When you're designing a landscape, you need to take into account the preferences and abilities of the person or people who will be using that landscape. If the landscape is for older adults, for instance, you'll want to make sure it is accessible, easy to care for, and free from tripping hazards. Here are a few more specific tips for designing landscapes for older adults.

Limit your use of concrete.

Concrete is easy to pour and is usually a good option for walkways, but it is also very hard and more likely to cause injuries if someone stumbles on it. Concrete also tends to get slippery when wet if even a little bit of algae grows on it. So, when designing a landscape for older adults, consider using crushed stone instead of concrete. You can also simply put in fewer hardscaping features and rely more heavily on plants and soft grass.

Light it well.

Make sure you include lights in the corners of the landscape design, and also along any walkways. This minimizes the hazards of tripping. Remember that older adults sometimes cannot see as clearly in bright lights, so pick light fixtures that give off a more diffuse glow.

Choose native plants.

Native plants need so much less care than those that are not native to an area. They should not need to be watered as often, and they shouldn't need as much trimming or fertilization. While some older adults do love caring for garden plants, they may not have the time or energy to care for the most demanding of plants. Water-efficient and native ones will last longer, especially for older adults who travel and are not always home to care for their plants.

Create shade.

Older adults are likely to want to spend time out in their yards, especially if they are retired and have more time to relax. To protect their skin from sunburn, make sure your landscape design offers plenty of shade. You could plant a hedge row along one side, include an awning over the patio, and so forth. If you do use awnings, make sure they are either permanent ones or easy to take up and down.

If you design a landscape with the advice above in mind, it should be well-suited to the needs of most older adults. Always design with safety, accessibility, and simplicity in mind when working with this demographic of people.

for more information, contact a landscaping service in your area.

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