Be Healthy and Safe in the Garden

Enjoy the benefits of gardening, and stay safe.

Whether you are a beginner or expert gardener heading out to your garden, vegetable plot, or grassy lawn, health and safety are important. Gardening can be a great way to get physical activity, beautify the community, and go green. However, it also can expose you to potentially harmful elements, such as the sun, insects, lawn and garden equipment, and chemicals. Below are some health and safety tips for gardeners to follow while enjoying the beauty and bounty gardening can bring:

• Dress to protect. Prevent exposure to chemicals, insects, and the sun.
• Put safety first. Limit distractions, use chemicals and equipment properly, and be aware of possible hazards to lower your risk for injury.
• Watch out for heat-related illness. Even being out in short periods of time in high temperatures can cause serious health problems. Monitor your activities and time in the sun to lower your risk for heat-related illness.
• Know your limits. Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns that may impair your ability to work in the garden safely.
• Enjoy the benefits of physical activity. Gardening is an excellent way to get physical activity. Active people are less likely than inactive people to be obese or have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer, and premature death.
• Get vaccinated. Vaccinations can prevent many diseases and save lives. All adults should get a tetanus vaccination every 10 years.
• Go green. Conserve water, reuse containers, recycle, and share your bounty.

More Information

• Gardening Health and Safety Tips
• Spring Seedlings: Tips for Growing Your Own Vegetables
• Three R’s of Going Green: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle