Gloves

Wyldwood

Can anyone recommend a decent pair of garden gloves? I'm spending a fortune trying to find some that have strong fingertips. Sick of gloves that rip after a few days digging in the soil. Trying to remove a load of Spanish Bluebells that came in on a gifted plant and have to dig deep and use my hands to get the bulbs out. They're worse than weeds.

looksee

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/stanley-split-cowhide-leather-driver-gloves-brown-large/23256

I bought some of the above as a gift for a relative and they were so impressed they wanted to know where I got them so they could order some more.

The Continental Op

I use these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skytec-Gloves-SKY08-M-Argon-Glove/dp/B00NWPKLH2

Hard to fault and they have outlasted many other similar types of gloves.

Jim_Hodge

Depending on the job in hand 😉

36 Pairs PU Coated Black Nylon Work Gloves for Women and Men. Gardening, Builders, Mechanic (Large L 9) : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Or

GSG Mens Durable Cowhide Leather Gardening Gloves Breathable Thornproof Heavy Duty Muti-Use Work Gloves Yellow Medium : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

looksee

What Jim Hodge says is true, it does depend on the job. If you are rooting in the earth then a pair of tough waterproof gloves is best, but if you wear them for every job they get horribly sweaty and damp inside, they need time to dry off.

I often just use the cheapo rubber front/fabric back gloves for general work and use them till they disintegrate, they are cheap enough to replace. The fabric backed ones are not nettle proof though, and we have lots of nettles!

The leather ones are not improved by getting seriously wet or muddy, but they are great to protect your hands from brambles and give heavy duty protection.

Manually scrabbling for spanish bluebells is heavy work for a pair of waterproof gloves, I'd be digging them first then picking out the bulbs - I have done the same job and they are not easy to get rid of.

Wyldwood

Thank you all for the suggestions, I'll research them.

I'm digging the plants out but I'm having to sift through the earth to get as many of the little bulblets as possible out to minimise the growth for next year. I have to do this every couple of years to keep them under some sort of control. The Bluebells and Hellebores are the bane of my life trying to keep them from overtaking the whole garden.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120596945#Comment_120596945

Absolutely. A good leather glove for brambles, briars and nettles gives great protection, but they do loose their softness if they get wet.

Isn't there a shoe oil for softening leather, would that work here?