Gardening Injuries - OUCH or worse!
PROLOGUE: I do this blog to encourage people to garden, to help avoid problems as well as to provide better results. A commercial-free source of experienced advice. -- BTW, because of the essay format, they are best viewed on a computer screen.
I was reluctant to post on injuries thinking that doing so would discourage some from gardening but concluded that the prospect of toil, sweat, dirty hands, or that they might break a nail (forbid the thought) are sufficient to dissuade most people. -- Our hands are marvelous in many ways, and their condition can provide instance insight into whether or not a person gardens and/or does some other type of manual work. As I have noted before, long fancy nails and gardening are NOT compatible, nor is laziness.
Before I get into the negatives (the potential injuries) I will take a minute to list some of the many health advantages gardening provides:
productive exercise (muscle tone & flexibility) think physical therapy - you can give up the exercise center, the associated expense and disease vectors; I assume yoga positions every time I weed
fresh air
cardiovascular wellness
immune system stimulation (reduces inflammation and promotes healing)
weight loss (you will not see an obese gardener -- a contradictory statement -- although I was once surprised to see a hosta peddler who I suspect did little away from the potting table except eat; obviously NOT much of a gardener himself. And by gardener, I mean more than a few potted specimens and/or a handful of meatball shrubs, lollipop trees along with a drug dependent rug, more often than not maintained by a landscaping crew, frequently employing ill-advised practices, whereas my garden is mine (i.e., I'm the gardener)
sunshine (vitamin D & UV sterilization)
mental health (e.g., coping, relaxation/stress reduction {serotonin release} and seasonal affective disorder {SAD} reduction, producing and enjoying the exercise high)
improves cognitive function
promotes healthy sleep patterns (circadian rhythm)
food (growing and consuming, since some gardening chores are high caloric use, we can eat and drink :) more and likely still lose weight, at least in the active months)
artistic outlet
socializing (opportunity to make special friends)
INJURIES - the kind and frequency one might experience depends on the amount and type of gardening you do and where you do it (e.g., in central Indiana I need not worry about fire ants, yet). I will provide an outline of categories, as well as specific types, based on my experience, with some brief additional comment, but first will provide narrative for a few examples starting with the scary lead photo.
A. The incident occurred in 2017 and, as you can probably tell, in winter near Xmas. It happened while I was removing unwanted woodies from around the perimeter of my property -- a portion along a busy road so I could construct a wooden privacy fence. Looking for and removing woodies is a recurring maintenance activity in every garden, at least it should be. Most of what I was removing that day was bush honeysuckle but also vines and saplings, esp. ash, box elder and mulberry. The freak accident occurred when I was taking off an overhead 3-inch diameter branch, making the cut with a short pole saw. As soon as the cutting was finished, I turned and took a step back to get out of the way of the about to fall limb and to put down the saw. Unfortunately, the partially dead limb did not stay put when it hit the ground. Instead, its lateral branches had enough resilience to cause it to rebound up and sideways towards me. I later discovered that the cut end of the limb had a protruding 2-3-inch daggerlike piece on one side since I had not cut all the way through. The cut end hit me just as I was turning back to look and with enough force to knock me off my feet. Since I had turned away, I couldn't see to gauge reaction, and it happened so quickly I am not sure I could have avoided being hit. Furthermore, I stepped into the oncoming branch making the collision worse, like a boxer stepping into a punch. Had the impact been an inch lower I would have lost that eye, or worse. Thankfully, as the scratch on my forehead shows, the tragectory was upward. As it turned out, besides a nasty stitch requiring laceration, I suffered a severe concussion. The deep throbbing headache took a day or so to fully manifest, was unimaginably bad and lasted for about a month. The deep anguish and weariness are visible in my expression -- the pic was taken about a week after the injury. What rest I got was accomplished by prescribed heavy medication (hydrocodone +) and being overcome by sleep deprivation which caused me to be confused. The headache prevented me from doing anything entertaining or productive which would have helped take my mind off the situation, or so I hoped. Most of the time I sat quietly (or moaning) in a comfortable chair, desperately wanting the agony to subside. Several times I stayed in the chair overnight fearing that getting up to relocate to bed would cancel the opportunity to get rest. I was wearing glasses when the injury occurred -- they were knocked off but undamaged. Despite the injury, I consider myself lucky to have escaped with only another scar to add to my collection. I certainly learned from the experience and realized that I could have been the first recorded case of demise resulting from Asian bush honeysuckle removal -- the invasive exotic getting revenge for all the badmouthing and extractions from and by me over the many years. SIDE NOTE: My daughters give me grief about not trimming my eyebrows. I told them that that bushy barrier may have prevented blindness. Their response, a dismissive RIGHT dad :)
B. A common gardening injury involves somehow being punctured or cut by sharp plant parts or tools. And, since pruning is such a big part of maintenance, the type of handsaw you choose is important. I highly recommend the 6-inch folding blade Felco shown above. When folded it conveniently fits in a pocket or holster shielding you from the teeth which are very sharp and remain so even after extensive use. Mine has been used on many 3-4-inch limbs. [FULL DISCLOSURE - I receive nothing from A.M. Leonard or Felco in exchange for the recommendation, nor did I ask]. Moreover, as I tell everyone I consult, when using a saw keep the other hand well out of harm's way. I have a longer non-folding Felco saw but almost never use. SIDE NOTE: I am filled with apprehension every time I need to use a chainsaw. Knock on wood -- so far, I have been adequately careful, and lucky.
