Gardening is not a spectator sport and usually involves bending, squatting, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. Stretching before and after can help you to avoid muscle aches. Always lift with your legs to avoid back strain: do not waylay your entire summer by putting your back out.
Don't be like Noel Coward's mad dogs and Englishmen: plan you gardening around the cooler parts of the day and work in the shade when you can - before noon and after 3 p.m. as the sun begins to dip down. Remember to drink water, wear a hat to keep the sun from cooking your brain, and protect exposed skin with sunscreen. Insect repellent is always a good idea to reduce the nuisance factor, especially with West Nile virus season approaching.
I know gardening can be hot work, but consider wearing long sleeves and pants to avoid scratches when working around thorny and prickly plants. This is especially true for working around gas plants (Dictamus albus var. purpureus). Gas plants produce volatile oils that can cause phytophotodermatitis. If you realize you've brushed up against a gas plant with a bare arm or leg, particularly on a hot still day, immediately go inside and wash it off with soap and water. Symptoms range from a mild rash to blisters - the longer the affected skin is exposed to sunlight, the more intense the reaction can be. The symptoms may take 24 to 48 hours to develop fully. Despite this problem, gas plants are beautiful, fragrant (lemony), long-lived, prairie-adapted perennials with purple or white flowers, suitable for the mid-border.
Wear sturdy footwear to protect your feet from sharp gravel or an errant sharp hoe (or shovel), and to otherwise keep that pedicure looking great. Likewise for the manicure and to generally protect your hands from thistles, blisters, cuts and stains, wear good leather gloves. Leather will outlast cloth and generally fits much better. But do not wear leather gloves (or leather footwear or headwear) when applying pesticides - opt instead for neoprene chemical resistant gloves. Also, follow all safety precautions listed on the pesticide label (this goes for organic pesticides as well).
I would be remiss if I forgot to mention eye protection. It is all to easy to scratch your eye with a branch that right in front of your face when you're concentrating on something at arm's length. Or gravel, propelled at high speed by a string trimmer/weed-eater, can literally put out an eye. It might have been cool as a child, but wearing a pirate patch as an adult on any day other than Halloween only leads to embarrassing questions. Prescription eye-wear is generally not large enough to do a proper job unless they are of Mr. Magoo proportions. Invest in a pair of safety goggles - some can be quite sporty and usually fit over regular glasses.
A couple of final precautions: First, look for overhead lines when pruning large branches. Branches are surprisingly heavy and can easily break wires or create a connection between the wire and the ground. Second, consider the utilities that are underground when digging deep. For most garden activities (rototilling, installing shallow irrigation lines, planting smaller trees and shrubs by hand), underground lines are not a concern. But if using large equipment to remove trees or employing a tree spade to plant a new tree, call all the utilities to come mark their lines (cable, electricity, phone, gas, water).
Garden safely this summer.
- This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; email: [email protected]).
Announcements
July 14, 2 - 4 p.m.: Garden Tour at the Saskatoon Zoo and Forestry Farm Park. Meet at the Superintendent's Residence. Parking is $2, otherwise free to the public.
July 19 - 20: 47th Annual Lily Show at the Mall at Lawson Heights (134 Primrose Dr., Saskatoon). Lily stems go on sale after the July 20 at 3:15 p.m.. Sponsored by the Canadian Prairie Lily Society (www.prairielily.ca).
Gardenline is open for the season. Call 306-966-5865 (long-distance charges apply) Monday to Thursday. Or send your questions to [email protected]
