There’s something special about taking your landscaping into your own hands. Spending time outside working on your yard and growing flowers that create an outdoor oasis is a great way to improve the value of your property. There are so many great challenges you can overcome by taking care of your own landscaping. Unfortunately, for some homeowners handling their own landscaping, they get injured in the process. It can happen due to a lack of experience or simply by accident. The important thing is to understand the injury risks associated with handling your landscaping and figuring out how to minimize them.

Most people don’t think of the injury risk when it comes to working on their landscaping. They are typically more focused on getting the best results out of their plants and keeping things looking clean. If you are planning to head outside this spring and begin working on your landscaping when the weather starts to warm up, it’s a good idea to review some of the most common landscaping injuries and how to avoid them. That’s why we’ve created the following article which details these common injuries and the steps you can take to avoid them. By keeping these safety tips in mind and staying focused on your goals, you can create the landscape of your dreams without problems. As a reminder, if you are interested in improving your landscaping this year, reach out to Cal Blend Soils for the best landscaping supplies on the market.

Common Landscaping Injury #1 – Weather Related Issues

Believe it or not, one of the most common reasons for landscaping injuries is the weather. It can be hard to judge the injury risk of the weather if you are accustomed to working outside on a regular basis, but it’s worth checking the temperature at a minimum before you start your work. Most people don’t head outside to work on their yard when it is freezing cold outside, but there are certainly those that do. It’s important to watch out for frozen areas that can be slippery and for branches that are delicate and can fall. Winter can be a dangerous landscaping season, so keep that in mind if you are getting a head start on your landscaping for the spring.

The summer is probably the most common time of year for landscapers to experience weather-related injuries and health issues. If you are working outside in the summer, try to limit your direct exposure to the sun. On extremely hot days, the risk of heatstroke and dehydration is increased. That means it is vital to stay hydrated and avoid putting your health at risk while you are working on your landscaping. If possible, try to handle your summer landscaping tasks in the morning or late afternoon to avoid dealing with the full force of the sun.

Common Landscaping Injury #2 – Machinery & Equipment Accidents

There are tons of different options when it comes to landscaping machinery and equipment. These are tools that savvy landscapers can use to make their lives easier and get their work done in a quicker and more efficient manner. The problem for many amateur landscapers is that they head outside without educating themselves about the safety risks that are associated with these types of tools. That’s why one of the most common causes of landscaping injuries are accidents that are related to landscaping machinery and equipment.

Tools like lawnmowers, garden shears, and weed whackers are all highly efficient, but that doesn’t mean that they are accident-proof. Any time you are working with sharp blades or moving gears, you need to be extremely careful. This equipment can cause serious injury if you aren’t careful. Make sure you read the safety manual before operating any heavy machinery and that you always use protective equipment when working with sharp blades. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to using landscaping equipment and machinery.

Common Landscaping Injury #3 – Working with Hazardous Materials

Some of the most annoying landscaping issues like weeds can be dealt with by simply applying herbicides and chemicals to your landscape. The problem with these types of materials is that they can be extremely hazardous to our health. There are plenty of landscapers out there that have fallen victim to injury and health issues thanks to hazardous materials. It’s a great idea to err on the side of caution whenever you are using poisonous or hazardous materials in your landscaping.

Hazardous materials like herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers all serve a unique purpose in the landscaping world. However, if you aren’t taking the appropriate safety measures, you could be putting yourself, your family, and your neighbors at risk of injury. Always follow the recommendations provided by the manufacturers of these types of products and make sure that your safety is the number one priority.

Common Landscaping Injury #4 – Falls and Slips

The last common landscaping injury we are going to mention here are slips and falls. This is a risk that becomes more serious when landscapers are working from heights. It is also important to understand that the time of year in which you are working on your landscape can present more safety risks. For example, if you live in an area with cold temperatures during the winter, the chances of a slip or fall are going to increase.

Make sure you are extra careful with ladders and when you are working from heights. Take a look at the ground level of your landscape to remove anything that can cause you to slip or fall while you are working. Even a small fall can lead to a serious injury.

As you can tell, there are lots of situations that can potentially put landscapers in harm’s way. The good news is that avoiding the injuries mentioned above and any other landscaping injury is easy if you educate yourself about the risks and prevention measures. Be careful out there and always put your safety first! This article is brought to you by Cal Blend Soils, the leading supplier of landscaping products in the California area. Reach out to Cal Blend Soils today if you are interested in browsing our incredible selection of landscaping supplies.