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What are the Different Types of Garden Gloves?

Nychole Price
Nychole Price

The many aspects of gardening require several different garden gloves. Besides planting, gardening also involves digging, pruning, raking, weeding, using chemicals, working in cold weather, handling brush and removing thorns. Gloves will protect your hands from blisters, scrapes, sunburns, puncture wounds and becoming chapped, helping to keep your gardening experience pleasant. An avid gardener should have several different types of gloves available, which include a pair each of general purpose, waterproof, chemical resistant, grip-enhancing, and puncture resistant gloves.

General purpose garden gloves are usually made of cotton, or a polyester-cotton blend. They are used for basic gardening chores such as digging small holes, planting seeds and weeding. General purpose gloves are lightweight, cinched at the wrist and are perfect for working in cool, dry soil. These gloves are not puncture or cut resistant, nor do they provide protection from chemicals.

Gardening in mud or water requires the use of waterproof gloves. These are also referred to as pond, or trapper gloves and are made of waterproof PVC. Pond gloves are shoulder length, for working in deeper water.

Garden supplies, including gloves.
Garden supplies, including gloves.

Chemical resistant garden gloves are used for the application of weed eaters, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, oils and acids. These gloves are made from either neoprene, nitrile, or vinyl. The use of chemicals when gardening can cause burns or blister on unprotected hands. All gardeners should have a pair of chemical resistant gloves on hand.

Grip enhancing garden gloves are worn when raking, shoveling, hoeing and digging. They prevent the development of blisters and abrasions caused by the repetitive motion and the, usually wooden, handles. This variety of garden gloves contains rubber dots that provide the gardener with extra gripping power.

Chemical-resistant garden gloves protect a gardener's hands from herbicides and pesticides.
Chemical-resistant garden gloves protect a gardener's hands from herbicides and pesticides.

Puncture resistant garden gloves are worn when handling rose bushes, berry bushes, thistle or cacti. A majority of puncture resistant gloves are made from leather or a patented blend of puncture resistant materials. Puncture resistant gloves are usually cut proof as well, making them perfect for use with chain saws and other sharp equipment. If it is necessary to handle rodents or insects in your garden, these gloves are ideal to prevent a possible bite from occurring.

Garden gloves make digging and planting easier.
Garden gloves make digging and planting easier.

Garden gloves should fit comfortably or your gardening experience will be unpleasant. Gloves that are to large will slip off, leaving your hands unprotected. If the gloves are to small your hands will cramp up and start to ache. Try your garden gloves on both hands, and make a fist, to verify that they fit correctly.

Discussion Comments

Heavanet

Long garden gloves are a must if you have a lot of trimming to do in your garden. They are especially useful if you have rose bushes to prune or berries to pick, because they will protect your arms from scrapes and scratches.

Talentryto

If you are doing basic gardening that doesn't require heavy duty garden gloves, most discount stores sell inexpensive cotton garden gloves during the gardening season. I like to stock up on them so I have several pairs available. When one is dirty or being laundered, I have another pair to slip on tp continue my garden work.

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    • Garden supplies, including gloves.
      By: Michael Flippo
      Garden supplies, including gloves.
    • Chemical-resistant garden gloves protect a gardener's hands from herbicides and pesticides.
      By: tuayai
      Chemical-resistant garden gloves protect a gardener's hands from herbicides and pesticides.
    • Garden gloves make digging and planting easier.
      By: jillchen
      Garden gloves make digging and planting easier.
    • Garden gloves may be worn to protect a person's hands from blisters.
      By: leschnyhan
      Garden gloves may be worn to protect a person's hands from blisters.
    • By wearing gardening gloves, you can protect your hands from cuts and scratches.
      By: tab62
      By wearing gardening gloves, you can protect your hands from cuts and scratches.