“Whether you have a small patch of grass or sprawling acres of lawn, choosing the right lawn mower can make the task easier and more enjoyable,” says Peggy West, marketing associate for Yard-Man, a manufacturer of dependable lawn equipment. “While it may seem as easy as walking into the store and picking one out, there are several features to consider.”

There are two basic choices when it comes to lawn mowers: walk-behind or rider. With different options for each category, you’ll want to consider the size and terrain of your lawn to help with your decision.

Walk-behind mowers

Walk-behind mowers can be divided into two categories: push mowers and self-propelled mowers. If your lawn is less than one acre, a walk-behind is a great choice for you.

* Push mowers: Offering basic power and performance, push mowers are best for trimming or mowing lawns up to a half-acre. A gas-powered engine provides more cutting power than a reel mower and can cut through taller, tougher grass.

* Self-propelled mowers: Easiest to use and best for lawns with hills or more than a half-acre in size, these mowers are powered by a transmission that propels them forward rather than relying on your strength to push them along. For example, the Yard-Man 12AEB2JA001 Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is easy to maneuver, offering smooth cuts with less exertion.

Riding mowers

Riding mowers are designed for large yards over an acre. Three things to consider when looking at lawn tractors and zero-turn riders are horsepower, cutting deck size and transmission type.

* Lawn tractors: With higher horsepower engines, lawn tractors are better for larger lawns and rougher terrain. They may also have various attachments available and can be used for hauling materials in addition to mowing your lawn. You should also look for mowing decks that are easily adjustable and have mulching capabilities.

* Zero-turn riders: For a lawn that is more than an acre with multiple obstacles, a zero-turn rider would be a good fit. The time it takes to mow your lawn can be cut in half, because the zero-turn radius enables quick turns and trimming. In addition, these mowers are fast, so you can quickly cover a large lawn.

Once you’ve decided which mower will best meet your needs, Yard-Man offers five simple tips for keeping your grass looking great all season long:

1. Before you start mowing, make sure to clear the area of any sticks, rocks or other debris to keep them from getting caught in the blades.

2. Keep your grass approximately 2 inches in length, always taking off only 1/3 inch of new growth.

3. Alternate the direction you mow each session. The wheels will create a rut in the grass if you mow in the same direction every time.

4. Mow your lawn in a pattern by mowing back and forth instead of walking in a spiral pattern. This keeps the grass from becoming permanently bent in one direction.

5. Make sure your lawn gets 1 inch of water per week to keep it healthy and growing properly.

Provided by: ARA

Beneficial pollinator bugs like bees may be welcomed guests, but their destructive cousins can have devastating effects on even the healthiest garden. There is nothing worse than having a cucumber vine wither just before harvesting the first crop, or picking a breath-taking rose just to find it covered with aphids.

Aphids, mealy bugs, mites, thrips, slugs, snails and cutworms are some of the most problematic garden insects across the country. Keep these and other pesky insects from “bugging” you and destroying your garden this summer.

Know the enemy:

Having the ability to identify problem insects in the garden is a big step toward overcoming them. Proper bug identification is key to protecting your plants and veggies. Also check your plants for symptoms to help identify the visitors to your garden. Is something eating seedlings at night? Maybe you have cutworms. Are plants’ leaves looking like lace? Sounds like Japanese beetles. Look around and see what is there. Finding an effective treatment is easy once you know what you are actually dealing with.

Plant wisely:

Sometimes the simplest bug prevention is using a few smart tips when planting or caring for a garden. Remember to clean up all plant debris at the end of the growing season to discourage insects from wintering over in the veggie patch.

Another easy tip is to consider planting flowers among fruits and vegetables. Flowers look great and will attract beneficial bugs that pollinate, like bees, but will also attract bugs that will eat pests, like ladybugs.

Rotating crops can also prevent recurring insect problems. This will discourage last year’s insects that may have wintered over from sticking around because the crop they found so delicious is no longer present.

Seek advice:

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Local gardeners and extension agents make great resources. Ask around and see what others have used that worked.

Your grandma may have used cans to keep cutworms from eating the seedlings in her garden. Simply cut both ends off of some cans and place them around seedlings when transplanting to create a protective barrier from cutworms, slugs and snails while plants are getting established.

If your neighbor has had success using row-covers placed on crops that are targeted by certain local pests, then that may also work for you. Just be sure to leave the covers off for part of the day to allow for pollination.

