People I've seen with mobility issues have had to limit themselves to very high raised beds. High enough that they can weed and harvest without bending over or getting up from a wheel chair. I would think that most of the long handled garden tools would work well for you but you would need to find some sort of grabber tool that would help you pick things up from the ground.

babylou, I can't speak from experience, but my wife has one replaced knee, and here is her take on the matter.

Pat says she can get down on her knees and work for short periods of time. She has to get down using the good knee, then kneel on a foam pad while working (she can sift weight to the good knee from time to time if necessary). Getting up is the problem, and the good knee plays a vital part in that exercise. With both knees replaced, she says it would be extremely difficult at best.

HOWEVER....... comma.....there are low stools available on the market that we see lots of folks using. We drove by a friends house and saw him working in his Iris beds, sitting on a stool. Pat commented that it was the first time she had seen him using the stool. We both suspect that although it might not be as up close and personal to the job at hand, it sure beats not being able to dig in the dirt at all.

I think I would opt for the awkwardness of a stool instead of living with the pain of bad knees, and having to give up the gardening you love. Just being in pain all the time would make me not want to go outside to do anything, and if the replacements can reduce/eliminate the pain, then surely you will feel more like going outside and wrestling with the stool.

Don't let this thing get you down....

Bill

Thanks for the replies. Bill, everything you said about your wife is what I have been told. My left knee is worse, so maybe I'll do that one and see how I do. I won't let arthritis and bumb knees keep me from doing my gardening!

I've known a few folks who had both knees done at the same time.....I'm convinced you would have to take a BIG stick and beat me absolutely senseless before I would consent to having both done at the same time. For once, my wife agrees with me, and most folks who had it done do also.

Its nice to be right occasionally.

Bill