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12 best gardening gear

Mark National Gardening Week with a quality, practical purchase for your horticultural pursuits

Wednesday 16 November 2016 12:32 GMT

Spring has finally arrived, and now’s the time to head out into the garden and confront the burgeoning morass of weeds and detritus that have amassed over winter. Before stepping outside to restore order, you’ll want to kit yourself out with garments fit for purpose. A jumble of old clothes pulled from the wardrobe invariably won’t pass muster, and besides no one wants to be mistaken for the allotment scarecrow.

You want your gardening garb to be protective, practical and something you won’t be ashamed of wearing down the garden centre. Here’s our essential selection of quality outdoor apparel for the new season ahead.

1. Husqvarna Technical Gloves: £28.90, Garden Machinery Direct

Most gardeners will burn through gloves faster than a slug through lettuce, but these durable, goatskin gloves should see you through the seasons. Multiple panelled for freedom of movement, they also feature a soft rear thumb panel for wiping sweat off your grubby, muck-stained face.

2. DexShell Waterproof Wading Socks: £34.95, DexShell

Avoid the misery of cold, wet toes with a pair of these 'element repellent' socks. They’re fully breathable, windproof and 100 per cent waterproof – and surprisingly comfortable to boot. Wear them under wellies or with sandals – your feet will remain dry no matter your choice.

3. Dickies 22 Camden Trousers: £32.95, Dickies Store

This is a tough pair of utility trousers, featuring all the pockets and loops a well-tooled gardener could ever possibly need. The reinforced knee panels provide a good cushion for low-level weeding duties and the high-rise waistband will prevent any ‘builder’s bum’ incidents that may result. Available in black or khaki. Dickies also does a similar version cut for women, the Eisenhower.

4. Barbour New Utility Jacket: £219, Barbour

This jacket offers lightweight, waxed cotton weather protection in the traditional Barbour manner, but with a sleek, modern cut for the style-conscious gardening fellow. It features a snug, tartan lining and four capacious, side-vented pockets. There’s also a women’s version.

5. Niwaki Gardeners Pouch: From £20, Niwaki

Niwaki imports cool, handcrafted gear from Japan, and this is a fine, functional bag from their collection. Wear it over the shoulder or hook it onto your trouser belt – your pruners, knives and dibbers will travel in style.

6. Aigle Landfast Gardening Boot: From £39.90, Amazon

Handmade from natural rubber, these slip-on boots offer light, flexible, watertight protection for impromptu excursions into the garden. They feature removable inners for easy cleaning, and the grippy, lugged soles will prevent unwanted skating incidents when traversing muddy pathways. Available in a range of colours and in men’s and women’s sizes.

7. Dorfman-Pacific Packable Bucket Hat: £11.95, Hats and Caps

Keep a cool head without resorting to the ubiquitous gardener’s ‘Saga-style’ fedora. This bucket hat will protect against crispy, sunburnt ears and a deep-fried scalp. Turn the brim down for business, up for pleasure.

8. NosiLife Olivie Long Sleeved Shirt: £60, Craghoppers

This shirt is made with insect-repelling fabric to prevent mosquitos and suchlike dining out on you while you work. The moisture-wicking material will keep you cool during energetic digging sessions, and the double height collar will fold up to protect your neck, should the sun decide to grace you with its presence. This women’s style comes in two graphic prints, whereas blokes have four more sedate shades to choose from.

9. Arborwear Stretch Cambium Jacket: £79.95, Arborwear

Arborwear makes tough clobber for professional arborists, and this medium-weight canvas jacket is as rugged as they come. A mix of spandex and cotton gives the garment plenty of stretch, perfect for vigorous spade swinging or acrobatic manoeuvres with shears.

10. Site Optimus Gel Knee Pads: £13.99, Screwfix

Highly recommended for prolonged kneeling jobs, these bomb-proof pads will prevent any painful patella/stone interfaces when you are scrabbling around on all fours. They’re made from toughened, anti–slip plastic with a soft gel padded interior for superior comfort.

11. Husqvarna Ear Muff and Visor: £20, World of Power

If you’re involved in any heavy-duty gardening that requires the wielding of power tools, you’ll want to protect yourself accordingly. These snug, over-ear pads offer sweet audio muffling from shrill mechanical noises, and the attached, impact resistant visor will protect your peepers from flying debris.

12. Burgon & Ball Poc-kit: £14.95, Burgon & Ball

Prevent the overloading of trouser pockets and stash your tools in this waist-mounted utility belt. Made from quick drying, stretchy neoprene, the Poc-kit holds possessions safely and securely. It’s Available in a variety of jolly, horticultural-inspired colours.

Verdict

If you’re used to buying cheapo gardening gloves on a regular basis, the Husqvarna gloves are a revelation and well worth the expenditure. The DexShell waterproof socks are, again, quite pricey, but you can’t really put a value on warm, dry feet when out and about in the great outdoors.

Richard is one half of the Two Thirsty Gardeners. Their book, Brew It Yourself, is available on Amazon.