As the spring finally begins to make an appearance, our focus naturally turns to spending a bit of time outdoors. And it’s only when venturing out do we realise that there’s quite a bit of work to be done! Whether you’re a keen gardener or allotment keeper, you just like to tend to a few pots here & there, or even just the minimal maintenance kind of person, I guarantee that your hands do a bulk of the work and can take a bit of hammering.

Gardening can be a fulfilling and enjoyable activity, but it can also be tough on your hands. We’ve put together our top tips for gardeners hands so your hands can look and feel amazing!

1. Wear gloves.

One of the easiest ways to protect your hands while gardening is to wear gloves. When choosing gardening gloves, it’s important to consider the type of gardening tasks you’ll be performing and choose gloves that provide the appropriate level of protection and comfort.

Which type of glove should you wear?

• Leather gloves are durable and long-lasting. They are ideal for handling rough materials such as rocks and thorns.
• Cotton or Bamboo gloves are lightweight, breathable and comfortable, making them ideal for light gardening tasks. They are often washable and reusable.
• Nitrile are made of synthetic rubber and are ideal for handling chemicals and other hazardous materials. They provide excellent protection against cuts, punctures, and abrasions.
• Neoprene gloves are also made of synthetic rubber and are ideal for wet gardening tasks, such as handling water or working in wet soil. They are also chemical resistant.
• Gauntlet gloves have long cuffs that extend up the arm to provide extra protection against scratches and thorns. They are ideal for pruning and other tasks that require reaching into dense foliage.

2. Use Hand Cream.

Gardening can be tough on your skin, so it’s important to moisturise your hands regularly. Using a good quality hand cream helps keep your skin soft and supple. Look for one with some active ingredients to help the healing process, like honey. Our own range of Hand Creams are made using honey & beeswax from our own hives and blended with natural plant oils that are full of nutrients excellent for skin.

3. Clean hands.

After you finish gardening, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This will help to remove any dirt or bacteria that may have accumulated on your hands. Check out our natural cold-processed soap bars for a super soft and gentle but effective clean. Don’t forget to use a nail brush too to get rid of any dirt that may have accumulated under your nails.

4. Soak your hands.

Soak your hands: If your hands are sore after a day of gardening, soak them in warm water to help ease any aches and pains.

5. Apply a Treatment.

If your hands are particularly bad, then maybe it’s time to consider one of our bestselling intensive hand balms. Made using a blend of our beeswax, rice bran oil & olive oil these are an intense treatment to really repair damaged skin. A balm can be a little greasy if you’re not used to it so the key thing here is that “less is more” and that a little really does go a long way.

Our balms are bestsellers these days and we make hundreds of them every week! SUPER TIP: the lemongrass essential oil that we use in the Gardeners Intensive Hand Balm is a natural insect repellant! Perfect for outdoorsy types!

6. Take a break!

And finally, remember to take breaks and drink plenty of fluids. Gardening can be tiring, so make sure to take regular breaks to rest your hands and avoid overuse injuries.

Happy Gardening!