The seven autumn gardening jobs that are toughest on your hands

With autumn bringing a run of jobs that can be particularly tough on hands, Town & Country says choosing the right glove for the job is just as important as choosing the right tool.  

According to the gardening glove specialist, choosing gloves according to the task can make autumn gardening more comfortable, while providing the grip, flexibility or protection needed for the job.  

Here are seven autumn gardening jobs where the right gloves can make a real difference.  

1. Pruning roses, shrubs and climbers 

Autumn is a good time to remove dead or damaged growth, tackle overgrown shrubs and deal with plants that may be vulnerable to wind damage.  

For jobs involving thorns and woody stems, look for gloves that offer more substantial protection than a lightweight pair. Longer cuffs can also help protect the wrist and lower arm.  

Town & Country’s Premium Leather Gloves are designed for tougher pruning jobs, while the Premium Leather Gauntlet provides additional coverage further up the forearm when tackling larger bushes or overgrown climbers.  

2. Clearing brambles and rough summer growth 

As the garden starts to die back, clearing brambles, dead stems and woody growth can be one of the roughest jobs on your hands.  

This is where a more robust glove comes into its own. Look for reinforced areas across the palm and fingers if you’re handling rough material or doing jobs where gloves are likely to take a lot of wear.  

The Flexi-Riggers Work glove combines leather protection with additional reinforcement across high-contact areas, making it suited to heavier-duty garden clearance.  

3. Dividing perennials 

Autumn is a popular time to divide overcrowded perennials, involving plenty of soil, root balls and tough, fibrous plant material.  

Gloves need to offer protection without making it difficult to use your fingers, making grip and flexibility just as important as coverage.  

Town & Country recommends its Master Gardener glove for jobs where grip, flexibility and protection are all important.  

4. Planting spring bulbs 

Autumn is the main planting window for many spring-flowering bulbs, including daffodils, crocuses, alliums and tulips.  

Unlike pruning or garden clearance, bulb planting doesn't necessarily call for heavy-duty protection. Waterproofing and grip are more important when working repeatedly in cold, damp soil.  

The Mastergrip Waterproof glove helps keep hands dry while maintaining grip.  

5. Raking and clearing fallen leaves 

Few jobs are more synonymous with autumn than clearing fallen leaves, but wet leaves can mean cold, damp hands and slippery tools.  

For this kind of work, look for a glove that combines waterproofing with good grip.  

Town & Country’s Mastergrip Waterproof provides both for handling wet leaves and garden tools.  

6. Harvesting fruit and vegetables 

Autumn may mark the end of the main growing season, but there can still be plenty to harvest, from apples and pears to pumpkins, squash and late vegetable crops.  

Here, dexterity is more important than heavy-duty protection. Gardeners need to handle produce carefully and work amongst foliage without bulky gloves getting in the way.  

The Master Gardener offers a balance of protection and flexibility for harvesting and general garden maintenance.  

7. Moving garden waste and heavier materials 

Autumn clear-up can involve more than leaves and pruning debris. Moving bags of compost, garden waste, logs or rough branches can put considerably more strain on hands than everyday planting and weeding.  

For heavier jobs, look for gloves with additional reinforcement across the palms, fingers and knuckles.  

The General Purpose Rigger glove is designed for demanding jobs where hands need additional protection and reinforcement.  

There’s no one-glove-fits-all approach to autumn gardening  

“Gardeners often choose their gloves based on the weather, but the job you’re doing is just as important,” says Mark Hewett (Commercial Product Manager) at Town & Country.  

“The glove you want for planting bulbs isn’t necessarily the one you’d choose for clearing brambles or pruning roses. Autumn is a good example of why there isn’t really a one-glove-fits-all approach to gardening - different jobs need different levels of protection, grip and dexterity.  

“The key is to think about what your hands are going to come into contact with before you start. If you’re dealing with thorns, you need more robust protection; for wet soil or leaves, keeping hands dry and maintaining grip becomes more important; and for delicate jobs such as harvesting, flexibility is likely to be the priority.”

Ends

Editors notes

Town & Country is recognised as one of the UK’s leading gardening brands and offers one of the most comprehensive collections of gardening gloves, footwear and accessories. Bringing the very best in style, quality, functionality and performance, Town & Country keep a close eye on the latest fashion trends, colours, patterns and designs in order to continuously develop its ranges.

Town & Country is a division of E P Barrus; a British Company with over 100 years trading experience. Barrus has a strong sales, distribution and engineering focus and is the power behind leading brands in the garden machinery and tools sector, marine, powered products and industrial engine markets.