ross" wrote in message
...
Mindy Wallace wrote:

My knees have just about had it as far as gardening or seriously
cleaning any type of floor. What does everybody do to cut down on the
strain? Do you kneel on something, or squat, or use a short stool?
TIA
Mindy

Go to my gardening tools page at
http://www.rossde.com/garden/tools.html. Scroll down a little
bit more than half-way to "step".

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

"Hound Dog" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
About 2 years ago, I bought knee pads from Lowes. Now I can stay on my
knees for quite a long time. I use them indoors and outdoors. They
easily attach to my legs with Velcro straps. Occasionally I have to
adjust them, but in general they stay in place. They are washable. They
show no sign of wearing out. What could be better?

Being 19 again?

Heck, I'd settle for being 50 again! :)

Gail

... take some ibuprofen in morning before getting outside. Do some warm up exercises,
gentle tai chi like ones stretching and flexing to limber up a little
.... use a stool of some kind especially with a staff or high bar you can use your
arms to help yourself up rather than using your legs only.
.... do raise the beds. this is done for people in wheelchairs too
..... dont overdo working outside at one time
.... use ice packs on the knees when you come in to cool the knees down
.... you may want to find a gym that specializes in strengthening knees. sometimes
problems occur because knees are being used improperly or the stabilizing muscles
just arent there.
Ingrid

"Tex John" wrote:
1) Find a nice retired gent to build you an 18" cube plywood box with
cut-outs for your hands to grab it by
2) Start raising your beds (look for books by Ruth Stout!!!)


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"junkyardcat" wrote in message
...
I may only be 39, but my poor old arthritic knees are about 70, LOL!
I use a short stool (a step stool) when I can, but when the ground is too
soft and mushy for a stool, I use knee pads:) Both work well:)

Angie


Hmmm, same age as me - and knees about the same too! I used to be an
archaeologist, which is said to be second only to carpet fitter as an
occupation gauranteed to wreck the knees. All this not helped by a couple
of sports injuries as a child too.

Knee pads do help, but I tend to find them inconvenient to put on and take
off when I'm just popping out do do twenty minutes' weeding, so usually just
use a soft foam pad that I carry around. Sitting for what I can helps, and
so do long handled tools that increase the number of jobs I can do seated,
or standing.

A while ago I had a back injury and was given exercises to do to strengthen
the back muscles and also to stretch my hamstrings, since they are very
tight and this was apparently putting more strain on my back. Doing this
seems to have helped the knees a bit too.

Sadly, there are no magic answers...



Peter

One thing, Home Depot has these grabbers for picking up things, about
20 bucks. I have Carwashes and two Fox Terriers, both leave trash and
toys all over, my grabbers make it easy to pick up. They are strong
enough to pick fruit, pull small weeds, just handy as can be. Home
Depot also sells Orange 5 gallon buckets, I got one, cut a finger
hole in the bottom, took off the handle (it gets in the way) makes a
great seat, light, easy to move. Put a few plastic grocery sacks in
your pocket to use with the grabber when picking up, when it gets full
tie the top and it is neat bundle, easy to dispose of. Happy Gardening.
Joe Tillery, Baytown, Texas