Clothing

CLOTHING TIPS —

Footwear—sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots that provide ankle support and traction. If you plan to do a lot of this work, invest in a good pair of boots soles that provide ankle protection (6 to 8” high sides do the trick nicely). Some folks like to wear rubber farm boots. Lug soles give excellent traction but tend to get clogged with mud and may transport invasive plant seeds as the volunteer moves from site to site.

Leg wear—long pants are necessary in all seasons. Denim, Duck or other heavyweight fabric will provide the best protection from poison ivy, insects, and scratches. Many experienced field workers also wear nylon gaiters, which provide additional protection against dew, thorns, etc. Other folks wear heavy, knee-high socks to provide an extra protective layer.

Upper body—for the same reasons, long sleeve shirts are a must. Exposed skin is unnecessarily vulnerable. An additional under layer enhances protection.

Hands—everyone doing this work must wear gloves, and the proper gloves make all the difference! For simple vine work, cotton or canvas gloves are okay, but although they are cheap, they provide poor protection against thorns and poison ivy, and wear out very quickly. We recommend sturdy, all-leather work gloves, which are available at most hardware stores. However, the best protection against thorns and brush is provided by what are known as “welders” gloves or “rose” gloves, which have extra long gauntlets (the sleeve-like end where you insert your hand ) for forearm protection. Pigskin or deerskin seem to offer the best balance of dexterity and protection, with rawhide a distant runner-up. If cost or availability is an issue, try buying online.

Headgear—To absorb sweat, provide UV protection and keep plant debris and swinging, small branches from your face, we recommend that you wear a wide-brimmed hat, or at least a baseball cap.

Eyewear—it is not a bad idea to wear glasses in case you think you might be in an area where flying debris, from chopping or pulling, or swinging small branches will be an issue.

DC Woodlands

Invasive exotic plant control in Washington, DC

www.dcwoodlands.org