For more information and to find solutions quickly, download the Ortho Problem Solver App from the iTunes store.

Fight back:

When nothing else seems to be working, take serious action by finding the appropriate pest control for your garden and your situation. Home remedies, organic solutions or more conventional means of insect controls in the flower or vegetable garden are all options available.

Ortho Flower, Fruit & Vegetable Insect Killer kills over 100 garden insects without harming plants or blooms. For your organic garden, try Ortho Elementals Insecticidal Soap to kill some of the most bothersome bugs, like aphids, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, mites and thrips – along with a long list of other bugs. For snails and slugs invading an organic garden, try Ortho Elementals Slug & Snail Killer, or Ortho Bug-Geta Snail & Slug Killer 1. Both options are effective on a wide variety of snails and slugs.

Now that you are armed with all the right information, get out there and defend your garden, lawn and home from invasive insects.

Provided by: ARA

Pain specialist Paul J. Christo, M.D., M.B.A. and host of Aches & Gain radio show, offers some easy tips to help overhaul your medicine cabinet as you get older and ensure necessary products are properly stored, easily accessible and on hand at home:

1. Update first aid kit essentials:

Do you have the staples for pain, fevers, stomach aches, allergies, cuts and burns? A first aid kit should always contain items to handle these minor emergencies. And don’t forget other important items such as hearing aid batteries, blood pressure monitoring equipment and extra eyeglasses.

2. Mitigate minor aches and pains:

Muscle and joint pain becomes a bigger problem as you age. Nearly one in five adults, or 46 million Americans, suffer from arthritis, which is characterized by sudden onsets of pain or swelling in the joints. Consider an alternative to pills that can take time before relief sets in. Break the grip and try an over-the-counter topical solution to relieve pain. Topical medicines for arthritis can also be a good choice if you have had stomach ulcers, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, or kidney problems. Odorless and fast-acting, Aspercreme(R) is clinically proven to provide temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain with its targeted, maximum strength formula.

3. Stock up on seasonal must-haves:

Each season poses different health hurdles. During winter, cold and flu medication should be nearby. Spring brings gardening, so have an effective, targeted pain solution in the cabinet to keep you going for hours. Summer brings more sunlight, so protect aging skin by stashing a strong sunscreen on your shelves. And no matter what the season, purchase only as much as you will use to avoid throwing out expired products next year.

4. Toss expired items:

When assessing the items in your medicine cabinet, take note of their expiration date. Properly dispose of outdated over-the-counter pills and prescribed medications. If you are unsure of what you should toss, check with a pharmacist. Purge personal care products that have changed in appearance, smell or texture. Products like toothpaste and deodorant that are beyond their shelf life may lose potency and effectiveness.

5. Keep a list nearby:

Remembering what needs to be replaced, replenished or refilled is a difficult task. Simplify the situation by keeping a piece of paper taped to the inside of the medicine cabinet. When you notice that something is running low, simply jot a reminder on the paper so you’ll see it the next time you open the cabinet.

6. Create a safe storage system:

Make sure the products you use most frequently are easily accessible and within an arm’s reach. Place items that treat similar symptoms on the same shelf to help keep a cabinet organized. For example, store bandages, gauze and medical tape together. Always keep products in their original packaging to avoid losing important information, and store medications in a cool, dry place since heat and moisture can alter their effectiveness.

“As you age, it’s important to take stock of the supplies in your medicine cabinet since your health can change. Cleaning out your medicine cabinet will help prevent medication mix-ups, ensure your medications are current, and provide peace of mind that you have essential items to tackle life’s little medical emergencies,” said Dr. Christo.

Provided by: ARA

Fresh herbs can take cooking and entertaining to the next level. This goes way beyond adding oregano to your spaghetti sauce. Did you know you can save money, time and waste of produce if you grow your own fresh herbs, right there on your kitchen windowsill?

Basil and parsley are two of the most common herbs grown in kitchens. This is because these herbs have a wonderful scent, are relatively easy to grow and are very common ingredients in both winter and summer dishes. Other popular herbs include dill, cilantro, chives, rosemary, oregano, thyme, mint and sage.

One note on mint – this herb spreads quickly and can become unmanageable in the yard. But mint does extremely well in containers – just make certain you keep the container separate from your other herbs.