C. I burn or use most of my fallen and cut trees and branches, as well as some wooden discard, and since I have almost three acres and lots of woody species, this is a regular maintenance activity. I let the piled contributions accumulate to dry in my 9-ft (inside diameter) boulder ringed fire spot before starting, and the flames can be impressive (see photo above). Several times my pant legs have caught fire as I pulled in (i.e., consolidated) the yet to be or only partially burned pieces. I occasionally also have embers get in my shoes, burning holes in them, as well as my socks and damaging the tissue underneath. I'm sure the video, if there was one of me spastically dancing while trying to quickly shed the burning and smoking apparel, would be amusing. A gardener waste down clad only in boxer shorts and smoking shoes is an uncommon sight, and doubtless valuable. Perhaps HGTV would be an option, except for the "reality" that they have not had any gardening programs for years. We are NOT a gardening society.
D. Trying to do too much too soon can be dangerous. Overdoing it -- too much exertion while not yet in shape and/or too much sun on unseasoned skin. Going at it too soon is especially a concern in those great early spring days when one can't resist getting to it outside after having spent the winter mostly just sitting, often (in my case) having added an extra 20 pounds due to the inactivity and distracted eating and drinking. It takes me at least a month to get back into gardening shape, June is often upon me before I feel garden hardened. Related, I usually get close to my high school graduation weight (205) by mid-summer. And wear gloves early on until callus tissue forms or expect blisters and punctures. Furthermore, I am now nearly 73 and limit myself to ≈25 hours of labor a week (for my almost 3 acres) and reduce or cease exertion when the temperature reaches 85 or if the heat index becomes oppressive. And the strenuous tasks, like digging and chopping have been decreased, are spread out, done with less urgency, and often accomplished differently than before.
E. Lastly, while not a type of physical injury, I want to discuss eating too fast to buy time, to get back at it. This acquired mannerism can sometimes cause trouble swallowing -- the food gets stuck. The condition is called dysphagia (literally difficult eating/swallowing) and is caused by the involved muscles not having enough time to properly coordinate. Remember the childhood admonition, chew before swallowing? I suffer from dysphagia occasionally and, trust me, when it happens it WILL get your full attention. While usually not a serious condition, it can be. My episodes last from a few seconds to several minutes, are often accompanied by hiccups, and can return if I commence eating or drinking too soon. It is best to sit still for a spell to permit a reset. -- My mentor Wesley Whiteside was a kind and outstanding plantsman who single-handedly maintained a remarkable 5-acre garden outside Charleston, IL. Because of the size and scope his garden required full-time+ care which caused him to develop the habit of quickly gulping down meals, and he loved food. Tragically, while in assisted care the last year of his life (he was 87), this ingrained habit resulted in him choking to death. I miss our plant and gardening talks -- always a master class. A professional mycologist, he had the broadest botany-gardening knowledge of anyone I have known -- seemingly boundless. He was exceptional! It is essential that we keep the memory of such people alive -- a debt of gratitude. Their contributions enable us to be better. Despite my misanthropia, I feel compelled to pass it on, thus this website and some other activities with which I am involved.
