Gardening gloves: Option or necessity?

Photo by Jaipi Sixbear

Fall has arrived in Denver. You've not worn your gardening gloves once? Many people think of garden gloves as an option rather than a necessity. Protecting the hands from dirt and the elements just doesn't concern them. The problem is there are more dangers to unprotected hands in the garden than just a little wear and tear.

There is bacteria lurking in garden soil. Even if your soil is completely and totally 100% organic and you manufactured it yourself, it can contain disease carrying bacteria and fungus. That is the nature of dirt, my friends. It's dirty. A small scratch on unprotected hands leaves an entry for these bacteria and fungi to enter your system.

Injury is a big concern for unprotected hands as well. When a tool slips, it's much more likely to break the skin if you are not wearing gloves. Gardening tools have sharp edges. Rose thorns can be quite painful. Why risk injury when donning a pair of gloves can protect hands easily? Rusty tools can cause tetanus just like a rusty nail.

Speaking of tetanus, did you know it lives in the garden soil? That's right, rust is not the only carrier of tetanus. Make sure your shots are updated if you garden. Wear your gloves at all times. Gloves will once again prevent tetanus and other diseases from entering the bloodstream via the little scratches you get while gardening.

If you do use organic gardening, good for you. If you don't and there are pesticides in your garden soil, gloves can prevent them from irritating the skin and entering the bloodstream. Organic gardeners are not completely safe from chemicals and pollutants either. Remember there are many pollutants in rain and in previously contaminated soil as well.

Yes, it's true, garden gloves are sometimes bulky and uncomfortable. However, considering the amount of things they protect you from, are they really that inconvenient? Think of how uncomfortable you will be if your garden soil makes you sick. Better to be uncomfortable for an hour than incredibly sick for weeks.

Go here for more information on garden hand care.

Go here for more tips on what to wear in the Denver garden.

Go here for information on making safe garden pesticides.