Choosing Proper Gardening Gloves

Your first contact with the garden are your hands, unless of course you have invested wisely in garden tools, but even with tools there is no getting around the fact that you are going to need to get your hands dirty, and along with that you can expect the scratches, cuts and bruises that are inevitable.

You should consider investing in some good garden gloves to protect your hands against damage.

There are several different types of garden gloves on the market and they all have their benefits and downsides.

The cheapest of these gloves are the cotton work type gloves that are comfortable but not quite as durable as other gloves.

They will wear out faster than the more expensive gloves and can become heavy when wet, which can make your hands quite cold in the colder weather. They also don't offer much protection against thorns and other sharp objects that you might encounter.

Alternatives to these are a combination of cotton/canvas and leather, as the leather portion of the glove will offer more protection against cuts, and can be more durable. These gloves can still get water logged and have a limited lifespan. Since they have leather portions, you should try not to let them get too wet or they will get very hard and stiff when dried. But if kept reasonably dry, the better ones can last quite a long time.

The composite spandex/lycra gloves that are available can be a better option as they will last longer and they won't get water logged like the cotton gloves. They are also very comfortable to wear, but might not provide as much protection as they aren't very rugged.

If you are working in wet conditions a lot of the time you may want to consider getting some rubber gloves. Rubber gloves will ensure that your hands stay dry all the time.

And, if you work with roses quite often there are gloves that cover your hands arms right up to your elbow. These will allow you to work in comfort and safety while protecting your skin against damage.

And finally there are many people who don't like wearing gloves at all but need some form of protection. For these, there is an interesting option called spray-on gloves. These are a silicon spray that will seal your hands from grime and possible infection and will make cleaning your hands after you have finished gardening a breeze. While these 'gloves' won't offer you any protection from scratches and cuts, they will help to keep your hands clean and that is a bonus.

Gardening Gloves: 
   

Taking Care of Your Knees While Gardening

While gardening can be good for your health, both in body and mind, there are many occasions when your knees might not think the same way. This time of year, we're often on our knees digging and planting and mulching, and the older we get, the more of a toll it can take.

It often seems a lot easier to kneel down when working on low areas of the garden, but in doing so on a regular basis you can damage the delicate area of the knees causing swelling and ongoing pain from permanent damage.

If there is no other alternative in your garden than to get down on your knees to work, then it might be time to look the benefits of getting some suitable gardeners knee pads.

These knee pads can be worn comfortably on your knees while working in the garden and the padded materials in them reduce much of the impact and stress caused by kneeling.

Alternatively you can buy a kneeling platform that you can carry around and place on the ground when you need to kneel down.

Gardening supply manufacturers have realized the demand for products to help in this area and there are new products coming on the market on a regular basis.

A kneeling pad, used in the garden (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even if you are unaffected by problems with kneeling in the garden, it is the long-term damage that you need to be concerned about as it can take years to surface.

It might even be necessary to look at the gardening equipment you are using to see whether you can use longer handled implements that will allow you to do the same work from a standing position.

The more you care for your health and well-being while working in the garden, the longer you will be able to devote to gardening as you age.

Quality gardening tools and implements can be a wise investment as they can make your life in the garden a whole lot easier and more enjoyable.

Gardener's Knee & Kneeling Pads: 
   

Gardening Products Make Great Gifts

If you're looking for a last minute gift for the special gardener in your life, it's not to late to pick up some great gardening products. Because gardening has evolved into such a popular activity, gardening products are not hard to come by.  You can buy gardening products in various stores or nurseries, or you can order gardening products from catalogs, or even order them online.  Gardening products can range from equipment to fertilizer to actual plants and shrubs.


You will obviously need the basic gardening products no matter what you are planting, such as a hoe, spade, fork, and maybe even a shovel.  You must have watering supplies, like a water hose and perhaps a sprinkler.  Other possibilities include a spade, a pot (if you are pot planting), and a pair of gloves for comfort, some secateurs, or a rake.  When first starting a garden you will definitely want some type of mulch or potting soil to get your dirt ready.  There are a few types of potting soil to choose from, including organic potting mix, seed starting potting mix, cactus potting mix, and root development potting mix, just to name a few. (You can easily find all of these online - for a one-stop shop, try http://www.newholisticliving.com/products.html#SGProducts.)

