3 End-of-Summer Gardening Safety Tips

With summer quickly coming to an end and fall being just around the corner, it’s time to make sure your garden and outdoor area are prepared for the cooler weather. The end of summer is one of the most important times for gardeners. Not only do homeowners have to worry about preparing their greenery for cooler temperature, but they also need to make sure their equipment and tools are in good condition. And all of these tasks can be pretty strenuous, so let’s take a look at a few tips to keep you safe during your gardening activities.

When you’re fixing tools or equipment, it’s important to always read the user’s manual and instructions to make sure you’re doing it correctly. Because while doing tasks like fixing simple leaks, like from the hose or spout, can help save homeowners a lot of water, doing it incorrectly could lead to injuries. So when you’re fixing tools, making repairs, or troubleshooting machinery like a lawn mower, always use caution and your best judgment to ensure the job gets done safely. After all, a broken machine or tool is better than sustaining a serious injury.

You should also remember to always protect your skin when working outside. So this means not only wearing plenty of sunscreen or long clothing to prevent sunburns, but looking out for things that may cause harm to your skin. Things like poison ivy, which about 85% of people are allergic to, can put a serious damper on your gardening fun. So always make sure you’re on the lookout for poisonous plants or pests that can cause you harm. It can be beneficial to try to wear gloves when working outside, which can protect your hands from blisters as well as other external sources of harm.

And when it comes to bending over or lifting heavy objects, you need to always make sure you’re moving correctly. Already, about 31 million Americans report pain in their lower backs at any given time, so you need to be careful or you’ll end up joining them. You should try your best to avoid repetitive motions, like bending up and down. While it may seem fine at the time, these motions can do some serious damage to your body over time. Furthermore, when you’re moving heavy objects, always lift with your legs — lifting properly and carrying items close to your body can do wonders in reducing strain on your body. Overall, listening to your body and moving correctly can help you prevent injuries.

Gardening and landscaping can be great outdoor activities. Not only with your outdoor area look as beautiful as ever, but you’ll get some exercise and some sun. But while you’re outside prepping your greenery for fall, make sure to keep these safety tips in mind. Otherwise, you could get injured and not get to enjoy your outdoor area at all.