Do You Use Knee Pads ?

[Nyboy]

Yesterday my nephew dropped off a truck load of mulch. The flower beds are out of control with weeds. Before summer heat sets in I want to weed and mulch my beds. Since I am going to be spending hours on my knees; pads seem like a good idea. Do you use them ? Are they comfortable ? I know in attic I have some from roller disco days, but they are hard plastic not comfortable. Does anyone use a mat instead of pads?

 

[so lucky]

I use a mat if I'm going to be on my knees a lot. My DH uses one knee pad, as he generally just goes down on one knee when he is looking at or working on something on the ground.
Nyboy, I have a fun mental picture of you doing disco roller skating!

 

[thistlebloom]

I use knee pads every day. The best I've found are in the tile department at HD.
I can't remember the brand name, but they're black and have a small yellow "Q"
at the top of the front. They're about $20 here.

I've tried many of the so called garden knee pads but they were uncomfortable to wear, too flimsy in the padding, wore out quickly, and did I mention uncomfortable? Especially in the summer with shorts.

I even crawl around on pavement with these and the exterior lasts for a long time and the padding holds up.

Don't waste your time with those cushions. They're a pain to have to move with you as you spread mulch under plants. They are pretty good to take on a hike as a sit-upon though. Haha.

The ones I'm talking about have a shiny black vinyl-type exterior and I didn't see them on the HD site. The same company makes a lighter thinner one for $7, but not even close to the same quality.

 

[thistlebloom]

Okay, found a picture once I checked what brand name is on mine.

 

[digitS']

Could they be "QEP," @thistlebloom ?

DW "claims" she uses knee pads but I never see her wearing them.

I don't use them. Sometimes, sometimes ... I get down on one knee but try to still keep my weight back on my toes. I have this, probably irrational fear of having to crawl outta the garden and to the nearest fencepost, to regain my standing posture .... such an indignity!

A long-handled tool kept handy and a stool . With so many rocks in the garden, I don't think one with wheels would work for me.

Steve
Ha! I am a slow typist, Thistle'!

 

[Nyboy]

Thanks thistle they look prefect and now I have a reason to go HD tonight. Lucky back in the day I was a very good skater. Used roll blades think they still in attic also.

 

[Smart Red]

Could they be "QEP," @thistlebloom ?

DW "claims" she uses knee pads but I never see her wearing them.

I don't use them. Sometimes, sometimes ... I get down on one knee but try to still keep my weight back on my toes. I have this, probably irrational fear of having to crawl outta the garden and to the nearest fencepost, to regain my standing posture .... such an indignity!

@digitS', not irrational. It happens to me often. I keep getting better at getting up once I'm down, but it's still hit and miss. That's why I prefer a low step stool/chair when I work -- and why I prefer raised beds where I spend the most time.

@Nyboy, skating pads are to keep you from getting hurt if you fall. The pads you want are workers' knee pads. These make nailing floors, laying tile, or roofing all day possible. It's a good thing.

I have mine from HFH building and do use them at times when gardening. Mostly I'm using my stool/chair though.

 

[Carol Dee]

I am right there with you @digitS' I avoid getting down as I may not be able to get up again. Crawling to nearest help hurts knees, too! (What a mess I am.) *sigh*

 

[aftermidnight]

Me too, getting up is really difficult, also getting in among things without trampling them is a problem, my feet have a mind of their own. I've posted a picture of this before but I got hubby to make me this out of a replacement handle and a piece of rebar. I just shove the rebar into the ground, hang onto the handle, bend to pull a weed or use it to lower my butt onto my stool or get up.

This plus a little grey step stool I can sit on is what I use, I can't remember the last time I kneeled to do anything out in the garden.
Annette

 

[digitS']

Stool height seems real important, although I once had a narrow stool which was a little high and I could lean forward, tipping it ... planting my big #13 garden shoes in front, kept me from nose-diving into the bed. Lower and more comfortable means that I'm mostly turned sideways and weeding with one hand. That's the more dexterous left hand and digitS', usually. I wore out 3 left-hand nitrile gloves and only one on the right during my 4 hours weeding out in the gravel, yesterday.

Discussions on farm names always make me think that "Hard Scrabble" is taken even though appropriate for my garden. If I have to start crawling down the paths, maybe "the Hard Scramble Garden" would be fitting ...

Steve
adjusting, adapting, advancing ズ