How to Minimize Sun Exposure When Gardening

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By Willi Galloway
eHow Contributing Writer

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Minimize Sun Exposure When Gardening

It’s nice to catch a few rays while you are outside gardening, but prolonged sun exposure can damage your skin and puts you at a greater risk for skin cancer. Slathering on the sunscreen is the first step to protecting your skin, but I’ve rounded up four more sun-safe ideas you can use:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Garden in the early morning or in the evening. The sun’s intensity is lowest early in the morning and near dusk. Try dividing your gardening work up into manageable chunks, then do one or two tasks in the morning before the sun gets hot and bright and then complete a few more jobs in the evening.
Step 2

Work in the shade whenever possible. Trees, fences and structures all cast shadows during the day. In my east-to-west oriented yard, our house casts a shadow over our backyard in the morning, but by mid-afternoon the backyard is in full sun and the front is mostly shaded; therefore I choose to work in my backyard in the morning and then I follow the shade as it moves to the front of the house. This strategy allows me to get a full day's work in, but minimizes the amount of time I spend in direct sunlight.
Step 3

Dress carefully. Covering yourself up is a simple, effective way to prevent sun damage, so even though it’s tempting to wear shorts and a short-sleeved shirt or tank top, it’s best to don a lightweight cotton, long-sleeved work shirt, light cotton pants, a hat with a wide brim and gloves before working in the garden.
Step 4

Put up an umbrella. Make your own shade by gardening underneath a portable beach umbrella. These lightweight umbrellas typically have a pointed stake, making them easy to drive into a planting bed or the lawn, and if angled correctly, they can cast a wide shadow around you. Just be sure to move the umbrella as you work!