I would guess that most intrepid gardeners don’t mind getting wet during the heat of the summer. Whether I am actively being rained upon, or down in the beds weeding with wet knees & a wet bum, ‘summer soaked’ doesn’t bother me. This could have something to do with the fact that I live in a humid climate and I’m so used to being soaked under my own sweaty steam, that a little clean rain is refreshing.
Wet and dirty is pretty normal around here in summer. My Duluth overalls are my go-to.
But summer is now over and for many the cold rains are coming. Over the next several months, ‘wet’ is the order of the day, and if you want to get any work done without feeling miserable, you can take a page out of our European cousins’ book and invest in some good waterproofs.
And no I don’t just mean a decent parka. I mean lightweight pants/trousers that quickly slip on over boots and legs and equally easily slip off again (though I still smirk when I say ‘waterproof pants’ after diapering a baby in the UK for two years).
Waterproof pants are a game changer for people like me who live in wet winter climates. As far as I’m concerned, they are must-have gear. And yet, apart from farmers, I rarely see people using them in the wet Mid-Atlantic. Somehow the idea of slipping them on and protecting the backs of your legs from a dripping parka or the front of your legs from driving rain, is just a bridge too far.
That’s one thing if you are doing the suburban Costco run in jeans and an umbrella, but there are still gardens to be visited in autumn, there are still hikes to be had, and there is still much work to be done. When you’ve spent four hours outside moving through tall, recently rained-on perennials, it feels great to step inside and quickly slip off the evidence of what you’ve been doing.
It also makes it possible to have a pre-shower cup of tea without feeling like you’re soiling the furniture.
I’ve been told by people who don’t want to wear them that they make you sweat more; and perhaps that is true with more rubberized gear, or during warmer weather, but I’d advise them to find better, more breathable brands. I’m not talking about a fisherman’s outfit.
To be fair, a fisherman could wear this and be as happy as travel partner Andrea Gasper planting bulbs in the UK. (Though her footwear is highly suspect.)
You Can Lead a Horse To Water
On my recent tour to the UK I listed waterproof trousers as something guests would be well advised to bring to make garden visiting in unexpected rain more pleasant – but few did.
One or two had brand new waterproofs that they’d never tried out in the field before, and ended up disappointed to find themselves wet – a common problem with the mid-range cruddy gear that Americans are often offered by big name retailers that know better but get away with murder.
In fact, one of the best things about visiting gardens when it rains in the UK and Europe is getting new and better ideas for protective clothing from all the Europeans that are well kitted out and consequently enjoying their day.
That’s how I found out about my Ridgeline parka (New Zealand), which has a beautifully designed back that not only discretely covers my middle-aged bum, but protects it from the rain. It’s only a shame it wants to collect every white hair off of my Jack Russell Terriers.
Wet, but happy at Great Dixter, UK. (photo credit: Karl Suchy)
On my latest trip I met this British woman at Trebah Garden who allowed me to take a photo of the Swedish made Didricksons protective gear that she adored. “It happens all the time,” she told me. “Mostly from Americans.”
A prepared gardener at Trebah Garden wearing a Dedricksons rain coat. Note the gardeners behind her wearing waterproof pants / trousers.
Good quality waterproof gear is an investment worth investing in. Most everyday Europeans aren’t going to change it out based on what Pantone is telling them is the new Color of The Year. They’re probably going to have it for decades, and what’s more, so are their kids.
My current waterproof pants are from Columbia. I spent about $60 bucks on them and I’ve had them for about six years. They are so lightweight I can roll them into a tiny roll and put them in the bottom of my backpack if I am garden visiting. Otherwise they hang on a hook in my hall closet, looking grubby but serviceable. They are not rubberized, so when I finally wash them, it is usually on a cold wash with no detergent. Sometimes I’ll wash them with Nikwax Tech Wash, which renews the waterproofing. But it isn’t often.
This isn’t an ad. I’ve no skin in the game. Just a desire to see more gardeners getting smart.
Selfishly, I also appreciate walking around gardens with other visitors who are somewhat camouflaged. High-end waterproof gear doesn’t usually scream “LOOK AT ME!” and photo bomb the pic you’re desperately trying to get-in between downpours. It’s subtle and earthy and made to blend in. But maybe that’s a Rant for another day…
Smart (and subtle) gardeners planting bulbs at The Silk Route garden in West Sussex, UK
To be fair, I haven’t lived in New England beyond NYC (does that even count as New England?), so I cannot speak for the rugged folks who get on with the everyday business of gardening there. My guess is that Maine gardeners know what waterproof pants are; and know how to get them on faster than I do (perhaps Kris in Maine could comment on this!). Our Pacific Northwest Gardeners may also want to weigh in in the comments, blessed as they are with a Maritime climate.
