When you’re going somewhere or doing something anywhere, your outfit has to match the occasion. Fancy dinner parties or date nights out on the town require your best set – clean jeans, black pants and shirts without holes or food stains on them. You have to prepare your clothes to look your greatest! But how to know which ones are the best gardening clothes?
When it comes to doing something physical outdoors, however, you wouldn’t be going for something visually appealing. You want something comfortable but sturdy, a functional set for practical activity. Just as athletes and exercise-enthusiasts wear appropriate clothes for their strenuous, sweat-sessions, a gardener has to have clothes that are as efficient as the tools he wields.
There are lots of things to consider when picking out clothes for gardening – comfort, functionality and durability. After all, you want to feel good as you toil over your precious work and you wouldn’t want to worry about damaging your clothes in such a physical activity. In that manner, the state of your gardening clothes tend to be the opposite of your work-clothes.
Dirt, mud, rips and tears are all part and parcel of your gardening attire, and you shouldn’t mind either! Purchasing (or stringing together) a set of clothes for horticulture should never burn a hole in your wallet. After all, gardening is one of the dirtiest, physical, outdoor activities that the average adult still participates in, despite our modern era.
Belts, Holsters and Pouches
A lot of people associate tool belts, holsters and pouches of this kind with woodshop workers, plumbers and the like but gardeners can also find a lot of uses for this simple clothing accessory. As any gardener will attest, attempting to tend to your garden with one hand busy carrying something is an exercise in frustration. Instead, look to placing your shears, soil scoops, gloves and even garden seeds in a simple, easy-to-reach location on your person; this will make your gardening experience that more enjoyable.
No need to look far and wide for expensive tool belts – those with a garage can find your old workshop belt just lying around. The pockets will just as easily fit your handheld gardening tools as they will your workshop equipment.
Pants, Shorts and Overalls
While it is common for many to envision overalls as an essential part of gardening, it isn’t necessarily the most practical piece of clothing you can put on. While it’s pockets are deep and big enough for you to place your tools comfortably, a tool belt or holster achieves the same effect without the added layer of clothing placed.
While not something to always to think about, you’ll find that extra layers while outdoors will leave you sweating way before you actually get any real work done, especially so on sweltering summer days.
A lot of people would prefer wearing shorts for the added comfort and movability of such clothing but jeans and trousers aren’t a bad deal either. Just make sure not to put on extremely tight pants! These will impede your work for almost anything you do, including bending down to grab something and putting a knee on the soil to get closer to where you want to spruce up. Stay away from pockets lined around your waist level, as putting tools in them can cause potential harm on yourself.
Long pants in the form of good quality jeans and trousers can also help to act as a layer of protection. You are, after all, working with sharp tools and objects.
Boots and Socks
Try to get socks made from wool, or at the very least, stay away from 100% cotton socks. When your feet start sweating, the cotton will retain the moisture, giving you bad blisters by days’ end. Make sure to get sturdy work boots that come with rubber soles – these hardy, durable footwear will last long against the muddy, rough environment you will find yourself working in.
The enclosed nature of such boots will ensure your feet are dry against the wet mud if ever it rained before. Strong, well-made boots will also help keep your feet planted in the ground and be the perfect stopper to any unfortunate accidents. Human beings make mistakes and sometimes, that mistake involves dropping a very sharp set of shears right on your feet!
Shirts and Innerwear
Wearing a simple shirt while gardening is not any issue at all, so if you’re thinking of keeping the layers to a minimum, go right ahead. Just don’t bother getting shirts just for pockets placed at chest level – your stuff tends to just spill out the moment you bend down to do anything. However, try to get something with a non-cotton material as that way, you won’t find yourself constantly drenched in sweat.
If you decide to wear more than one layer, your ideal clothes will all made out of fabrics that can insulate you from wind and rain but also wick away moisture. Wear long-sleeved shirts if you know you’re working with a thorny garden. It’s no fun to shower at the end of the day with cuts everywhere!
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