Safety Tips for Gardeners
By Joan Helbacka, WSU Master Gardener Coordinator
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Mary Robson (Ret.) Area Extension Agent
Regional Garden Column
Dizzying spring fever affects gardeners with the first mild, appealing days. Don't let it reduce your safety: some caution can prevent a possible injury that might keep you from enjoying the delights of the garden.
Slippery surfaces:
Beware the garden path. In addition to being led astray, going down a shady, damp hard-surfaced garden path can be downright dangerous. Paths made of gravel, or wood chips drain more easily and provide better footing. Picturesque red brick paths are notorious for becoming mossy and slippery.
If you do decide to use brick, be sure to lay them in criss-cross (herringbone or other) pattern to improve traction rather than running all the bricks in the same direction. Concrete, flagstone, wooden decks and stairs, and other hard surfaces can also be hazardous. If it's impractical to replace dangerously slippery surfaces, try to improve drainage, reduce shade and improve air circulation by limbing up or thinning nearby trees and shrubs. Keep in mind, products that remove moss and algae from hard surfaces will usually damage plants, so cover or otherwise protect plants from splashed material when treating.
Obstacles in the way:
Watch your step. A friend tripped backwards over a flower pot, and that seemingly minor fall resulted in a shoulder injury that required surgery, physical therapy, and a year-long recovery. Keep your tools and supplies picked up, and out of the way. Stepping on a long handled rake and getting bopped with the handle is only amusing to bystanders. (Robert Frost wrote a poem about getting whacked with a rake, including the line "The first tool I stepped on, turned into a weapon." ) Now would be a good time to sand those long wooden handles and mark them with a brightly colored paint so you can see them.
Tool handling:
When using power tools, it should go without saying that you read and follow safety instructions and maintenance recommendations. If using electric tools be sure that the extension cords are of the proper gauge and are in good repair. Always wear recommended safety equipment. I keep a pair of safety goggles and protective gloves with my hand tools. That way I'm not tempted to go without, even just once.
Ladders should be inspected yearly and replaced if there is any doubt that they are safe. When using a ladder don't stand on the top step -- get a longer ladder. Move the ladder rather than over-reach and risk falling. Be especially careful with ladders on uneven surfaces.
Get help if you need it:
If you have any doubt about your ability to safely prune your trees, consult a qualified professional arborist. Certified arborists have specialized training in tree care and tree problem diagnosis. They are qualified to become members of professional organizations. Look for the initials "ISA" for International Society of Arboriculture in advertisements and business cards, or "NAA" for National Arborist Association.
You can contact the PNW International Society of Arborculture at 1-800-335-4391 or www.pnwisa.org for a list of certified arborists.
Cover your skin:
Wear sunscreen or sunblock. You can get skin-damaged even on a cool cloudy day and painfully sunburned when temperatures are mild . Don't forget the back of your neck and the tips of your ears. A wide brimmed garden hat is more than a fashion statement.
Stay cool:
As the weather warms up, drink water. Lots of water. Avoid heavy garden chores during the heat of the day. This being the cool side of the mountains, most gardeners are not likely to be acclimatized to hot weather. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be life threatening. If you start feeling even slightly overheated, quit until the weather (and you) cool off.
Instead of overdoing it on weekends those of us who have office jobs might benefit greatly, physically and mentally, by doing a bit of gardening after work. This would avoid the weekend athlete syndrome, and keep us fitter. Before you start warm up a bit by stretching and walking around. That will give you a chance to see what really needs doing and what can be postponed. Tackle the heavy chores when you're fresh in the morning, save the deadheading and other easy tasks for the evening. (I wonder if like skiers, gardeners might tend to be injured at the end of a long day? You risk tweaking your back spreading that last wheelbarrow of mulch, or having your saw slip on the last fruit tree to be pruned. Call it a day before you are
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