I was asked the other day if I knew of any tips to assist the 'would be gardener' with hand and nail care. Now, we all know that gardening is often described as good for the soul, but gardeners love to get their hands dirty and thus the effects on hands and nails can be brutal.

So here are a few of my tips to help beautify your hands:-

1. Before heading out to your garden, put some hand cream on your hands before donning your gardening gloves. Of course, wearing gloves can help prevent damage to your hands when gardening, although I know some gardeners prefer to get their hands 'dirty!' In fact, I often step out just to look around the garden and get enthralled in activities... I'll just get that weed!! Then, before you know it a couple of hours have passed!! Does this happen to you too??

2. Another idea I've seen used, is to gently rub your fingernails back and forth over a bar of soap before you head out to the garden. This action blocks any dirt from settling itself under your fingernails and thus the need for that nail brush and extra scrubbing! I've tried this and it works!!

3. Using a mild, soap-free cleanser for your hands is best when your hands are slightly soiled. However, the use of an exfoliator when you hands are extra grubby after all those garden tasks are completed is often easier!

4. Some activities in the garden can make your hands smell badly i.e. when planting garlic. Using a cleanser with cucumber extract or lemon will help in removing the smell from your hands.

5. A manicurist once shared with me this tactic. If you have damaged your cuticles, to aid in repair try warming some cuticle lotion in the microwave, if you don't have a microwave warm in a dish over a pan of heated water. (I don't have a microwave!) Then hold your fingers with the cuticles in the lotion within the dish for 5 minutes all the while rubbing in the cuticle lotion. Allow the lotion to soak into your hands; do not wash afterward. You can just feel the difference.

When we gardened with Grandma as children, I always remember her after gardening, washing and then rubbing Vaseline to both her hands and her cuticles. She was an avid user of the soap trick described above, I'll always remember her hands as well manicured.

So, the next time you've about to garden consider trying some of tips above and let me know your results!