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Starting out as a gardener, whether for work or for pleasure, can be a very exciting prospect. Many find it an incredibly rewarding activity, something that’s often creative, physically engaging and allows you to spend a lot of time outside.
To make the most out of your gardening journey, it’s important that you have the right equipment for the job. While tools are obviously crucial, something that’s perhaps not talked about enough is what kind of durable clothing you should be wearing. Read on for some basic tips on where to start with your search as a gardening beginner.
What kind of gardening are you doing?
The first thing to think about is the kind of gardening that you’ll be doing. Often, the term is used to lump together a diverse range of different activities, from tree surgery to cutting the grass. The kind of clothing you need will obviously change depending on the kind of gardening you’re doing, with simple weeding jobs requiring quite a different approach to jobs that require the use of heavier equipment such as chainsaws.
In many cases, this is more than just about comfort. You’ll need to make sure that the clothing you’re using is able to keep you safe, whether that’s trousers that protect against chainsaw accidents or knee pads that save your knees.
What makes good gardening clothing?
It’s also important that you have a brief understanding of what actually makes a good set of durable gardening clothes.
When it comes to materials, manufacturers use a wide range of different options depending on what the item is going to be used for. You’ll find a lot of trousers made from heavier fabrics, such as canvas and denim, often with reinforced knees and hips to help prevent wear. As gardeners also often spend a lot of time kneeling down, you’ll likely see lots of trousers with pouches around the knee area into which you can insert padding options.
For rain protection, you’ll often find that specialist workwear suppliers such as Stormline stock a lot of farming and gardening rain jackets, trousers and wet weather gear, as well as some options in lighter fabrics. If you’re not moving around so much, then a PVC option will probably end up being more durable in the long run.
Making sure you’re comfortable and mobile
While durability is obviously important, it’s not the only thing that you need to consider when looking for gardening clothing. You also need to ensure that you can maintain sufficient mobility for the tasks you’ll be carrying out, and that you’ll be comfortable while doing so.
Durable clothing, particularly items that are made using a thicker, less pliable fabric can be quite uncomfortable, especially when they’re new. It’s important to note that these kinds of items may take a little time to ‘wear in’ and will become more comfortable after a while. Even if you don’t think they’re any good at first, try to give it some time before looking for another option.
Protective gear
As mentioned before, certain gardening activities will require protective clothing, especially if you’re using dangerous equipment like garden strimmers and chainsaws. Depending on the kinds of activities you’re doing, you might need protective trousers, big boots with steel toecaps, and various forms of eye and ear protection.
For pretty much all gardening activities, you’ll need a good pair of gloves to protect your hands. You may also want knee protectors, especially if you’re spending a lot of time kneeling down to weed or plant on hard ground.
Seasonal variations
If you’re serious about your gardening, you’ll likely be outside in all kinds of weather conditions. While your thick, durable trousers and jacket might be perfect in winter, when you’re gardening in the depths of summer these items could make you seriously hot.
The best solution here is a layering system that allows you to regulate your temperature based on the seasons. That could mean buying some long shorts that still offer knee protection, or wearing additional thermal layers beneath your durable outer shells when the temperature starts to plummet.
Check reviews and forums
While a lot of gardening clothing might look great on your screen or even on the shop floor, how it actually performs can be another question altogether. As a result, you need to make sure that you do some additional research when identifying the right manufacturers and designers.
A great place to start is by going through gardening forums and other digital spaces where outdoor professionals share their top tips and tricks. If you have specific questions about what type of gear you should be looking for you can always post a question. The gardening community is a great resource to ask for help, and you’ll be sure to get some useful responses from fellow enthusiasts.
Look after your gear
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that even the most durable gardening gear needs to be looked after properly if you want it to last. How you look after your workwear will depend on the fabrics you’re using, and other specific factors.
For example, waterproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex must be washed or dried at certain temperatures to preserve the waterproof coating. In other cases, machine washing could damage the natural capacities of the fabric, or leave it substantially weakened.
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions, so that you know exactly how to care for the items you’ve bought. Some of them will potentially be quite expensive, and you don’t want to end up damaging your best jacket inadvertently.
Looking for durable clothing for gardening might seem like a bit of a pain, but it’s absolutely worth it in the long run. Not only will it end up saving you money, but you’ll be comfier and safer, resulting in a more positive experience all round.
The post Where to start with finding durable clothing as a gardening beginner appeared first on Growing Family.
