Before you get too excited about starting your garden, just remember that gardening requires using a lot of different tools, and being outdoors can present its own dangers too. So you don’t injure yourself while trying to grow amazing plants, you’ll want to review some safety guidelines to keep in mind while gardening.

Follow Instructions

Keep yourself safe by always following instructions.  It’s important to follow the instructions on your chemicals (if you choose to use them) and tools closely, especially if you are new to gardening. Garden chemicals can cause skin irritation and eye injury and tools (especially motorized, or electrically-powered ones) can cause serious bodily harm if you don’t know how to use them. Of course, a great way to avoid any danger with chemicals is to not use them altogether (I mean, that is what organic gardening is). Just be sure you know the proper use of anything you choose to use in your garden. 

Knee Pads

Protecting your knees while gardening is really important too. If your garden includes low-growing plants, it might be worth it to invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for gardening. And this isn’t just for those more mature in years 😉 Trust me, if you’ve had any experience spending a good chunk of time out in the garden, you will appreciate the value of a pair of good knee pads. Getting a portable garden stool can also help with this. 

Tools for Heavy Lifting

Gardening can sometimes involve some heavy lifting and moving, so investing in a quality wheelbarrow can save your body a ton in the long run! In other words, don’t make anything harder on your body than it needs to be. The fact is, gardening is a very common hobby and if you feel like you are expending too much of your own physical efforts, there is most likely a tool out there that can help. 

Protect Yourself From the Sun 

Gardening out in the sun can be pretty tough, so make sure you wear clothes that will protect you from the sun. Applying sunscreen with an adequate SPF level and wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes is also really important. Wide-brimmed hats are also a great way to protect your scalp when the sun is beating down. These are all very simple things to do, but they make a huge difference in helping you avoid sunburn and the risk of developing skin cancer later down the road. 

Avoid Infection

Before working in your garden, make sure any cuts on your hands have healed completely, or shield any cuts from contact with chemicals and dirt. If you have an open cut while gardening, contact with dirt or debris can infect the wound and make things pretty nasty!

Summary

Some of these safety tips may seem pretty obvious or self-explanatory, but is amazing how easy they are to forget to do! Gardening is meant to be a fun and relaxing experience, and the best way to make sure it is, is by making sure you follow basic safety guidelines. This, of course, is not an exhaustive list, but it is somewhere to start. We’re sure you have many more safety tips to share with us! Be sure to comment and share below! 🙂