With only a window ledge and very little effort, you can have fresh herbs at your fingertips. To get started growing herbs indoors, try these helpful hints:

* Location is key. Herbs like sun, so make certain your window area receives plenty of good light – preferably from the south. Stem herbs like oregano and thyme will send out new growth toward the sun, so also plan to rotate the pots to keep the plants growing tall. You might consider setting up a grow lamp to give your herbs additional light – especially in the winter months when the daylight hours are shorter and less intense.

* Grow those tiny seeds. Getting your herb garden started might seem like a monumental task, but the Miracle-Gro Culinary Herb Garden makes this process so much easier. Plant the handy seed disks – choose three from basil, chives, cilantro, dill and thyme – directly into the mini Gro-Bag, which contains Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. Keep the soil damp and your herbs will thrive. You can also try the Culinary Herb Kit to grow a single herb plant. Simply pour the nutrient-enriched potting mix – which comes in the kit – into the bamboo pot and plant the seed disk. Both kits come with recipes on the back.

* Water maintenance. As your plants develop, prevent over watering by allowing the soil to dry to the touch. When watering, use enough moisture to see water pooling near the container drain holes.

* Trimming and upkeep. If you use your herbs frequently, you probably won’t need to trim off any dead branches or leaves. But if you do notice dead leaves on branches, trim those away to allow for new plant growth.

As your herbs grow along your window sill, don’t forget to plan delicious recipes using these fresh ingredients – recipes that will delight the palate and impress your friends. Consider some of the following ideas for incorporating fresh herbs into your meals:

* Make your own pizza. Spread olive oil or sauce over pizza crust, then top with fresh veggies and chopped up basil, rosemary, thyme and oregano. A little cheese and you’re ready to bake.

* Pesto is a great basil-based sauce, and when made, freezes well so you can have a delicious dinner all winter long.

* Decorate soups – both out of a can and homemade – with parsley, chives or to emit a bit of spice, cilantro.

* Add a couple basil leaves to a sandwich for some unexpected zip.

* Give salads a slight peppery taste by tossing the lettuce with cilantro, mint and chives.

* Freshen your drinks with crushed mint. It will give your lemonade or iced tea a surprising kick and make your mint julep even tastier.

* Can some pickles using fresh dill.

* Develop rubs for chicken and pork using dill or sage.

* Make a fresh bouquet garni by tying together assorted fresh herbs with thread. Then just drop into soups, stews or roasting meats.

* Don’t forget, herbs aren’t just for cooking. Give an herb in a painted pot as a hostess gift or use an herb topiary as a centerpiece to add interest to any gathering.

The options are endless, and as you browse through your recipe collection, you won’t have to look far for the seasoning ingredients, since these are growing on your windowsill.

Provided by: ARA

Many homeowners think a professional-looking lawn requires a stringent water and fertilizer regimen. While both water and fertilizer play their part, neither is the stand-alone key to a perfect lawn. The following five tips offer homeowners simple solutions to achieving a great yard.

* Know your region. Grass seed is not one size fits all. Select the right grass seed or sod based on where you live. It’s also important to consider how you plan to use your lawn. Do you have children and pets that will be playing on it regularly, or will the purpose be primarily curb appeal? To determine the right grass, talk to your local garden center or contact the turf grass specialist at your state agriculture school.

* Only feed as needed. According to Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers, many homeowners over water their lawns, which does more harm than good. A simple trick to determine whether your lawn needs watering is to stick a screwdriver into the grass. If it enters the dirt easily, your lawn has plenty of water already. If you have trouble getting the screwdriver into the ground, it is time to give the grass a drink. It is also recommended to fertilize your lawn at least once a year. However, putting your lawn on a quarterly schedule will help achieve optimal health.

* Break out the ruler. The maintenance crews for professional sports fields are meticulous about the height of their grass because it ensures a uniform look. Grass Seed USA recommends maintaining a lawn height of about 2 inches. It’s important not to cut more than one-third of the grass height at a time to minimize damage, so aim to mow when your lawn is about 3 inches in height.

* Arm yourself with the right tools. The proper equipment can take a lawn from looking well-manicured to professional. When selecting a mower, don’t jump straight to those that pick up the grass clippings. Allowing the clippings to decompose in the lawn will add to the overall health of your yard, and when you mow often, the shavings are small and less noticeable. Adding an edger to your arsenal is another great trick for cleaning up the lines and defining your yard.