And if you’ve got waterPROOF gear that you adore and would not be without, please — share it below! –MW
When we visited Orkney I rapidly discovered that waterproof trousers were essential. I’ve no idea what became of them…..
There is an interesting discussion to be had about what people wear to visit gardens. We had a Japanese tour who looked amazing and gave us great pleasure. hats – they all had cute hats! But dull or yellow (= waterproofs) are more common.
We have wondered about having colour themed open days, to add to the gaiety of gardens and our colour theming.
PNW gardener weighing in…I’ve used foul weather gear we had in the closet, which is not supple but does the job, tho it is safety gear so bright orange. For footwear,, something to keep in mind when visiting the UK, as far as I know wellies/Wellingtons have no distributor in the U.S. and can only be purchased in the UK. I’m told they’re far superior to what’s available even in a farm community like mine. Mud boots I’ve bought locally last maybe 6 mos to a year and offer little support. Next time I visit the UK I’ll be wearing wellies on the return flight!
Not rain gear, but rain connected and so helpful.I tend to wait to the last minute to take a pee break. Not a good idea for a middle aged (ok, old) female. I don’t leave enough time to get the sopping wet footwear removed. I have felted wool slip overs.
The prefect gear: a door that leads to a sofa which is in close proximity to a cup of tea and a screen.
I live in a temperate rainforest, the NC Blue Ridge mountains, so I am a veteran of gardening in humid or drizzly weather. Not exactly waterPROOF, but I am also a fan of Duluth’s quick drying heirloom overalls for my daily wear. I have a variety of the (adorable) prints, and wait until they go on sale to add to my collection. The multitude of practically perfect pockets and the fact that I can order them in lengths to fit my stumpy short legs has been a winner combination for me. I don’t mind being a little damp so waterproof isn’t a requirement. Between my awesome overalls and battery powered tools, I have moved into a new era of gardening in my old age!
Decades working in sweat soaked garden clothes. Big deal.
But.
Why no garden pants for women, with velcro crotch? Sweaty wet and go inside to pee during a Southern summer? Can barely pull the pants down fast enough, they are sticking to the skin with sweat.
Nope, squat and go, why waste gardening time for an indoor lavatory ?
Thrift store pants, cut the crotch seam away. Voila, Women’s Garden Pants !!!
About 2015-16, I purchased a pair of Sloggers boots at a Christmas Bazaar in Richmond, VA. The owner of the company was working the booth and we chatted a bit about the longevity of them. He told me they would last a lifetime…mine or his I asked. Both probably he said, the Company has been making vinyl products for 50-60 yrs. I am sure he didn’t expect me to be using them for gardening…hours at a time, but for $35 they seemed a good thing. I wear them with sport socks year round just for comfort. I am basically a barefoot lover and these feel like they aren’t even there. This year a horizontal split appeared above the ankle on one which seemed a strange place, but a piece of Duct Tape took care of it.
I bought a pair of Wellies in UK in 1998 and while they were great in the rain they were not as supple as the Sloggers to work in.
next we need a story on gardening in the winter…
I feel incredibly honored to have been mentioned in a RANT!! This summer and fall, I haven’t gardened in cold rain because it hasn’t rained. Well, it rained 14 weekends in a row in the spring but not much since then. When I do have to be out (at a fiber festival) I wear the old standby fisherman’s suit, butt covering jacket and pants – and yes, they are yellow. I also wear Muck boots because they keep my feet a bit warmer when it’s cold. Sorry to disappoint. I do wear nylon hiking pants that I’ve had for years if it’s just drizzly. They have lots of pockets, dry quickly and don’t stick too badly. You could send some of your autumn rains up here if you don’t want that much : ) Please do it soon, though, we’re in a severe drought.
Team Leslie.
I garden in heavy clay, so it’s much better for me and the garden if I go indoors when it pours. A sturdy hooded raincoat and waterproof boots serve me well enough.
We garden in North Wales and a variety of waterproofs are absolutely necessary. Padded hi-viz site coats for cold days and waterproof trousers and wellies. I value my knees too much not to wear the trousers. Breathable would be lovely but as they get snagged on thorns this is not economic. Just buy a very big size and the air moves around!