I use knee pads.

I have one of those kneeling benches that you can turn over and becomes a seat. I use the "legs" to push myself back up if I need help. The kneeling foam is also good. The bugs are another problem that OFF does not always solve.

I like those wire tutu toes. Do they last through winter heaving?

Thanks for the ideas. I have some thin florist wire that might work without going to the hardware store. Well maybe an old coathanger would do.
I also have a kneeling bench but what I LOVE is one of the scooters with tool storage and a drink holder lol. My oldest got it for me a couple yrs ago for my birthday

I also use a kneeling bench. I used to use it to get up; now use it to get down as well. Hubby did a lot of mowing around the beds in the old pasture.

Teresa, the old wire clothes hanged would would fine I think. And they. Can be found.cheap are.plentiful.

Phillipb2 said:I would think that would burn. Does it?

It doesn't seem to. I cut my finger on Thanksgiving once. My oldest son got out the cayenne. The bleeding stopped. The cut healed in a day!

Where does one get kneeling benches?

Okay, I found some on eBay. There is also the scooter and hopper type.

The wire on some clothes hangers can be a little tough to manipulate by hand. I used to use that wire to pin down my drip system hoses. Until I found a spool of galvanized wire at the right gauge I was looking for. Now I make hose U's out of that wire.

What gauge do you use? Yes, the hangers are pretty tough to bend like you need them to be.

The 2 bent ends of the coat hangers work well and you only have to bend them a little, but you do need good wire cutters.

I use Cayenne for stopping bleeding too, it works like a charm and surprisingly doesn't burn. There's a slight sting, like you sometimes experience with peroxide.

Normally, I have an old pillow that I use to kneel on while planting - I'd better find it, because I'm replacing (3) rhizomes in one of the gardens today - the old ones are getting the ole' heave ho
cuz they are poor rhizomes (2 without fans). I'm not wasting good garden space which is limited
enough as it is on poor looking rhizomes.

Those little kneeling boards come in handy too.

I don't kneel. I squat. Have for hours, for years, since I was a teenager. Sometimes it is nice to have a little kid's Fisher Price potty step to sit on, but I am trying to keep my leg muscles so they can always get up and down. Once we can't get up and down to potty, we need 24 hour care. Keeping those muscles useable is important.

We probably don't need the severe squatting required for weeding, but doing daily squats (should be able to see your big toes) equals independence.

I dug up the (2) rhizomes that had no fans (they were TB Iris "Superstition") and trashed them -
I replaced them with really nice rhizomes of "Queen of May", then I dug up a rhizome of TB Solid Mahogany and replaced it with a larger rhizome with a lot of fans. I think I am now done and I can give my knees a rest.

Surprised about 'Superstition' It is normally a great grower & is behind so many of the modern black irises.

I am in taking a break from digging daylily orders. I have added some compost manure to some of my older iris and built them up as I dig near them. I think they get a bit to wet when I water the mixed beds. It would be HOT and sunny today lol.

I started very early and may put off some until tomorrow morning.

irisarian said:Surprised about 'Superstition' It is normally a great grower & is behind so many of the modern black irises.

The 2 rhizomes I got were in poor condition when they arrived. They had no fans or leaves.
I knew they were not going to be good performers. So I ditched'em!

Instead of planting more irises, I dug up a bed and I'm going to rototill it and amend it. I'm going to do that to 2 more beds. So there may be some extras listed in a thread when I'm all done digging.

Rob, you must be doing something right, those rhizomes you sent were big and beautiful! And growing like crazy too!

I'm going to have some time this week, which I'm very thankful for. Been really busy the last couple of weeks- 3 weddings and a bridal show. All were fabulously successful and I'm off this coming weekend So my plan is to dig and divide a couple of thick clumps, Crimson King and an noid IB that is a red-ish purple historic with a white beard. I'm going to amend the soil well and replant in hopes of getting some better rebloom from Crimson King. The noid didn't bloom this spring, so I think it needs dividing and some TLC too. I'll have loads of extras if anyone would like some- I can fill a box for an instant clump!

Mostly fumed about the cows getting into my iris bed! We have had so much rain that they left 6" holes wherever they stepped!