THE CATEGORIES OF GARDENING INJURIES INCLUDE but are not limited to: (listed no specific order)
NOT EASING INTO IT - blisters, sunburn, strains and heart issues (see D. above)
LACERATION (Cuts) & AMPUTATION (see also B. above)
pruning, esp. blind pruning (not seeing what you are about to sever as well as your hands/fingers)
sawing
mowers and some other trimming tools (also occasionally causing projectiles)
sharpening
JABS & PUNCTURES - numerous kinds of plants and plant parts as well as from various tools
skin (esp. roses, when snap pruning certain forbs and graminoids and wire and metal fencing)
splinters (mostly from handling lumber); tweezers and hands-free magnification make it easier
eyes (wear safety glasses and I find hawthorns esp. dangerous) I have more stabby species than most (i.e., Smilax, Poncirus and several roses) yet am able to mostly avoid by being careful
ABRASION & SCAPES - mainly hands and knees. Dry and painful cracked hands are common for gardeners, since I/we invariably end up doing tasks without or with only one glove, having misplaced the other, and some todos are easier without gloves. Related, I do without a mechanical dishwasher. Manual dishwashing allows me to keep my hands cleaner and hydrated. The washing is a routine I enjoy. See GARDENING KNEES below
BONE BREAK or FRACTURE - various ways but gardening also will help strengthen your bones
RING AVULSION - remove all rings when gardening! or it/they might damage or remove a finger or two
REPETITIVE USE - esp. Trigger Thumb/Fingers from excessive pruning (to prevent, mix it up)
arthritis (be kind to your joints) cumulative so DON'T WASTE TRIPS, I'll post on this in the future
blisters
carpal tunnel syndrome
LIFTING, CARRYING & DRAGGING - I recommend having a dolly or pulling cart, and a two-wheel wheelbarrow
back injury ! (various, including especially compression of intervertebral discs, from specific activities and/or cumulative)
hernia
muscle & ligament/tendon damage (stretch before starting)
hand and foot injury (esp. smashed by boulders, literally between a rock and a hard place)
SUDDEN STOP - when chopping and digging, particularly the effect of the impact (esp. torn labrum and/or rotator cuff) I changed the way I maintain my beds (more leaf and wood chip mulch) to reduce the need to use a hoe. The tradeoff (e.g., chainsawing instead of chopping) may simply change the type of likely injury rather than eliminating -- Q: is there another way?
BENDING OVER TOO MUCH - lower back stress and sudden BP change, get a tool for picking up branches, etc.
GARDENER'S KNEE - bursa or patellar damage (avoid too much up and down)
GARDENING KNEES - (I also call it reptile knees) dry and scaly from contact abrasion, directly proportional to (1) the weediness of your garden (more likely with less weeds, i.e., better maintenance) and (2) the amount of protection from grinding into the soil; refer to my GARDEN ENGINEERING post (Dec 2024)
THINGS FALLING ON OR HITTING YOU
mostly feet, fingers and head (from impact or falls, see concussion A. above)
YOU FALLING - be careful with ladders and elevated tasks
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
STEERING WHEEL (turning) - always keep your thumbs on the outside of the wheel or risk having one or both severely injured. A lesson I learned at age 5-6 (late 1950's) sitting in front of my Aunt Dantzelle in the bouncy metal pan seat of a Persian orange Allis-Chalmers tractor with its unique staccato sounding engine. I was being taught to safely operate a manual steer vehicle which can be especially dangerous on a rutty surface
TOO MUCH SUN (UV radiation)
skin (esp. neck and ears)
eyes (wear tinted glasses)
WEATHER RELATED - do not garden outside if lightning is close and be cautious in high wind
DEHYDRATION
HEARING LOSS - cumulative, wear suppressing ear protection when using sound producing equipment
HYPERTHERMIA
HAND PROTECTION - wear appropriate type of gloves to protect your skin and to prevent absorption
RESPIRATORY - wear a mask when dealing with powdery materials
INFECTION - from any act that perforates your skin; various especially tetanus - the neurotoxin produced by the common soil-borne bacterium Clostridium tetani is the second most lethal substance known and is 40,000x more toxic than cyanide. Keep your vaccination up to date!
BURNS (see C. above)
fuels and lubricants
POISONING & ALLERGIC REACTION - especially contact dermatitis
plants (PI, certain Apiaceae)
insects (stings and bites) I get stung in my garden less than once yearly, but I do not keep honeybees SIDE NOTE: I translocated some plants from the wild in late spring a few years ago and in so doing have established a tick area in a shaded more naturalistic section of my urban garden
chemicals (esp. biocides) even more reason to avoid gardening in a way that promotes them which speaks especially to the species you choose (i.e., those susceptible). Furthermore, the Master Gardener training, since agriculture influenced, promotes better gardening thru chemicals -- unfortunate misguidance. Mind you, everything we do is chemical. I'm referring to the overuse of synthetic forms but know that many "organic/natural forms" are toxic, too (like those that are nicotine based); overuse of neonics is causing an environmental calamity!!! A WARNING LABEL SHOULD BE REQUIRED FOR ALL PLANTS IN COMMERCE TREATED WITH THIS SYSTEMIC POISON! There is NO spray or pour your way free to a good garden!
I am a 12-month gardener but have less and different activities outside the growing season, depending on the weather. I view the winter months largely as a time to recover, to recharge my enthusiasm and to plan. And, if I need an injury repaired, and that repair can be delayed, I try to wait until the growing season is over. I also cover safety in Chapter 23 of my Rantings book. Now have fun and be careful out there. I pity those who have not had the joy the gardening experience can bring, a life enriched with plants, nature and some very special people. -- Take heart, spring will be here soon : ) and at my garden there is a preceding mid to late winter flowering season.