Gardens can be beautiful havens, but the work to get them to that state can be dangerous. Tools designed to break up tough soil can also produce nasty cuts or injuries. Some of the chemicals can be very dangerous. However, with some common sense and dutiful reading of product directions your garden can be a safe place to work.
Tip 1 - Protect your Eyes and Ears
When operating garden and lawn equipment, wear protective glasses or goggles. Wear earplugs or earmuffs when operating noisy equipment.
Tip 2 - Keep all Equipment in Good Working Order
All power equipment should be taken to the shop at the beginning of the season. Gas operated equipment should be winterized at the end of the season. If you hear any weird noises or if power equipment does not seem to be working right, take the equipment to a lawn mower and garden equipment repair shop.
Tip 3 - Protect Your Health
You are the most important item in the garden. Protect your skin with sunscreen. Sunscreen should be applied every two hours. Wear a sun hat. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. The clothes should be close-fitting so as not to get caught in any machinery. Wear gardening gloves to prevent blistering and contamination from Poison Ivy or Oak. Make sure you know what Poison Ivy or Oak plants look like, so you can avoid them. Keep a bar of Fels Naptha Soap and rubbing alcohol handy, in case of Poison Ivy or Oak contact. If your skin does contact a poisonous plant, immediately wash it with Naptha Soap, then treat it with rubbing alcohol.
Tip 4 - Read Directions of all Chemical Products
Read the directions of all the chemical products before you apply them. Read the warnings on the labels before you buy them. You may want to avoid product with heavy warnings. Keep any dangerous chemicals locked away, safe from children and pets.
Tip 5 - Go Organic
Going organic will cut down on the amount of dangerous chemicals you are exposing to your family and pets. Learn as much as you can about effective organic gardening techniques from extension services.
Tip 6 - Don't Overwork Yourself
Get an early start on the garden, so that you can stretch out the work in stages. Start out easy at the beginning of the year, or you may wake up with very sore muscles and may have to spend a couple of days in bed or more.
Tip 7 - Clear Your Working Path or Area of Obstructions
Before running your lawn mower, clear the lawn of any rocks, toys, twigs, or other debris which can get caught in the blades. The same holds true for any other power equipment. Before working a trimmer or saw, make sure the working path is clear of any thing that could trip you.
Tip 8 - Handle and Store all Equipment and Tools Safely
You don't want to have any tools or equipment left out in the rain. Rusty tools are ineffective and are more likely to slip and cause injury when using.
- If you are caught out in the rain with tools or equipment, make sure you wipe everything down before placing back in a dry protected area.
- When using tools, don't place shovels or rakes with blades or prongs face up. You don't want to have yourself or others tripping over tools, turning a day of gardening into a Three Stooges movie.
- Don't leave any power equipment running and unattended, especially with children or pets around. Most of all, use common sense in the garden. Keep things organized and be aware of your surroundings.
Check out TrustedPros.com for tool and equipment repair professionals to help keep all your tools and equipment in order. Also check out the web site for chemical application professionals. Consult professional landscapers to find master organic gardeners or perma-culture consultants to learn how to better work with nature to create a healthy environment for your family.
Posted by: TrustedPros