The backyard is the perfect space for cookouts, aperitifs, and playing with your family. Your yard space can yield a bountiful crop, too, if you have a green thumb and a passion for growing fruits and vegetables.
However, many backyards aren’t particularly accessible. Wonky walkways and narrow garden paths present real challenges for folks with mobility disabilities and may jeopardize the health and well-being of older guests.
Build an accessible backyard for any season by redesigning your yard space with accessibility in mind. This will promote a sense of inclusion at home and create an oasis that all your guests can enjoy.
Accessible Features
Folks who visit your home deserve to feel welcome regardless of their mobility needs. This means you need to make accommodations for common issues that your guests may face. Get the ball rolling by embracing accessible backyard design guidelines like:
Install Ramps: Make sure the slope follows a 1:12 of slope to length and add handrails to any ramps that have a rise greater than six inches. This ensures that your ramp doesn’t turn into a slide when wheelchair users try to navigate your space.
Clear Porches and Patios: Wheelchairs require five feet to make a full turn. This means you need to remove obstacles that may encourage a radius of 5ft. You may need to bring in some landscapers to level your patio, too, as uneven surfaces can put a strain on wheelchair users.
Remove Obstructions: Navigate your space with mobility in mind and look out for potential obstructions. This means you may need to lower your tables, as some wheelchair users cannot use a table that exceeds 34 inches in height.
Adjust as You Learn: You can’t foresee every possibility but you can take feedback into account. When you have guests over, observe them and see if your design is really working. If it isn't, make changes and reposition your pots and plants until folks feel comfortable.
It’s worth noting that accessible yards can still be beautiful. In fact, this year’s RHS Chelsea Best In Show winner featured accessible design elements. The garden, created by designers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, is designed to be navigable in a wheelchair and is a sanctuary for all who may have faced a spinal injury in their lives. The garden makes great use of water features, structures, and flower beds to invite all kinds of guests into the space.
Maintenance
Any green thumb knows that gardens require constant upkeep. This is particularly true if you want to invite folks with mobility needs into your space. Clean up your yard in the fall by taking care of tasks like leaf blowing, mulching, and weeding long before folks come to visit. This helps you create a sense of serenity in your yard and helps you establish areas for seating.
When cleaning up your outdoor area, remember to dress appropriately for the season and encourage guests to do the same. Your space heater may feel warm now but there is no replacement for lightweight base layers and beanies when the cooler fall months roll around. Choose clothing made of wool or down to keep extra warm. You may even want to invest in some insulated blankets to keep folks warm during the winter months if you want to keep your yard open.
Consider adding privacy features to your yard if you expect to entertain guests who live with a disability. Everyone deserves to feel safe in your space and no one wants to see neighbors peering into your yard when they come over. Make tactful use of landscaping features like trees and shrubs or plant towering gladiolus to break the wind and keep your space private.
Conclusion
Building an accessible backyard requires careful planning and flexibility. Keep your spaces open to allow for easy wheelchair navigation and minimize the incline on ramps so folks can navigate the space with independence. When you do have folks listen to any feedback they give and try to notice areas where their mobility is limited. Make accommodations as you go and adjust to create a more inclusive space over time.
