Winter gardening safety tips

From Sarah's garden to yours.

Winter is upon us and although we tend to spend less time outdoors and more time wrapped up warm and snug inside, dreaming of warmer days, there are still reasons to be outside in the garden taking care of timely tasks. Staying safe in the garden should always be on our minds, but the risks in winter create their own set of challenges to watch out for.

Winter is a time for taking care of trees and shrubs with pruning and spraying. While the purpose of these activities is to improve the health and vitality of the plants and reduce the risk of pest and disease in the new season, there are always risks that things can go awry if the proper precautions aren’t taken.

When working with sprays:

• Always read the directions on the pack and follow all of the instructions carefully and make sure you are using the right solution to do the job.

• Wear the proper safety gear to protect yourself with googles, gloves and a mask and wash your hands and clothes when you have finished spraying.

• Don’t eat, drink, smoke or vape while undertaking a spray job.

• Don’t spray on windy days to avoid drift on to desirable plants or over the fence to the neighbours.

• Store all spray solutions in a safe place away from young kids and keep in their original containers and thoroughly wash out your equipment once you have finished.

Taking care when lopping and chopping:

• For the health of the plants, make sure your tools are clean and sharp. Cleaning hands and tools between trees can help prevent the spread of disease.

• If you need to work in high places consider using an extending tool so you can stay safely on the ground. If you need a ladder, make sure it is on even ground and get someone to hold it while you are on it.

• Gloves and googles are a good idea to protect from injuries while trying to tame unruly vegetation.

• Make sure you have the right tool for the job. Check the capabilities of your equipment. If a branch is bigger than the capacity of the secateurs switch to a lopper, for ease of cutting and to prevent damage to the tools or straining your muscles unnecessarily.

• With a moment’s inattention, power tools can cause the worst injuries.  Always wear the recommended safety equipment and follow the instructions for use with care and attention.

Navigating the garden:

• The cold and wet conditions bring a slipping and tripping hazard to watch out for. It doesn’t take much to lose your footing on wet, frosty or icy paths, deck and steps.

• Mud is also a threat to health and safety. A boggy path can not only create a slippery slope, but if it is particularly sticky, a boot can easily become stuck causing the sock encased foot to slip right out or twist awkwardly. An afternoon toiling in the soil can cling to the bottom of a boot, increasing your height by a good couple of centimetres, but it isn’t until you step onto a solid path that the mud ceases to grip.

• Fallen leaves lingering about from the autumnal drop can be fun to crunch through, however wet leaves can become slippery and the last thing you need to hear is the crunch of your bones as you lose your balance. The leaves are better off swept up and allowed to break down into a wonderful soil conditioner that improves the structure.

• Over the winter months paths can also become plagued with mould or algae, especially in shady areas. Keep an eye on things if your paths are at risk of the slow and steady growth over the winter months. A pressure wash from time to time can keep your walkways clean and clear.

Other hazards in the winter garden to watch out for include:

• The comfort of an indoor life can mean the strenuous exercise a garden often demands can become a little unfamiliar. If you haven’t gardened in a while, consider doing some warm-up exercises to avoid pulling a muscle or causing unnecessary strain on your body.

• Wasps and other biting and stinging creatures can pack a punch when disturbed from their winter slumber. Be conscious there could be sleeping creatures hiding away in sheltered out-of-the-way places like in stacked plant pots or under piles of wood. Wearing gloves while out in the garden will protect your hands and keep them warm.

• Stay on top of the weeds in the garden and in particular among crops like herbs were someone who may not be a gardener could dash out into the cold to grab a handful of aromatic leaves to add to the evening meal only to find they’ve gathered up more than they bargained for and bad tasting or potentially toxic plants could end up in your stew.

• The wind in winter can be brutal so make it a habit to do a regular tidy up and put everything away after you have finished using it, so when the wind does pick up, it doesn’t turn neglected items into missiles that can damage property or harm innocent passersby.

• Don’t take on more than you can handle. If it is a big job or you don’t have the right tools, it can be quicker, easier and safer to get the experts in. They can get the job done in no time.

Getting out in the garden on a cold brisk day can revitalise spirits and invigorate the soul. Take care while out there to avoid an injury or long-term harm that can put a halt to any time outdoors for the foreseeable future.