Once you have your garden planted, you must have gardening products so that you can add nutrients to the soil to ensure a healthy plant life.  Miracle-Gro is one of the most popular growing enhancements for plants.  There are many different types of Miracle-Gro to choose from and what kind you choose will depend on what you are trying to grow. For sustainable and organic gardening, of course you will want to look for the organic varieties. You will also want to add fertilizer, such as compost or manure.

If you are growing vegetables or herbs, you may need different gardening products than flower gardens require.  If you are growing tomatoes you will need a tomato cage and ties to protect the plants against the wind.  Many plants, especially vines, are designed to grow on something and you will need to have a fence or trellis of some sort.

Gardening products are not limited to just the gardening necessities; they can also come in the form of decoration.  There are decorative flower pots, sundials, plastic figurines, stones or bricks for a pathway or looks, and even lawn furniture.  Decoration will add to the charm and uniqueness of your garden and are an excellent way to give it a personal touch.


The winter months will bring a whole new set of gardening products to store shelves.  When the frost hits, the prime place to put your plants are in a greenhouse.  Mini-greenhouses are pretty easy to find nowadays, and can be relatively inexpensive to purchase (or very inexpensive to build, yourself). However, if you do not have a greenhouse, a tarp or row cover can be used to cover plants up at night.  You also might need a light source, like a heat lamp, to both keep plants warm and give them extra light.

New and upgraded gardening products are always popping up on the market.  It seems like every day there is some gardening product that claims to be bigger and better than the last.  While many gardening products are not a necessity, they sure make the job a lot easier and more enjoyable.

So why not grab one of these gardening products as a gift for your favorite gardener this holiday season? (Even if that gardener is you!) :-)   Just click on any of the links above for some great suggestions, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.

Great Gifts for Gardeners

There is nothing nicer than receiving a gift relating to one's passion. If your loved one's passion is gardening, then show your thoughtfulness by giving a gift that will be truly appreciated.

There are so many great gardening gifts that the only constraint is your own budget.

If your budget is small...
Go for things like gloves, kneepads or even a shady hat. A pretty pot (or a watering-can) filled with a small bag of potting mix, a packet of bulbs, some gloves and a small trowel or other tool will be received with delight by most gardeners. There are many hand tools at hardware stores that are reasonably priced. And you can even find most of these things online on sites like Amazon.com at a great price. (On a personal note, several years ago my best friend gave me a pair of rubber gardening shoes. A small gift, but I can tell you I have worn them hundreds of times, and they are now an essential part of my gardening attire!)


But if you feel that is too ordinary, how about a subscription to a gardening magazine? A tiny bit more expensive perhaps, but it will give twelve full months of delight. A book on gardening is another idea, but make sure your recipient does not already have the one you choose. Books are often heavily discounted at Christmas time, so you may get a bargain. There is a huge range of gardening books and magazines on just about every facet of gardening you can imagine. (For some suggestions see below, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html and scroll down for some great gift ideas.)

On the other hand, a pot that contains a flowering plant is usually a welcomed gift. Be sure to choose a plant that is suited to your climate. Sometimes plants are sent from tropical to temperate zones and kept in artificial conditions in the store. These plants will not do well once taken from their environment. Shrub roses are hardy and attractive and grow in many climates. Tulips do best in a cooler climate.


If you have some room in your budget...
A more expensive tool may be appropriate. A pull-trolley is easier to use than a wheelbarrow and, like some electric tools, is still not terribly expensive. Small electric tools such as whipper-snippers can retail for as little as $20.00. Or if your friend has a hose but not a hose reel, then that would be a very useful gift that he would truly appreciate.

Automatic lawn mowers, electric cultivators, hedge trimmers and brush cutters are in the more expensive price range and you are the only one who can decide whether that is an appropriate gift. However, when the recipient realizes you have given a gift that complements his passion, expensive or not, it will certainly be a gift they will remember!

(For see below for a couple of suggestions, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html and scroll down for a number of great gift ideas for the gardener in your life.)


A Few Good Organic Gardening Books & Magazines: