Healthy Gardeners Grow Healthy Gardens

For many people, gardening is an essential, enjoyable part of life. Whether you harvest fruits and veggies, turn your yard into a floral paradise, or a little of both, gardening is great physical activity. Working outside and cultivating life can relax, inspire, and even nourish you and your loved ones.

To ensure you get all of gardening’s gains — with a minimum of pain — take some basic precautions:

Alternate tasks to avoid injury from repetitive movements.

Use a knee cushion and stand up frequently to stretch.

Protect your hands with sturdy, comfortable, gardening gloves that fit properly. Using tools, handling plants, and digging in soil are too hard on bare skin.

Wear sunscreen, a hat, and cool, protective clothing to fend off bugs and sunburn.

Take breaks and enlist helpers to reduce your workload. Have a gardening party; serve iced tea and fruit salad to express appreciation.

Stay hydrated. Like any physical activity, be sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after.