| A client recently asked me about the most common injuries professional gardeners face and which I’ve experienced. Gardening may seem peaceful, but doing it daily can be surprisingly taxing on the body. Over the years, I’ve dealt with many injuries, some ongoing. I think the most gruelling repetitive injury I face is daily fatigue and tiredness. Your body can adjust to the wear and tear of gardening, but each season brings new tiredness. At least the beauty here is that by the end of 2025, I will have two, perhaps three new employees, which in turn will hopefully allow me to recover that side more. Here are the top 10 risks, their causes, and my experiences: |
| Lower Back Strain Cause: Bending, lifting heavy soil or compost, and awkward weeding or pruning postures. My experience: This is a common occurrence for me—it comes with the territory. Knee Injuries Cause: Constant kneeling, squatting, and pressure can cause bursitis or joint damage. My experience: I persistently struggle with knee issues, even with braces and pads. Shoulder & Rotator Cuff Injuries Cause: Repetitive overhead pruning, hedge trimming, and awkward lifting. My experience: An improperly healed acromion break in 2018 has left me with lingering shoulder weakness which causes further issues with overhead trimming and hedge cuts.. Hand & Wrist Injuries Cause: Repetitive strain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel from tools and vibration. My experience: These are daily issues for me, whether from battery tools, secateurs, or hand tools. Lacerations & Cuts Cause: Sharp tools such as secateurs, trimmers, chainsaws, and shears. My experience: I’m injured more by tough, thorny plants than by tools, as many pierce through my gloves. Eye Injuries Cause: Flying debris, thorns, or stones kicked up by strimmers or mowers. My experience: I frequently encounter dust and debris, which poses a risk of potential eye injuries. Hearing Damage Cause: Prolonged use of noisy mowers, strimmers, blowers, and chainsaws without protection. My experience: Even with quieter battery tools, I still have to shout—posing a long-term hearing risk. Slips, Trips & Falls Cause: Uneven ground, wet lawns, steps, tools left out, and ladders. My experience: I haven’t fallen from ladders, but have slipped from tools left out—a reminder to stay tidy. Sunburn, Heatstroke & Dehydration Cause: Long hours outdoors in heat without shade, proper clothes, or hydration. My experience: Sunstroke, fatigue, and exhaustion are real. I recently experienced a mild sunstroke, despite wearing a hat. Many gardens lack shade, raising the risk. Chemical Exposure & Allergic Reactions Cause: Pesticides, fertilizers, compost dust, or skin contact with plants like euphorbia, hogweed, fig, ivy, or even daffodil sap. My Experience: A few months ago, a torn glove let caustic spray contact my finger while cleaning a nozzle, causing a third-degree burn and permanent scar. I usually avoid sprays, but this was for a client. Plants like fig and ivy also cause problems, so I now use sleeves and double gloves. |
| Injury Prevention Working solo, it’s easy to cut corners—skipping gloves in the heat, forgetting goggles, or skipping ear defenders for quick jobs. But things are changing. We are soon to have employed staff, which means we must now be far more mindful of health and safety. The responsibility extends beyond me to anyone working under the Earthly Comforts name, ensuring that every client can rely on consistent, careful service. This makes protective equipment, safe practice, and adherence to rules absolutely non-negotiable. We’ve also recently introduced a new client policy: if the weather is too hot, no staff will be working. Extreme heat poses a risk to both safety and well-being, and we’d rather reschedule than compromise health. Clients are informed of this in advance, so expectations are clear, giving peace of mind that their gardens and our team remain safe and protected. Here’s how we will reduce potential risks in practice: |
| Back, Lifting & Knees Bend your knees when lifting. Use wheelbarrows or trolleys, and avoid twisting. Use padded kneelers and braces, and rotate tasks to limit strain. Knees Padded kneelers, braces, and rotating tasks. Shoulders, Arms, Hands & Wrists Use sharp tools to minimize force, keep workloads balanced, incorporate frequent rest breaks, wear protective gloves, alternate your grip, and stretch hands regularly. Hands & Wrists Protective gloves, alternating grip, and stretching. Cuts & Eye Always cut away from the body, wear safety glasses, and sheath blades when not in use to prevent injuries from sharp plants and flying debris. Hearing & Vibration Tools Wear ear defenders when using loud machinery, opt for quieter tools whenever possible, limit tool use time, keep hands warm, and use anti-vibration gloves. Slips, Trips & Falls Wear sturdy boots for grip, maintain tidy worksites, use ladders safely, and be mindful of slippery surfaces or misplaced tools. Sun, Heat & Weather Wear hats, apply sunscreen, stay hydrated, take shade breaks, and avoid working in extreme heat. Inform clients ahead of time that work may be rescheduled for the safety of staff during periods of excessive heat. Chemical & Plant Exposure Always wear gloves, masks, protective sleeves, and inform clients of potential hazards. Inspect gloves for damage before use and take extra care when handling chemicals or sap-producing plants. Vibration Tools Limit use, keep hands warm, and use anti-vibration gloves. |
| Why This Matters Healthy gardeners = better gardens. By protecting ourselves, we can consistently provide reliable, professional care for your outdoor space. Clients can have confidence that our safety practices mean uninterrupted, quality service. It also reflects our philosophy: gardening with heart, purpose, and planet in mind. Professional gardening carries risks—I’ve experienced many. However, with the right habits and protection, risks remain low, and we stay focused on what matters: healthy, thriving gardens all year. |
Earthly Comforts 
It’s always wise to be careful when doing heavy lifting. When I used to do these things myself, cuts and blisters on hands were common.
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Very much so Sadje 🙂
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I’ve been clumsy with tools too- much to my detriment.
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It is easily done sadly Sadje.
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Yup 👍🏼
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Common sense and proper equipment is necessary. Good advice, Rory.
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