Watchemgrow, I'm sorry that you have hand troubles when you garden. I know it must be frustrating.

I use the type of gloves that are covered on the palm and fingers with some type of rough rubber. They are fairly waterproof,but the wrist and back part are stretch fabric, so they can still breathe. I think I purchased them at Lowe's or Home Depot, but I've seen them several places. They are sold to use around rose bushes. They aren't all that expensive, only about $5. a pair. One pair will usually last me a season. Good luck on your gardening!
Robin - North of Edmond

I sympathize, watchemgrow. My hands start to crack and bleed if I even think about doing anything with them - inside or our. My favorite gardening gloves are Mudd gloves, which are similar to what Robin describes, except they are more like $10 a pair. They're kind of thick for delicate work, though. I've also recently purchased a pair of goatskin gloves, which are thinner but maybe not so waterproof. I use them for the other kinds of maintenance work I have to do outside. I think they were about $10 at Lowe's. One thing that helps is applying Vaseline before putting on gloves. That gives your hands some extra protection.

Shawna,
Good for you to not let having Raynaud's Disease stop you from gardening! What a trooper!

Bag or utter Balm works great in protecting your hands, too. Winter or summer, it is good to smooth it on before you put on gloves of any kind. Also, right after you wash your hands, and especially before you go outdoors, even if you aren't gardening. Soap is very drying and hard on your hands. The more you wash them, the more it strips your natural oils that protect your skin. Bag Balm has healing properties and natural anti-biotic agents. It really makes a difference. If I use it faithfully, I don't get split nails or hangnails, and no painful cracked, bleeding fingers. I discovered it when I worked as a vet-tech. Helps heal scratches and bites, too.

I use the same gloves that Robin mentioned above. I get mine at WalMart. As she said, they are very durable and one pair can last a whole growing season. I get two because I am so darned hard on gloves. You can weed with them and do everything with them on. No slip and good grip. My kind of gloves.

When they get wet, they dry really fast. When they get dirty, I wash them with soapy water, rinse and hang them on the fence with some clothespins and they are dry in nothing flat on a sunny day. They dry overnight in the house.

From what you say, you might be better off to go with the Mudd Gloves, though. You can also put on a pair of surgical gloves and then put on work gloves. They keep the mositure off your hands and are pretty durable. I use this method in the winter when I am watering. You can buy a whole bag of them at the Dollar General Store for only a buck.

But I would certainly use the Bag Balm whatever you do. You can get it at WalMart, too.

Best Wishes to you and Happy Gardening!
~Annie

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! Those mudd gloves sound very interesting, especially since I've been known to play in it a time or two. I'll be checking out the glove section in Wall-Mart and Lowe's tomorrow.

Annie...I don't think there is much that could keep me from my garden. I just run in the house warm up and then run back out again. Of course, my kids think that I'm nuts because I'm either in my garden or reading and looking at pics of roses on garden web. They just can't figure out what's so great about a flower. Thanks for the info on the Bag Balm. I thought I had tried every lotion known to man! LOL!

Thanks!
Shawna

Both pairs of Mudd gloves I have purchased came from Cracker Barrel, of all places. I've seen them elsewhere, at my local garden store, for the same price. I can't remember if Lowe's has them or not.

Shawna, I used to have problems with my hands. It must have been arthritus related. I found some goat skin gloves that really helped my hands. I could work without pain. Thank goodness I don't have that trouble any more and I can use those cheapo $5 a dozen cotton gloves from Wal-Mart.

If you ever see a pair of goat skin gloves, you might want to give them a try.

Okprairie, Cracker Barrel??? Love their chicken and dumplings! I can go eat and get gardening supplies all in one stop! LOL! Thanks!

Judyann, I'm glad you don't have trouble anymore. Maybe mine would get better if I would just buy some warmer gloves. I'm such a cheapskate.

Lowe's has goatskin gloves for about $12. I just bought some.

Hi guys. I just wanted to drop my 2 cents on the gardening gloves. My husband buys gloves online from a company called A.S.A. Corp. They are a safety company that sells all types of gloves, safety glasses,etc. They are manufacturers and there prices are much better than Lowes or HD or any other store ive seen. I bought 6 pairs of pig skin gloves with white fleece lining from them. Now I had to call them because they dont list that particular glove but I paid 5.00 for them as compared to $12.00. Check out the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: safety supplies for all working environments

These are the best!
http://www.bionicgloves.com/

I always wear gloves in the garden. It annoys my to have dirt under my nails, and I really hate that green thumbnail. LOL I certainly have spent plenty of money on gloves over the years, but I really like the disposable gloves. Like the medical or food industry gloves. It sure makes it much easier when messing with wet dirt.

I wear knit gloves that have the fingers and palm dipped in rubber. I have been getting these at Walmart lately for under $5.00. Hy husband wears them also. I am a a rural mail carrier and have worn these for years on the job.

I have some that work real well except they are not waterproof. I get them at Lowe's and they are less than $10. Come in pink, green, and blue and they are some sort of leather.
Have fun.

Karen

Check out the Bionic gloves on www.TheRoseGardener.com. These gloves were designed by a hand surgeon for better muscle/joint support. And they are fitted to relieve stress points and increase circulation. The people at The Rose Gardener introduced them into the Rose Society where we have lots of hand stress do to repetative motion and thorns. You'll love them.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Rose Gardener

I had the same kind that robolink described. I'd have to disagree with the waterproof bit. I'f I had to work in wet conditions my hands would be drenched in no time. I still use those gloves, but only when I want to prevent blisters from using rakes, hoes and the like.
For heavy duty gardening, like mixing soil with compost and manure, I use leather gardening gloves. I got them at Lowe's. My hands never get wet and the leather is really soft. I also like wearing them when working with rose bushes.
On the whole, I generally don't wear gloves. But when I have to, I wear the leather ones.

H