Gardening problems

[mme_hardy]

 Any time I put on gardening gloves -- other than for rose pruning -- I discover after a few minutes that I have discarded them.  I need to feel the soil -- how wet it is, how it responds to pressure, whether a plant is securely seated.

This means that any time I'm working in the garden, my nails become lined with dirt.  Sinking my nails into a bar of Ivory before gardening helps a lot, but only if I remember to do it.  (I never remember to do it.)  I'm trying to clean my nails with an orange stick before going to an Apple Genius Bar appointment, but the results are patchy at best.   Ah, well.  If I have to choose between having my hands in the soil and having dainty ladylike hands, I pick gardening every time.

Comments

[muccamukk]

I have the exact same problem. I found that cleaning the worst out with a stick, then a scrub brush, followed by doing the dishes works pretty well.

[mme_hardy]

I have already done steps 1 and 2, and the dishes get done by machine.

[ironed_orchid]

I find that scrubbing my nails towards the end of my shower (in addition to when I come inside) helps get most of any remaining dirt, something to do with my hands already being wet and soapy helps dislodge the stubborn bits.

[rydra_wong]

I think May Sarton wrote you a poem.

[mme_hardy]

Oh, thank you so much.

[pameladean]

Your priorities are exactly right. But I'll mention that washing my hair, after all the other vain attempts to get the dirt out, often works for me. Maybe my shampoo is magical, I dunno.

P.

[loligo]

Yes, hair-washing is the best trick I've ever found for this challenge.

[questioncurl]

Same here! I've never used gardening gloves for any length of time and am always finding myself on the way to work with absolutely filthy nails, despite having had a bath. I use a toothpick or pencil point to remove the worst of it and then, in the office, take a slice of lemon into the loo and scrub with it after washing my hands with soap and water. (I wash them as a rule because the commute gets my hands grimy anyway). The lemon gets rid of any pencil or ink marks also.