Gardeners Beware! Soil Has Bacteria, Protect Yourself

Seeing microgreens, flowers, vegetables, fruits, baby greens, and other plants grow is soothing, but before you keep digging in your garden, give yourself a break. Gardening gives a lot of green and colorful plants, but it can cause infectious diseases, and the reason for this is harmful bacteria.

Whether it is in your stomach or in your garden, bacteria are everywhere. Good bacteria play a big role in plant growth, but bad bacteria are neither safe for plants nor for gardeners.

Types Of Bacteria In Soil & Diseases They Can Cause

Good bacteria help in recycling nutrients like phosphorus, sulfur, carbon, etc., which is beneficial for plant growth. On the other hand, some common soil bacteria are beneficial to plants but can spread disease to humans.

Since the potting mix is kept at a higher temperature with moisture and contains both inorganic and organic components, bacteria thrive in it. Following bacteria are commonly found in potting mix and gardening soil:

• Nocardia

The potting mix contains the bacterium Nocardia, which causes Nocardiosis infection. It usually affects the lungs but can affect other body parts as well. 

• Clostridium Tetani

A bacterium called Clostridium Tetani is found in manure. It causes Tetanus, which causes muscle contradictions that can result in the lock of the jaw or neck. 

• Legionella

Legionnaires’ disease, caused by the Legionella bacterium, damages the lungs and, in some cases, can also impact heart health. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain, and headache.

• Burkholderia pseudomallei

Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacterium. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, fever or sporadic fever, confusion, headache, and weight loss. Due to its occurrence in mud or puddles during rain, this bacterium becomes more dangerous.

Prevention

You need to take care of different aspects in order to combat different harmful bacteria in the soil. Here are some suggestions that might help:

• Safety Gears

The best way to protect yourself from soil bacteria is to wear gloves, masks, and boots because gardeners are vulnerable to bacteria at different points.

Most soil bacteria enter the bloodstream through wounds, so wear gloves. There may be bacteria in dirt so wear a mask to prevent their inhalation. Wearing gardening boots can help address bacteria that exist in mud or puddles such as Burkholderia pseudomallei. 

• Cleaning, Sanitizing & Disinfection

When you do gardening, cleaning your hands properly is important, but sometimes you need to go beyond cleaning. You should use a hand sanitizer safe for both you and your plants. Disinfecting your gardening tools is also important.

While using a sanitizer or disinfectant in your garden, remember to keep your plants safe. Most of the sanitizers and disinfectants contain alcohol, which is not entirely safe for plants, even though it is known as an insecticide. Find a sanitizer or disinfectant that is alcohol-free and safe for plants.

• Building Immunity

Anyone with low immunity levels is more likely to catch infections while playing with plants. When gardening, make sure seniors and children are safe. It is important for gardeners or anyone who has a love for gardening to take good care of their immunity.

Safety!

Safety is all you need to feel safe while going to your small home garden with your kid and funny pet dog. Safety for plants, safety for kids from heavy tools, and safety for all from harmful bacteria. Tell us how you ensure safety in your garden!

Pankaj Rai