Gardening is one of the best ways to enjoy outdoors, grow your own nutritious fruits and vegetables, do plenty of physical activities, and improve the beauty of your community.
However, it is also one of those activities wherein you need to prioritize your health and safety whether you’re a beginner or an expert. One way to keep yourself safe is to get an idea about what to wear when gardening.
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This article aims to provide you such information to keep you safe while enjoying the relaxing activity.
Those who spent several years maintaining and restoring gardens believe that the best outfit for those who want to get themselves involved in gardening consists of removable layers while being covered in pockets.
However, note that pockets that are as high as your weight often lead to self-impalements from gardening tools. Breast pockets also tend to spill their contents when bending. In this case, it would be best to go for pockets on the outer part of the thighs.
Other clothing ideas include wearing long-sleeve shirts. One of the reasons why long-sleeve shirts are recommended is that they are capable of protecting you from the harmful rays of the sun. Make sure that the shirts are also loose so you can stretch and bend comfortably.
Another clothing idea is a pair of loose and baggy trousers. Avoid wearing three quarters or shorts in your garden as those might only cause the lower part of your body to have a different shade. Loose thick trousers are highly recommended.
As mentioned earlier, plenty of pockets are also advisable. You can use such pockets to store your camera or mobile phone as well as other gardening tools. Stay away from tight elastics and belts, especially those that have metal buckles.
Note that these items tend to tear into your skin when bending. Stay away from these while still securing your trousers to prevent them from slipping down.
Furthermore, light-colored clothes are also among the best gardening outfits you can wear. Note that flies and mosquitoes are attracted to clothes with dark colors. That said, it would be best to wear light ones to prevent yourself from getting mobbed.
Considering the appropriate clothing is also crucial if you are keeping bees in your garden. Therefore, beekeepers must wear protective clothing to prevent stings and minimize potential harm. Clothing for beekeeping typically includes a bee suit, veil, gloves, and boots. These items provide an extra layer of protection and help to reduce the risk of bee stings.
Gloves should also be part of the answers to the question what to wear when gardening. There are plenty of gloves that you can choose from but stay away from those that are unwieldy, causing them to get in your way when trying to do gentle stuff.
A wise advice is to invest in two sets of gloves specifically designed for gardening. The first one is a pair of gloves with nice and thick canvas. You can use them in pruning as well as working on plants with thorns.
The second set should consist of tight-fitted, sturdy and elastic gloves. You can use them for mixing soil, weeding, and other related gardening chores.
A hat is also an essential part of your gardening outfit. A nicely designed rimmed straw hat, which is wide enough, or a floppy hat, can already work wonders in your gardening experience. All hats that have wide rim can already protect you from the harsh effects of sunlight.
In making your choice for a hat, it would be best to go for a light one as you’ll be wearing it for a long time. Furthermore, it should be capable of resisting stains. Avoid wearing cloth hats as they tend to stain quickly and easily.
In this case, straw hats are advisable as you can easily clean them with water then dry them. Regardless of the type of hat you wear, there should be a bandana beneath.
Alternatively, you can get a piece of cloth, fold and shape it like a triangle then put it over your head with its two small ends tied at the back. You can use this to absorb sweat, prevent your hair from straying, and avoid possible dirt and mess.
Working in the garden requires you to use some tools, like pole saw and chainsaw. That said, it’s also necessary to invest in the right footwear – one that is capable of protecting your feet. Wearing a steel toe boot, for instance, is one of the best ways to give your feet full protection.
While you can just wear flip-flops if you’re just planning to visit your garden for a quick look, such is a no-no if you’re planning to do some tasks in there. In this case, your sturdy and flexible steel-toe boots can help.
Steel-toed boots are also the best footwear to wear if you need to operate a chain saw, push mower, and any other power or heavy equipment that might injure your feet and toes. It should also be noted that regardless of the gardening task you need to do, non-slip footwear without any lace is a must.
Avoid laces as much as possible to prevent them from getting entangled on hedges, bushes, and some gardening equipment. Furthermore, your shoes should be comfortable, one with excellent padding on the sole.
Such features can help ensure that the shoe can provide enough support when bending or sitting down and weeding.
Gardening can also put you at risk of getting burned by the sun. With that in mind, applying sunscreen prior to doing any gardening task is essential. Ensure that the sunscreen has high SPF factor. It should have at least fifteen to twenty SPF.
Make sure that you apply it on all body parts commonly exposed to the harsh sun. Put some at the back of your neck as well, as such part will be exposed in case you bend or sit down. It should be reapplied every two to three hours.
Here is a short video to show you how to protect yourself while gardening and pruning.
What to wear when gardening isn’t actually hard to answer if you’re fully aware of the basic outfit ideal for gardeners. With all the information provided by this article, working in your garden while wearing the safest outfit is possible.
If you’re spraying bug repellent, consider adding a well-fitting N95 respirator to your gardening outfit. This will prevent you from inhaling droplets or particles of the bug repellent.
Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.