Gifts for the well-dressed gardener: a head to toe guide to garden apparel for all seasons

Sunset, Dec, 1997 by Steven R. Lorton

A head-to-toe guide to garden apparel for all seasons

* In business, dressing for success means wearing clothes that help you cut a big deal or plant your product in the right market. In the garden the concept is much the same. Whether it's time to cut big limbs or plant roses, wearing the proper apparel allows you to work more comfortably and efficiently, be it cold or hot, raining or sunny.

Which garb wears best for such chores? We surveyed professional and home gardeners around the West. Then we pored over catalogs to find their favorite items.

Their clothing choices are as diverse as gardeners are. Yet all who responded want apparel that allows maximum freedom of movement. Most of them keep two or more sets of garden clothes - one to wear while the other's in the wash. Here are some of their preferences, from head to toe. Any of these items could make a welcome gift. Sources are listed on page 71.

Head coverings. Headwear is important for protection from sun, rain, and scratchy branches. A well-designed hat should also have adequate ventilation to dissipate heat and perspiration. Favorites run the gamut from an heirloom straw hat to a pith helmet equipped with a built-in fan (shown on page 71).

Shirts, trousers, vests, jackets. More than anything else, gardeners say they want loose or baggy garments that can be tossed into the washer and dryer. "I buy everything two sizes too big," says one gardener. "I figure one size to give me plenty of room and one size to shrink in the dryer." Shirts of choice range from sturdy Ts to long-sleeved, button-up work shirts; pants, from baggy jeans to Japanese farmers' trousers. Sleeveless vests are popular for two reasons: they provide a layer of warmth without restricting arm movement, and they have plenty of pockets for toting seed packets, plant tags, and small tools. Among jackets and windbreakers, those made with fabrics that breathe, including Gore-Tex and Supplex nylon, are favored for their ability to shed rain without adding weight.

Gloves. Preferences depend on the task at hand. If you're only worried about keeping your hands clean, use a pair of inexpensive cotton knit gloves; they'll last through several washings. Flexible fabric and latex gloves are hits because they're made so thin that you can feel the texture of foliage and soil through them. For heavy work or handling prickly plants, thick leather gloves get the nod.

Footwear. Whatever the style - boots, clogs, or rain shoes - footwear should protect your toes, keep your feet dry, provide good traction on mud or wet grass, and wash off easily. In mild weather, clogs and rain shoes usually provide adequate protection. But when it's cold, rubber boots with liners supply the warmth you need.

Steve Lorton, chief of Sunset's Northwest bureau, gardens in Washington. He wears Dutch-style wood clogs over heavy socks. "They keep your feet dry and offer strong support for jobs that require standing for long periods. They take some getting used to, but once you learn to move around in them, you'll be hooked," he says. Cost is aboout $25 for a plain pair (for most sizes), $30 for a decorated pair. To order, trace the outline of each foot barefoot, then mail or fax the tracings to Wooden Shoe Factory (Box 2102, Holland, MI 49422; call 616/396-6513 or fax 396-0642).

Sharon Cohoon, a Sunset writer who gardens in Southern California, explains why she prefers the Mud Glove: "Once wet, leather gloves dry out too stiff for comfort. Plain cotton gloves don't last. The Mud Glove, made of latex-coated cotton, is flexible, comfortable and your fingernails don't pop through them." Cost is $8.95 a pair at many garden stores; you can order from Gardener's Supply Company (800/955-3370).

Jack McKinnon, a gardener at Sunset's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, wears a whimsical but practical pith helmet with a built-in fan to cool his brow. "On a hot day, it keeps me going," he says. The fan is powered by a 3-volt solar panel or two AA batteries. Cost is $40, from Real Goods (800/762-7325).

SOURCES

Firms listed below accept mail orders. Eddie Bauer, Pendleton, and Smith & Hawken also have retail sites in the West. Call for free catalogs or store locations.

A. M. Leonard, Box 816, Piqua, OH 45356; (800) 543-8955. This firm offers dozens of kinds of gloves.

C. C. Filson Co., Box 34020, Seattle, WA 98124; (800) 299-1287. This company makes hardworking clothes, including "tin" (stiff, oil-impregnated fabric) hats and pants that wear well in the garden, particularly in wet weather.

Eddie Bauer, Box 182639, Columbus, OH 43218; (800) 426-8020. Check out the selection of sturdy, washable apparel, including shirts and trousers.

Gempler's, Box 270, Mount Horeb, WI 53572; (800) 382-8473. The catalog is well stocked with hats, gloves, boots, and heavy-duty garden wear.

Natural Gardening Company, 217 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, CA 94960; (707) 766-9303. This firm sells hats, gloves, and footwear.

Pendleton Woolen Mills, Box 3030, Portland, OR 97208; (800) 760-4844. On a crisp winter day in the garden, no shirt feels - or looks - better than a classic plaid Pendleton.