With spring finally here, gardeners across the country are headed back outside to nurture their gardens. While gardening is a relaxing and enjoyable activity, it’s important to keep in mind the potential hazards too.

For instance, a simple cut, scrape or blister when gardening can quickly become infected by bacteria or fungus in the soil. This is why you should always wear gloves when out in the garden and treat any cuts or scrapes quickly. Thick leather or suede gloves are best to protect your hands when pruning shrubs or plants. Rubber or latex-coated gloves are fine when working in the soil.

In addition, the repetitive movements associated with gardening such as raking, weeding, digging, and pruning can put serious stress on the hands, wrists and back. Hour after hour performing these activities can lead to problems such as repetitive stress injuries, tendonitis, and even carpal tunnel syndrome. This is why it’s best to break up large, repetitive gardening tasks into shorter sessions, with a rest and stretch break in-between.

Here’s some more important safety tips every gardener should know:

Keep your hands and arms covered. Wearing gloves and long sleeves is the best way to protect yourself from poison ivy, insect and animal bites, as well as other hazards in your garden.

Make sure your tetanus vaccination is up-to-date. Tetanus lives in the soil and can easily enter the body through breaks in the skin. This is why gardeners are particularly prone to tetanus infections. A tetanus vaccination is needed every ten years to stay safe.

Make safety a priority. Gardening often involves using power tools as well as potentially dangerous chemicals. So be sure to read product warning labels and follow instructions carefully to avoid potential injury. Wearing safety goggles and using hearing protection when using power tools is also important. Using insect repellants containing DEET will help protect you from diseases caused by ticks and mosquitoes.

Slow down in the heat. Take frequent breaks, drink extra fluids, and avoid beverages with large amounts of alcohol or sugar on hot days. Stop working if you experience breathlessness or any muscle soreness. You can learn more about heat-related illnesses that can occur when gardening here.

Whether your garden is large or small, following the simple tips above can go a long way in making your gardening safer and more enjoyable this season!