Protect Your Hands 

0203glovesGadgeRealSimple.com

Garden gloves are as essential a tool as a shovel or a rake. It may seem extravagant, but owning three pairs will make a multitude of tasks easier. (Your cuticles will thank you, too.)
 
Washable synthetic gloves: For general maintenance, such as deadheading, weeding in dry soil, and handling seeds. The thin fabric and snug fit allow your fingers maximum dexterity. Foxgloves (far left), $20, foxglovesinc.com.
 
Latex-coated cotton gloves: For dirty, wet jobs, like picking up leaves or planting shrubs, and for working with thorny plants (the latex coating is puncture-resistant). Little’s Good Gloves Mud Gloves (center), $8, mudglove.com.
 
Heavy-duty leather gloves: For tough jobs, like digging holes, clearing brush, and carrying firewood. Womanswork suede pigskin gloves (left), $25, womanswork.com.
 
Arm protectors: Consider elasticized sleeves if you often prune brambly shrubs. Little’s Good Gloves arm protectors (background), $9 a pair, mudglove.com.

Read More About:Outdoor

Related Content

Flower boxes with gloves and shovel - mistake 1

Readers' Top 10 Gardening Mistakes

Digging up flowers instead of weeds. Drowning the tulips. Real Simple readers reveal their growing woes and garden design pros plot out the solutions.

What do you think about this article? Share your own solutions and ideas

View Earlier Comments

Get Surprising Tips and Tricks Each Week

Sign up for our free Real Simple Weekly Tips newsletter (see a sample).
Advertisement

Quick Tip

Mythic Paint

Home stores and paint shops will often sell, for a fraction of the regular price, cans of paint that customers returned because the color was not quite right for them. Get more tips.