Plan ahead, Jaemy. Are you feeling well enough to do a bang up complete weeding job before your surgery date? Follow with mulch to keep any weed seeds from germinating. Are you having summer surgery? I find my garden more self sufficient that time of year if I've weeded well in Spring and mulched, deadheading and watering seem to be the more time consuming chores and you could do both on crutches.

I've had hip surgery too, and I had my doctor show me how to get up and down from the ground before the operation, it's a lot easier on hips than bending over. (rigid sided 5-gal bucket can help you to get back up at first) I chose February for the procedure, and was pruning roses in March on crutches, weeding in April - but paying very close attention not to put my leg into any 'forbidden' positions.

If you have a problem hip, you may just find you are so expert at protecting it, you aren't going to do anything in your garden to injure it or slow your healing progress - you'll garden more thoughtfully and slowly for a while...it just becomes instinctive. Get a reach for those awkward places, they make mechanical reaches that will pick up something as small as a dime, or as soft as a floppy weed in the back of a bed that's making you nuts! Good luck!

Morz.............am doing just that: "A Bang Up Job" to try
to stay ahead..................many good suggestions here; especially asking doc how to get up from the ground! Got lots of 5 gal. buckets and a walker I thought may help too.
"By a reach, do you mean that long handled thing that folks
use to put on socks, or get something down from a high shelf"? Presently I'm managing well just scooting along on
my butt inch by inch; it's the walking that I can't tolerate at all. You're lifing my spirits and hopes a lot and I thank you as well. Jaemy

The type you might use to get something from a high shelf, although I found it more useful for things that ended up on the floor or ground. And the aid for socks? The one I had didn't work worth a darn...you might want to think about slip on shoes without socks (you won't be tying shoes for a while), with low heel of course.

I relate to the walking - using a lightweight shovel handle or rake handle on your good side makes getting around the garden a little easier, or get a cane - again, use it on the good side. I had an entire wardrobe of them - may as well put a little fun and humor into needing it, that included one that was plain bamboo for the garden and picking berries. Being in pain is no time for vanity here, just think of it same as needing glasses, or braces, and treat yourself to feeling much better by the end of the day.

You didn't ask, but the surgery itself was a walk in the park, the recovery a little bit tedious but very doable.

Here is a link that might be useful: EZ Reacher

Morz, LOVE THE ASSORTMENT OF CANES, LIKE CHANGING PURSES AND SHOES!!!!! Living alone from talking with folks I'll need assistance I never expected. I guess an inpatient rehab facility will be it. Medicare and supplemental are always a fear; am trying to get answers to those approved or not. A nurse today said not to bend over any more than 90 degrees, so sitting on the ground may just be very doable; that's how I do it all the time anyway. Not sure
what she meant 'bout the 90 degrees tho. Jaems

Don't bend past your waist for the first several days/weeks, or lift your knee higher that that - the hospital therapist will show you before you leave if your doctor has not. I weed on hands and knees.

You may not need a lot of help for very many days, but someone in the house while you shower in the morning is good, and while you can manage food from refrigerator to stove to plate...you would be standing at the counter to eat without someone to carry the plate to the table (been there, done that).

Do you have any questions I could answer email that might be a little on the personal side for here :)

Morz, you must be a darling.................here's another addition to the mess..............they just did a scope on
the knee and got lots of junk out but it is still painful.
I know that the hip can radiate pain every which way........
However, if there is still a knee problem would I not NEED
THE STABILITY of it to learn to walk on a new hip????? I
sure have a plethera of questions to ask this week. A second
cortisone shot in the hip is their next hope..............thank you EVER SO for your time and caring, Jaemy

Hi Jaemy...I tried to email you thru GW Saturday evening but don't know if it went through.

I don't really have the experience to know how the healing process would be affected by having knee problems on the same leg...did you mean same leg? Your surgeon would probably have the best advice there - hopefully you've found one you communicate well with.

Just wanted you to know I wasn't ignoring your post :)