You might not believe that gardening supplies or equipment could help keep you safe when summer’s heat boils over, but they definitely can.
When the Northern Utah summer kicks into full swing, a variety of pitfalls awaits in your garden. To help keep you safe and healthy, the Millcreek Gardens team has assembled a list of our favorite protective gardening tools and equipment.
Gardening Tool Safety Tips
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) reports that more than 400,000
U.S. residents are treated in the emergency room each year for garden tool injuries.
You may already wear goggles to protect your eyes, along with sturdy shoes and long pants. But, if you’re like most of us, you may not reach for the gloves when using the gardening tools. Good gloves will protect your hands from splinters, blisters, chemicals and bites. But, more important, they can help prevent lacerations and punctures.
Choose gardening supplies and tools that fit your hand well. ASSH warns that molded tool handles and finger grips don’t fit every hand. If your hands are larger or smaller than the molded handle, you run the risk of developing orthopedic problems in your hands and arms.
Finally, always read the directions and safety instructions for all gardening supplies and tools.
Safety First with Gardening Equipment
Of course you wear your trusty wide-brimmed hat, close-toed shoes and sunscreen when you start to work on your outdoor plants, shrubs and trees (don’t you??). But consider taking a few other products out with you to protect yourself from harm.
Gardening Gloves. A sturdy pair of gloves will protect your hands from a variety of perils (see “Gardening Tool Safety Tips” above!). But they also shield your hands from the
damaging rays of the sun. If you plan to work with shrubs or landscaping trees that have thorns, choose a pair of gauntlet-style gardening gloves to protect your arms.
Garden Kneelers. Too much bending over for weeding, pruning or harvesting will take a toll on your back. Ergonomically, kneeling is preferable; however, kneeling on the bare ground can place undue stress on your tendons and joints. Invest in a good quality garden kneeler and your body will thank you.
Tool Carriers. No one wants to make six trips to the shed for tools, so we bring them all out at once. The next thing you know, you’re stepping on a rake. For long-handled garden tools, lean them up against something secure, rather than laying them on the ground. For hand tools – which either become lost or embedded in your foot – invest in a good tool carrier.
Not only will this keep you safe, but it will keep your tools within reach at all times. And, as a bonus, you can use the carrier to safely store your tools when not in use.
For even more gardening safety tips, you can check out the CDC’s gardening health and safety tips, or you can drop by Millcreek Gardens in Salt Lake City.
Millcreek Gardens is Northern Utah’s premier locally owned and operated garden center. We have all the plants, tools and advice to keep you safe all year long. Stop in today and let us help you choose the right tools and gardening supplies for the job.