Sun and soil, pond slime and brambles can wreak havoc on hands. We've got you covered with a selection of gloves—some tried and true, some new—that will be up to the jobs at hand.
If your hands get cold quickly (or your soil warms up slowly), try Tough Guy gloves ($9.95). A thick, cozy lining keeps hands snug and warm, and the fingers and palm are coated with durable latex. The elastic wrist keeps dirt out and warmth in.
 For cleaning out the pond, Aqua gloves ($24.95) are the perfect fit; they are 63 centimetres long and waterproof. PVC, lined with cloth, covers the hand and wrist; a thinner plastic sleeve, reinforced with nylon to resist tearing, is long enough to reach most armpits. The top is elasticized to keep the glove in place. | |
 The Rose Warrior glove ($7) is a reliable favourite for thorny work. Extra thick, textured latex on the palm and fingers provides gardeners with added protection from thorns and brambles. | |
 The sturdy Womanswork gauntlet gloves ($39.95) are made of suede pigskin, good for pruning and heavy cleanups. The palm and thumb patches are reinforced for longer wear. Although initially a bit stiff, the gloves will loosen up after you've worked in them for a while. The extra 10 centimetres or so of arm protection is a bonus when you're reaching in to prune a thorny branch. |
New this year are Foxgloves ($35), available in six colours ranging from subtle to electric. Fashioned after an evening glove, the fit is snug and smooth (and reaches to mid forearm). Nylon and spandex make the gloves durable and comfortable. They are ideal for planting out delicate seedlings or for other garden chores where you need to have nimble fingers. The tight weave is resistant to water and mud. They are also machine washable.
Fitting matters
When choosing garden gloves, the right size is important. Gloves that are too small will always be hard to work in, while gloves that are too big will just make you clumsy. Size variations between different brands can be considerable. For example, I have large hands, so I requested large-size gloves. The Womanswork large was a bit tight, while the Rose Warrior was too big. The Tough Guy medium was a good fit, as was the Aqua glove large. The best fit was the Foxglove; the wonder of spandex means that one size really does fit just about all. You'll find a measuring chart for the Womanswork line of gloves on the Rittenhouse Web site (www.rittenhouse.ca)
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