Recently I pulled a tendon in my wrist, and if you have ever experienced that, you know it is not a minor injury. I wish I could say it happened in some glamorous way, like wrestling a bear or mountain climbing in Vermont, but the truth is, I am pretty sure I did it while working in my garden.
Gardening: A Surprisingly Dangerous Activity
We do not typically think of gardening as a particularly dangerous hobby, but it is surprisingly easy to sustain a host of injuries, ranging from the merely annoying like next-day soreness to torn muscles, eye injuries, or worse. Even fictional characters like Don Corleone met their fate while gardening.
Here are my top 10 rules for safety in the garden.
1. Warm Up Before You Start
Take time to warm up before you begin. Walk around the garden for a few minutes, which also helps organize your chore list for the day. Do a few shoulder and wrist rolls and some light stretching.
2. Be Aware of Your Body Movements
Always be conscious of how you are using your body. While busily working, it is easy to lean out too far to clip a branch or twist to reach something. If you cannot reach it easily, move closer.
3. Use Both Sides of Your Body
Try to use both sides of your body more or less evenly. If you are right-handed, you may habitually dig and prune with your right hand, but as long as you can do so safely, try to lift, hold, and work with your non-dominant hand occasionally.
4. Lift with Your Legs, Not Your Back
Most gardeners probably already know this, but it is worth a reminder: lift with your legs, not your back. Squat down, grab the object firmly, and rise up with your back straight. Do not lift anything too heavy; either split the load in half or get someone to help you.
5. Use a Padded Kneeling Stool
If you have bad knees from years of sitting at a desk, one of the most treasured garden tools is a padded kneeling stool. You can sit on it while doing light garden chores, turn it over to kneel on the underside, or lean your weight on the legs to help you get up again. Kneepads are an alternative, but they are not as versatile.
6. Invest in a Canvas-Sided Wagon
A canvas-sided wagon is sturdy enough to haul several full-size bags of topsoil or mulch and is much easier to maneuver than a wheelbarrow. Wheelbarrows can be clumsy and heavy, and the rubber tire often goes flat quickly. For short distances, a wagon is ideal.
7. Wear Proper Gear
Always wear gardening gloves, a hat with a good-sized brim to keep the sun off your face and neck, long pants and sleeves, and sturdy shoes, boots, or runners. Do not forget sunscreen.
8. Use Eye Protection with Power Tools
Whenever you use power tools such as weed whackers, shrub trimmers, leaf blowers, or power mowers, it is essential to wear eye protection. A shard from shattered sunglasses once hit my face while mowing; fortunately, only the sunglasses were destroyed, but it could have been much worse.
9. Keep Tools Clean and Sharp
Just like kitchen knives, dull tools are harder to work with and can be dangerous. Keep your tools clean and sharp for safer gardening.
10. Know When to Stop
Know when it is time to break off for the day. You often do not realize how much energy you expend working in the garden, and those happy hours can be as taxing as a full gym workout, especially if you are not used to it.
