Garden Safety Tips

Now that summer is here, many of us will begin to build our gardens. While we may not think about it, the garden can be a dangerous place if we do not take steps to include safety into our routine. For maximum benefit with minimum effort, there are some things that you can do in the garden to make your gardening safer and more pleasurable.

The sun is hot so remember to wear a hat in the garden and don't forget the sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun and flying objects that can injure your eyes. Don't forget to apply sunscreen liberally even if it is a cloudy day. A bad burn can keep you out of commission for some time and what will your garen do without you?

Rocks are like furniture. Moving heavy things like stones or planters can cause injury.For safety's sake, remember to use your knees-not your back-for lifting.

Use caution when working with chemicals - -safety is important-avoid dusting and spray on windy days and always wear facial protection such as dusk masks to prevent inhalation of harmful particles. Make sure you choose the correct pesticide for your garden pest and use the least toxic form. See if you can use a reduced risk product such as insecticidal soaps, borid acid, diatomaceous earth, horticultural oils, or lime-sulpher fungicides

Wear proper attire.Safety gloves will protect your skin from cuts and from contaminated soil. They may also keep you from getting allergic reactions to plants and pests like Poison Oak and Ivy- and the occasional bee. If you are a fan of roses, get yourself a pair of puncture resistant gloves-save yourself from the thorns. Wear boots and no baggy clothing. Most importantly use goggles to protect your eyes when using strimmers or other cutting machinery.

Place your garden tools in an area where you will not cut yourself on any sharp edges. Beware of the improperly placed garden rake-unlike the movies-getting hit in the face with a handle hurts.

Make sure the garden tools and equipment you are using are in good condition because a malfunction in damaged garden tools can cause a serious injury. Use ladders, shovels, and heavy cutting machinery with safety and caution.