GARDENING : Products Have Got You Covered
A sunburned face, blistered hands, stiff back and sore knees can result from just one day of intensive gardening without adequate protection. But discomfort caused by weeding, trimming and planting can be minimized with the use of a variety of specially designed products.
The obvious skin protector--a sunscreen--should not be forgotten when gardeners step outside. Skin cancers--the most common cancers in the United States--and premature aging are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. The rule is: the fairer the skin, the greater the protection needed, the higher the SPF (sun protection factor) required in a sunscreen. SPF numbers range from 2 to 45.
Blocking the sun requires more than just an applied sunscreen. When you go outside--even if it’s to plant a pony-pack of posies--cover yourself. Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants.
Protection from the sun for the scalp and face can easily be achieved by wearing a large-brimmed hat that provides shade while allowing airflow to the head.
Two popular gardening hats worn by men and women are the large, straw lifeguard hat and the cool, lightweight pith helmet.
Lifeguard hats have an adjustable neck strap and a wide brim and can be found in beachwear stores and surf shops for about $10, or by mail order through the catalogue of J.W. Beck’s Gardenware in Poway, Calif. A gardening pith helmet, available at Brookstone in Santa Ana’s MainPlace, is made from specially impregnated cellulose fibers. It weighs five ounces, comes in white or light blue and sells for $17.50.
Sunglasses reduce glare and protect your eyes from flying debris while edging, mowing or pruning.
Gloves ward off blisters, cuts and punctures. The right fit will allow you complete freedom of movement. Goat-hide gloves sell for around $20. For heavy-duty work, 1/16th-inch-thick cowhide gloves with reinforced thumbs provide extra protection and durability for about $30.
Trowels, forks and planter tools with large, easy-grip handles offer fingertip control and ease hand fatigue. Brookstone’s steel Ergo tools are weighted and balanced to reduce stress and strain ($17).
Tired of paying the price for bending over or crawling around on your knees? There are gardening aids designed to relieve strain on the lower back and knees.
Lightweight aluminum extension handles for garden tools adjust in length to allow gardeners to weed, cultivate and dig from a standing position. Handles lock into place and sell for about $20.
The garden trike is a three-wheeler for grown-ups tired of moving up and down rows of vegetables on their hands and knees. Brookstone’s tractor-style seat swivels 360 degrees, enabling toilers to work in any direction. The frame is made of enameled steel and carries up to 350 pounds ($85).
Gardeners who work from a kneeling position can take advantage of a number of products created to make the experience less painful.
Industrial kneepads made of soft, cellular rubber offer protection from hard surfaces and keep knees dry and clean. The leather straps hold them in place. Waterproof, vinyl-covered foam pads are large enough for sitting or kneeling, and handles make them convenient to carry. Kneepads cost from $15 to $30 and are available at most nurseries or home supply stores.
Mud-caked tennis shoes used to be something gardeners endured, but there is an alternative: clogs. Garden clogs, easy to slip in and out of, are comfortable, easy to clean and protect feet from moisture, mud and thorns.
There’s a way to aerate the lawn without lifting a finger or straining a muscle. Aerator sandals have zinc-plated steel spikes in the soles that puncture the lawn as you walk. Brookstone’s version straps over your shoes, making the chore as effortless as a walk in the park ($22.50).
