What To Look For
Gardening gloves can be an important asset in the garden. Not only can the protect you from cuts, scrapes and thorns, some types can even help you prevent blistering from all the digging and raking you do. The biggest feature to look for in a gardening glove is breathability, combined with protection. A leather glove will provide serious protection from thorns and branches, but isn't very breathable, unless you can find a leather palm and a cotton back as well. Nitrile rubber gloves are a new and popular gardening glove material that provides as much protection as a leather glove, is inexpensive, puncture- and chemical-resistant and is machine-washable. If you are spraying pesticides, a neoprene glove would offer better protection. Lightweight cotton gloves are good for dexterity jobs like transplanting plants and keeping dirt out of your fingernails, but offer little protection for other jobs.
Common Pitfalls
Avoid buying gloves that are too large--they will not give you extra protection and will be awkward to work in. Also avoid buying gloves with excessive dyes, as sweating will make the dye bleed on to your hands. Do not make the mistake of purchasing wrist length gloves for working on thorny or prickly bushes. Purchase elbow-length gloves, also known as gauntlets, for this purpose.
Where To Buy
You can buy gardening gloves of all types at feed stores, garden centers, discount stores and online. A store like Walmart or Target will offer a variety of options. Garden centers like Stein's or your local nursery will have gloves with more features. Gardener's Supply Company and Amazon.com offer many glove varieties and online ordering. However, purchasing online eliminates the ability to try your gloves on ahead of time, so go to a local store and try on a few pairs of gloves to gauge your size.
Cost
As of summer 2010, nitrile gloves can be found online for as little as $5. Bionic gardening gloves, which are made of neoprene and include anatomical relief pads and motion zones over the knuckles, run about $30 depending on the variety.
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