* Replenish as necessary. Grass is a natural carpet that cleans and repairs itself. It’s equipped to withstand a number of elements yet is impacted over time. If you’ve noticed that your lawn is sparse in areas, or not as full and lush as you’d like, it may be time to add more seed. The best time to plant new seed is in the fall when the temperatures are more temperate. But reseeding may be done throughout the year. The important thing is to avoid drastic temperature changes and water regularly, yet moderately, to give the seed time to absorb moisture and build roots.

Growing and maintaining a lush green lawn doesn’t have to come with a backache. Basic planning and these five quick tips will have you well on your way to a backyard prime for the summer season.

This accomplishment illustrates how windowsill gardens encourage learning from plants at home.

With an indoor container garden, children can watch the tiny seeds they tenderly planted germinate and grow into much larger plants. Make the experience educational by encouraging your children to journal how much water is needed to keep the plants healthy, how fast the plants grow and even when new leaves or flower buds appear. They will be surprised by the growth process happening every day.

Spring is the perfect time to get involved in growing – no need to wait until summer to start planting. The Miracle-Gro Kids Windowsill Greenhouse kit, available in Flower and Vegetable Garden varieties, includes everything for children to start planting immediately. The kit provides an optimal environment for indoor seed starting, and the greenhouse environment helps the seedlings grow strong until ready to transplant.

Once seedlings are large enough for transplanting, children can use these simple tips to find their green thumbs and keep their gardens growing strong:

* Containers – All sizes and shapes of containers can become new homes for seedlings once they’re too large for the greenhouse. Whether placed in a sunny area indoors or out, any clean container with drainage at the bottom will work. Consider using colorful buckets, painted clay pots, old chipped porcelain or ceramics from the kitchen – even an old tool box can add a bit of creativity to the garden. Go vertical with pocket gardens and hanging baskets.

* Soil – Quality soil is a must to help plants grow big and strong. Fill containers with Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, and gently pat down so soil is loose, allowing roots to grow and spread easily. Be sure to keep soil moist by watering frequently. Smaller containers dry out easily and may need to be watered more.

* Light – Container and windowsill gardens tend to grow better with southern exposure, where the light is the strongest. Remind children to rotate the pots to encourage plants to grow straight, rather than bending toward the light coming in the window. Think about placing container gardens on window ledges, front stoops, balconies or back patios – any warm, sunny area where children can watch them grow.

* Labels – Put craft time to good use in making labels for each container. Provide children with photos of the plant for them to draw on the labels or tags to stick into the soil for easy identification. Children might even want to name their plants or containers. Let the creativity run free.

If the containers are growing flowers, once blossoming, harvest the blooms and encourage your child create a beautiful arrangement to decorate your home for admiring friends. Teach your child how to press or dry the blooms and create cherished art. Photography is another great way to preserve the memories. Photos make great keepsakes and, tucked into a journal, serve as excellent reminders of what your child planted and can grow in his garden again next year.

If your children planted vegetables, help them find a fun recipe or two that incorporate their produce. Get kids involved in making dinner by cleaning the vegetables for chopping, and stirring into the stew, sauce or salsa. When the dinner bell rings, your child will be proud to serve the meal they grew – right there in your home.

Promote life learning and a green thumb for your children and watch their knowledge and pride grow alongside the flowers and vegetables that are started from seed. It will be an exciting project that can last for weeks and months on end.

While you may love the bright reds and greens of the holiday season or the lush lilacs and blues of spring and summer, making them the foundation of a room’s design can leave the decor feeling out-of-step when the seasons change. By starting out with a foundation of neutral colors in walls, flooring and furnishings, you can add colorful and seasonally appropriate accents.

Updating your decor to complement the season is as simple as focusing on a few key areas.

Lighting

It’s easy to overlook, but lighting is a key element in room design, and one that needs to change with the season.

In spring and summer, when sunshine is abundant and the days are longer, you can rely more on natural light. During warm months, you may only need artificial light late in the evening, when the advanced hour makes soft, muted light appropriate. Winter’s shorter days and weaker sunlight lead to greater dependence on artificial light throughout the day, so your lighting design should include options that can be used throughout the day.

Most rooms will benefit from a mixture of overhead lighting, floor lamps, wall sconces and table lamps.

Walls

While neutral-hued walls make a versatile background for virtually any design, don’t be afraid to spice things up with seasonal touches. Repositionable wall covering options like SmartStick from MuralsYourWay.com, make it possible to create a seasonal look with a wall mural – and then remove it and replace it with something different when the season changes.

