Ergonomic Tools and Gardening

Gardening can enrich your life in many ways: physically, mentally and spiritually. But it can also be hard work, especially as you get older. That does not mean you have to stop gardening. It simply means you have to rethink how you garden.

Planting a vegetable garden is a chore within itself; why struggle when you don’t have to? Save yourself lots of headaches and stress and buy the right ergonomic garden tools for the right job. These ergonomic tools can be purchased at any home improvement center or garden center. Nowadays, most discount stores also carry these ergonomic tools in their garden center.

For starters, consider incorporating some of these simple garden-planning principles:

• Raised beds and trellises are easier to maintain than in-ground beds.
• Garden beds should be no more than 4 feet wide to allow tending the bed without straining.
• Wide garden paths allow for safer walking and favor use of labor saving wheelbarrows, carts and dollies.
• Water weighs more than 8 pounds per gallon, so design your garden with easy access to hoses and water sources. Consider the ultimate water system: an efficient automated drip or soaker hose system.

Before getting started on your garden plans, however, it’s important to obtain the proper ergonomic garden tools. Avid gardeners recommend high quality, ergonomically designed tools specially developed to increase cutting power and minimize stress to your body.

Working in the garden can become a hassle, cause pain and, in extreme cases, lead to disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome. That’s why it’s important to use good ergonomically designed tools that match your capabilities, limitations and special needs.

There are a number of ergonomic tools available today that do just that. Consider the Extended Reach grass and hedge shears. With a reach of 38 inches, this garden tool lets you trim grass while standing up, eliminating bending, stooping, and kneeling — something your backs and knees will truly appreciate. This same tool also features an adjustable cutting head that rotates 270 degrees, allowing you to safely trim the tops of hedges without using a ladder.

If your hands and wrists trouble you, the Power-Lever hand pruner will make your day. The mechanical advantage of the lever device allows you to increase your cutting power by more than 35 percent compared to ordinary garden tools. The handle design, which keeps the handles parallel throughout the cut, allows all fingers to assist in pruning, which minimizes strain and maximizes your power through a cut. Its sleek, lightweight form is also perfect for gardeners with small- to medium-sized hands.

Want to trim branches overhead without using a ladder? How about at ground level without bending, stooping or kneeling? The Pruning Stik is the most versatile pruning tool and one of the easiest to use. It features a cutting head that rotates on a 240-degree arc, enabling the gardener to set the proper cutting angle for any pruning task. The tool is activated by pulling on the handle halfway up the Stik, or by pulling on the ball end of the Stik when needed at its full length. The Pruning Stik has an overall length of 62 inches, but weighs a mere 31 ounces.

Now that you’ve made garden plans and outfitted yourself with the proper ergonomic tools, it’s time to get gardening. Keep these helpful tips in mind to ensure a safe and healthy experience:

• Limit time in the midday sun: Whenever possible limit exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.
• Seek shade: staying undercover is the best protection. Remember the shadow rule: Watch your shadow-no shadow seek shade!
• Always use sunscreen: liberally apply a broadspectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or greater; reapply every 2 hours.
• Wear a hat: A hat with a wide brim protects vital areas of the face, ears, eyes, and neck.
• Cover up: Tightly woven, loose fitting full-length clothing offer additional protection from the sun’s rays.
• Wear sunglasses: Choose those that block 99-100% of the UVA and UVB radiation. Fully protective glasses will reduce exposure which can lead to cataracts.

There are endless ergonomic garden tools on the market today. Honestly, some of these garden gadgets aren’t very practical for gardening, so be very careful what you buy. These items can be purchased at your local lawn and garden center as well as many discount stores.

For more information on ergonomic tools and other helpful gardening tips, visit the Gardens for Every Body web site at http://www.fse.missouri.edu/AgrAbility/GardenWeb/

Karen Funkenbusch, Rural Safety and Health Specialist, UMC :(573) 882-2731