What are the Different Types of Garden Gloves?

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.

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.

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 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.