Fall Fitness for You and Your Garden

Stay fit as you work in your garden this fall.

Fall involves raking, planting and preparing for the season ahead.  Keep your back straight and movements close to your body to avoid strain. 

Look for ergonomic tools that allow you to work longer and avoid injury from repetitive motion. And keep your hands in a neutral position. You’ll be amazed at the difference this small change can make.

Reduce your workload by mowing, not raking leaves.  Small leaf pieces quickly break down and improve the soil. They can also be used as a mulch around perennials, trees and shrubs or as a soil amendment.

Your landscape will benefit by fall care and you’ll burn a few extra calories. Raking leaves burns up to 260 calories per hour and works out all the muscles of your upper body. And turning a compost pile makes a good workout for your oblique muscles.

A bit more information: Fall is a great time for planting.  Seeding the lawn or those bare spots left from a stressful summer can use up to 155 calories per hour.  You can burn as many as 260 calories per hour when planting spring flowering bulbs, pansies, mums and other perennials.  And those bigger plants like trees and shrubs need more muscle power and can burn up to 295 per hour when planting.