A patented adhesive allows you to easily place the removable wallpaper on virtually any smooth, flat surface, from windows to walls. You can pull it down, reposition it elsewhere, even fold it up and store it in a drawer for use next year. A wide variety of designs mean you can find something to fit your seasonal decor, and if you don’t see anything you like, you can customize by submitting your own original photo through the website.

Flooring

If your floor is wood or you have a newer home with builder-installed carpet, you probably already have a neutral palette to work with. Adding seasonal flair to floors is as simple as adding or removing area rugs.

Area rugs in rich tones can warm up a room during winter months – especially when wood floors can feel cold underfoot. You can even add an accent rug in evergreen or crimson to underscore your holiday decor.

In warm months, when your family spends more time outdoors, a more durable area rug, positioned near entryways can help keep soil, grass clippings and other debris off your carpet or floor.

Accessories

From window treatments to wall art, accessories are an easy, great way to create a seasonal look in any room.

In winter, when you want to keep out the chill, choose heavier drapes in colors that inspire warmth and comfort. For autumn or spring, when you want to welcome in sunlight, lighter, sheerer options can be appropriate. And in summer, when you’ll rely on blinds to block out hot midday sun, pastels and lighter fabrics can be a soothing foil to the utilitarian appearance of blinds.

Just as you change your own wardrobe to stay in step with the seasons, updating your home decor seasonally can help make your home feel welcoming and comfortable. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep your home decor in tune with the seasons when you make a few updates that are easy to change with the season.

Here are some ways to prepare for the spring and summer seasons with just a few simple steps:

* Plans – Sketch out those garden plans, and pick the plants that can be purchased or grown from seed. Plans don’t need to be drawn to scale, but they’ll provide great background information for a shopping list. Research how early seedlings should be started, so they’ll be ready for transplant when the time arrives.

Also create plans for any home projects that need to be accomplished. The depth of those plans depends on how complicated the project is. Make certain all permits are in order, if required by the community; and if a contractor is needed, a formal agreement and timeline is in place prior to work commencing.

* Lawn tools – Check pruning shears for sharp blades – and either sharpen or replace them if they don’t easily cut through a small stem of plant material. Also, review lawn mower blades. Check the oil, gasoline and starters on all gardening machinery to ensure they’ll run correctly when needed.

* House tools – A review of all home tools helps to determine if any new purchases – or replacements are needed. This is the perfect time to head to the store and purchase missing tools, add new blades to saws or replenish the sandpaper stash – eliminating wasted time running back and forth to the store.

* Hand tools – A little care can go a long way in keeping your hands and feet – the most valuable tools found in every household – in good shape after the long, dry winter months. These tools are vital to accomplishing everything on those garden and home project lists, and they are often forgotten. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and O’Keeffe’s for Healthy Feet are both guaranteed to effectively relieve dry, cracked skin in even the most extreme cases. And just a little bit of the highly concentrated, hypoallergenic and odorless creams is needed. Start every project off with healthy hands, and keep them that way throughout the entire season of projects. It’s the best cream for dry hands – especially after the long and dry winter months.

* Materials – As the project season gets closer, start purchasing the materials needed ahead of time. This helps to spread the cost out, and can give an idea of how much time and effort the project will take to be completed. Get started now in matching colors, finding the perfect accessories and even price-comparing between different suppliers to help save money.

For homeowners who haven’t experienced the warm-weather-project itch quite yet, it’s still a good idea to start thinking about those items on to-do lists to help with being prepared and ready to go when the season arrives. It doesn’t take a lot of energy to have a successful spring and summer project season. Don’t forget O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and O’Keeffe’s for Healthy Feet to keep hands and feet in healthy shape to tackle any job.

“Designing with colorful, low-maintenance plants that bloom year round is one of my greatest pleasures,” says Susan Olinger, president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

For the average person that’s not as simple as it sounds, but coming this spring, it will be easy to add plenty of “flower power” to any garden, patio or balcony with new Bloomtastic! flowers and plants from Hines Growers.

These easy, low-maintenance flowers have been handpicked to provide rich color and gorgeous blooms that turn ordinary yards into show-stopping gardens from spring to late fall.

Check out these tips from garden pros for eye-popping color and abundant blooms spring through fall.

1. The right plant for the right spot. Too often we’re seduced by pretty plants at a garden center, only to find it withers and dies when we plant it in our garden.

“You’ll have greater success if you know what plants work best in your yard’s conditions,” says Justin Hancock, garden editor for Better Homes and Gardens online. “Know how much sun, soil and water the plant needs and make sure it can handle the heat and cold in your area before you buy it.”

