Stand Up. Whenever possible, do tasks standing up. Instead of bending and standing to pick up trash around the yard, use a nail driven into the bottom of a stick as a make-shift trash picker. Choose gardening tools with longer handles so that you don't have to bend over to reach.

Use a dolly or hand truck at the store. Or better yet, let them load it for you. Loading heavy bags of soil and mulch into your shopping cart or trunk can put a strain on your back. Most gardening supply stores have flatbed trucks and dollies to make it easier to load your purchases, and nearly all will happily load your purchases into your car - or even deliver them. Make sure you arrange for help at the other end of the journey, too.

Transport tools and supplies in a kiddie wagon. Instead of carrying everything around or running back and forth to the shed, load all the supplies you'll need into your kids' old wagon and pull it along with you. If you don't have one, you can pick one up at most stores or second hand for just a few dollars. It may be the most valuable few dollars you ever spend.

Sit down on the job. When you need to do close up work like weeding, using a low stool instead of sitting on the ground or kneeling is a great way to avoid injury. By using a stool, getting up is much easier on your back. There are some great gardening stools available on the market, including some with tool caddies and ergonomic support.

Raise the issue. Instead of bending over, try bringing things up to your level. Raised flower beds and container gardens are a good compromise, and much easier on your back than ground level gardening.

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