Protecting green fingers

GARDENERS may have green fingers, but many also suffer from swollen joints, rashes, tender skin, allergies and breathing difficulties due to handling plants and weeds associated with their hobby.

In recent studies, almost a quarter of all gardeners questioned had developed allergic reactions to plants or substances (chemicals and stimulants) at one time or another.

Cases include a three-year-old girl who developed severe blister-like burns, and needed a week in hospital after crawling through a bed of rue. Another case involved a young lady who volunteered to remove the dead-heads on a neighbour’s patch of ornamental primula. Her good deed brought on a painful rash which saw the skin on her hands ‘peel’ like someone removing a pair of gloves.

There are many plants in the garden which can cause allergic reactions and these coupled with the buried droppings of cats (feral and otherwise) makes the wearing of garden gloves essential. Conifers, courgette leaves, daffodils, hyacinths, tomatoes, even strawberry leaves can cause minor symptoms of rashes, itching and swelling, while giant hogweed (illustrated) can cause blistering serious enough to need hospital treatment. Even the very popular aconitum, in flower at the moment, contains toxins which can be absorbed through the skin when subject to prolonged handling.

Chemicals in the sap of plants can cause itching, whilst others have sap which makes the skin sensitive to sunlight leading to severe sunburn. This can occur even on dull days when shoots of euphorbia are being cut or reduced. The milky sap within the stems of euphorbia must not come into contact with tender skin. On the other hand, geraniums can cause hay fever-type symptoms, whilst bamboo, borage, bugloss and comfrey can cause severe skin irritations. Even pretty spurge can cause a burning sensation on the skin and the likes of runner-beans can be responsible for nasty rashes.

Do not be surprised to discover that some of the most common garden plants are highly toxic when ingested especially daffodils (Narcissi). The whole plant is poisonous, particularly the bulb itself. If you think it would be hard to mistake these from onions, for example, there is a documented case in which a gardener chopped one up to make sage and onion stuffing. Whilst most cases of plant poisoning relate (in descending order) to laburnum, deadly nightshade, yew, and digitalis, care should be taken with every plant especially those with attractive berries.

Always wear protective clothing when pruning or reducing plants you are unfamiliar, with, especially during late August and on into September. Best protection is given by jackets or coveralls with long sleeves, along with protective eye glasses and, of course, suitable gloves. Be extra careful when cutting back common or ornamental ivy. You will certainly want to wear a mask and gloves when trimming these for the undersides of their leaves are coated in vast quantities of minute hairs. Anything from coughing and a mild rash to swelling and severe blistering can be contracted from inhaling these. They can also cause asthma.