Spring has sprung!! For many people, that means it’s time to plant a garden. Whether it’s flowers or vegetables (or both!), gardening can take a toll on your hands.

Wear Gloves

• Leather or fabric gloves, while clumsy, are ideal for heavy work, like raking or digging. If you wear a pair of latex/surgical gloves underneath, this does a great job of keeping out the dirt.
• I prefer fitted gloves with woven/knit backs/uppers that have a rubbery layer on the palms and fingertips.
• Sprinkle on some talcum powder or cornstarch before putting on your gloves to help absorb moisture and make them easier to remove.
• If you prefer to work with bare hands, make sure your tetanus shot is up-to-date! Pregnant ladies – it’s safest to wear gloves as a barrier to any parasites living in the soil.
• For those of you who work with a lot of thorny plants, invest in some elbow-length gloves.

Lather Up

• Before putting on your gloves, lather them up with Crisco, lotion, or moisturizer to make cleanup easier. If a greasy residue is left behind, try rubbing with a little cornmeal or oatmeal to help strip the grease.
• A popular practice is to protect the area under the nail bed from a Dirt Invasion is to drag your fingernails across a wet bar of soap. Some folks dip their fingertips in Vaseline to provide a barrier.

Scrubs & Stain Removers

• Make an easy, all-natural scrub with 2 tablespoons of olive/vegetable oil and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Rub in gently for a couple of minutes, then rinse off.
• Paste: Combine oatmeal and milk, rub in for a few minutes, then wash off.
• Other exfoliators round in the pantry can be used. Mix baking soda, salt, sugar, or cornmeal with a little water.
• Heavy Duty: Dissolve a denture tablet in warm water and soak your fingers/hands in this. For grass stains, dip hands in hydrogen peroxide, then rinse with clear water after a couple of minutes.
• Berry & Fruit Stains: Soak in household vinegar or cider vinegar. Also try drizzling fresh lemon juice over them.

Tools

• Drizzle liquid soap over a nail brush, toothbrush, or loofah sponge and gently scrub underneath your fingernails. You can also use these on your hands but be careful not to break or scrape your skin!
• Fill an empty mesh bag or leg of pantyhose with leftover soap pieces. Tie shut and hang by the outdoor spigot so you can lather up and exfoliate with the bag while outside.

After Care

Don’t forget to moisturize after cleanup!! Use olive oil, baby oil, cocoa butter, or a good, fragrance-free lotion.

Other important things to do while gardening:

• Apply sunscreen. Don’t forget your hands! Those mesh gloves will let the sun in and you can burn your hands.
• Slip on some shades to protect your eyes and the skin around them. You don’t want to sunburn your eyelids!
• Wear a hat to protect your face and eyes. The sun comes in at all angles! A bandanna or headband will catch the sweat and keep it out of your eyes (ouch!).
• Keep your ankles covered. This helps prevent dirt from getting inside your socks.
• Don’t wear perfume/body spray. It attracts bugs and can cause a rash if the sun shines on the skin where the fragrance was applied.
• Wear insect repellent.
• Protect your knees with knee pads or a gardening cushion.
  Tip: My gardening cushion makes me sweat and that makes it slippery! I cut off the leg of a ratty pair of sweatpants, slid the cushion in, and used a large safety pin to hold it on. When the “cover” gets dirty, I toss it in the washer.
• Don’t forget to hydrate!!!