Lack of rain can ruin a garden. Plants like new Agapanthus Summer Sky and a new Black Hawaiian Spider Lily called Crinum Purple Dream can handle drought conditions once established.

If you have deer, choose plants they don’t eat like Agapanthus Summer Sky. This airy plant with striking blue flowers and variegated foliage is perfect for containers, English gardens or mass plantings throughout your landscape.

2. Design for continuous garden interest. When designing your garden, don’t buy plants that bloom at the same time. Instead, Hancock suggests you add plants that bloom in spring, summer and autumn. “Look for long-blooming plants to be the backbone of your garden design.”

Decorate your patio, deck or garden with spring and early summer bloomers like the new Bambino bougainvillea in eight dazzling colors with unique foliage. Then turn up the color wattage for summer and fall with the new Hibiscus Bahama Bay Amazon Queen. Its deep orange tones add tropical punch to any patio or yard.

3. Create drama with foliage. “Don’t forget how powerful foliage can be,” says Hancock. Many plants have different colors in their leaves and can show off brilliant color in a small garden or in containers.

“Plants with deep purple leaves are important in garden design because they look good all season long,” Hancock adds. Purple Dream’s leaves look almost black when grown in full sun and are dramatic against its showy pink flowers.

4. Make your garden nature friendly. Flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies or song birds are good for wildlife and add extra interest beyond their beautiful blooms.

A new dwarf butterfly bush, Lavender Veil, grows low to the ground and is covered with fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies well into fall. “This new butterfly bush is perfect for hanging baskets or containers and drapes any landscape in a sea of purple,” says Hancock, who recommends mass planting three to five of the compact butterfly bush for vivid flower power.

With a little planning and the right plants, you can transform your garden to a vibrant garden paradise with little maintenance.

Gardening is very healthy, both physically and mentally. In addition to providing exercise, gardening delivers health benefits in the fresh foods you eat and in the calming presence of flowers in your environment.

To get the most out of gardening’s health benefits, it’s a good idea to do a bit of stretching to help avoid injury or irritating existing conditions while out in the garden. Here are some tips to stay healthy:

Stretch those muscles
Heading out into the garden is just like going for a jog or visiting the gym. Before you grab all your gardening tools, practice some full-body stretches to warm up your muscles. Target your arms, legs and back, because the muscles in these areas will be put to good use while you’re planting, weeding and watering. And before you finish for the day, do some more stretching to help loosen any muscles that tightened during your gardening work.

Banish bending
Many Americans suffer from chronic back pain, which can put a damper on the gardening experience. Consider installing raised garden beds, which allow you to garden without have to bend over. And container gardens can be placed on tables or deck railings to make it easy to reach plants.

Hand and wrist protection a must
Weeding, hoeing, raking, shoveling – the repetitive motions of gardening can lead to hand and wrist pain, and worsen existing conditions such as arthritis. Taking steps to minimize irritation and discomfort while you work can help ensure your gardening tasks don’t create aches or worsen pain. Consider wearing an arthritis glove, like the Imak-made glove commended by the Arthritis Foundation, to provide mild compression and warmth while you work. Because the gloves are made of cotton material with an open-fingertip design, they won’t make your hands hot or hinder movement. Designed by an orthopedic surgeon, the arthritis gloves are also fully washable, so you don’t have to worry about getting a little dirt on them as you go about your gardening tasks. An added bonus – wearing any kind of glove can help you avoid another common gardening injury: blisters.

Keep skin protected
Because gardening keeps a person outdoors a lot during the warm, summer months, it’s important to protect your skin from insect bites and sunburn. While most insect bites are just an irritation, sunburn can cause serious, long-term skin damage. Use insect repellent and sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Also wear a wide-brimmed, lightweight hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and keep the sun off your head.

Lift carefully
Between the heavy bags of soil, the many tools needed, or full baskets of vegetables being carried into the kitchen for processing, lifting is a common labor when gardening. Remember to lift from a squatting position, with your back straight, so that your legs do the work, not your back. When kneeling down, use gardening knee pads or even just a rolled up towel to cushion your joints from the hard, damp ground. Remember to minimize twisting motions that can inure your back and joints.

Enjoy the healthful benefits of gardening this summer. Follow these simple precautions to keep safe and injury-free so you can play in your garden until the snow falls.