Arek Zakrzewski, Landscape Architect and Creative Director at North Hill Gardens, explains:
“Wet weather can quickly change how safe and easy a garden is to navigate. Slippery surfaces, muddy paths and poor drainage can create additional challenges, particularly for anyone with limited mobility. With a few thoughtful changes, gardens can be made safer, easier to navigate and more enjoyable for everyone, without sacrificing style.”
Here, Arek shares 10 ways to make your garden safer, easier to navigate and more accessible as the weather changes.
- Safer, slip-resistant paths
When creating pathways in your garden, ensure that they are wide enough for wheelchair access, mobility frames, or other mobility aids. The recommended width is 1.2m, with additional space for turning.
Paths should always be flat, even, and slip resistant, avoiding using loose gravel or uneven paving that could make movement more difficult. During wetter weather, keep an eye out for moss, fallen leaves and standing water, which can make surfaces particularly slippery and increase the risk of slips and trips.
- Ramps and handrails
Where there are changes in height around the garden, consider installing ramps as an alternative to steps. Handrails can also provide additional support along routes where they may be useful.
During rainy weather, take extra care around ramps and steps, as wet surfaces can become slippery. Ensure ramps have a suitable slip-resistant surface and that handrails are secure and easy to grip, even in wet conditions.
- Accessible seating
Create seating areas throughout the garden to provide opportunities to stop, rest and enjoy the surroundings. Positioning benches or chairs at regular intervals can make larger outdoor spaces more comfortable to use, while a mixture of sunny and shaded options can provide greater choice throughout the day.
- Raised beds
Raised beds bring planting areas closer to the gardener, reducing the need for excessive bending, kneeling and stretching. Different heights can be incorporated depending on how the garden will be used, while elevated planters can also allow gardening to take place from a seated position.
- Narrow borders
Avoid creating planting borders that require excessive stretching to reach plants. Keeping planting areas relatively narrow can make planting, watering and maintenance more manageable.
Consider incorporating paths or access points between planting areas so that different parts of the garden can be reached without having to stretch across large borders.
- Low-maintenance planting
Reducing areas that require frequent weeding, mowing and digging can make gardening easier to maintain over time. Raised beds, containers, groundcover planting and no-dig techniques can all help minimise the physical effort needed to keep a garden looking its best.
Choosing plants that are well suited to the garden’s conditions can also help reduce ongoing maintenance.
- Make garden gates safer to use
Consider how easily garden gates can be opened and closed by different people. Clear entrances and handles that are easy to operate can make a significant difference.
Where possible, avoid mechanisms that require a strong grip or twisting movement, and ensure entrances are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids. It is also worth noting that entryways to the garden can become muddy and slippery after rain, so keep paths leading up to gates clear of standing water, leaves and debris to help reduce the risk of slips and trips.
- Improve visibility and wayfinding
Thoughtful garden design can make it easier for people with visual impairments to identify pathways and move confidently around the space. This becomes particularly important as the days get shorter and wetter weather can make paths and other garden features harder to see clearly.
Using contrasting colours, different textures and clearly defined path edges can help distinguish key areas. Appropriate outdoor lighting can also improve visibility around pathways, entrances and steps, helping to make the garden safer to navigate during darker conditions.
- Incorporate sensory planting
An accessible garden can engage people through a variety of senses. Fragrant flowers, textured foliage, ornamental grasses and colourful planting can create a richer sensory experience, particularly for people with visual impairments or those who enjoy interacting with the garden through different senses.
Consider incorporating a mixture of scents, textures, colours and sounds throughout the garden to give everyone different ways to experience and enjoy the space.
- Future-proof your garden
Rather than designing the garden solely around someone’s current mobility needs, think about how their requirements could change over time. Keeping paths wide, avoiding unnecessary steps and choosing adaptable planting areas can make it easier to modify the garden later.
It is also worth considering how the garden will cope with changing weather conditions. Good drainage, slip-resistant surfaces and areas that remain easy to navigate when wet can help reduce the risk of slips and trips, while ensuring the garden remains practical and accessible for years to come.
Arek Zakrzewski at North Hill Gardens, concludes,
“Creating a more accessible garden doesn’t have to involve a complete redesign. Often, a series of small, practical changes can significantly improve comfort, safety and usability. By considering accessibility from the outset, homeowners can create outdoor spaces that remain welcoming, enjoyable and adaptable for years to come.”§