History tells us that beautifying the landscape did not begin in the 21st century—think of the Hanging Walls of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These splendid gardens needed landscapers to maintain them.
But to effectively handle any landscaping task, health and safety must come first. Work may change seasonally, but landscapers use power tools and handle chemicals and other hazardous substances all year long.
For maximum productivity and protection, landscapers must wear proper landscape uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) that comply with OSHA’s PPE standards.
Besides protection and productivity, appropriate, branded landscaping clothing offers your company multiple benefits. It:
- Freely advertises your brand
- Portrays a high level of professionalism
- Builds a trustworthy reputation for your brand
- Attracts new clients
That’s why it’s essential to know about and invest in the right landscaper clothing and PPE—those that are comfortable, protective, affordable, and OSHA-compliant.
1 - Extreme Heat Landscaping Clothing
When temperatures soar into and above the 90s, working outdoors becomes unbearable. The excess heat from the sun causes sunburns, and its UV radiation can result in wrinkling and premature aging.
Landscapers working in extremely hot areas must wear appropriate gear to protect them from heat-related illnesses and the sun’s harmful radiation.
OSHA provides safety standards for landscapers and anyone else working outdoors in warm climates.
- Cover up your body with loose-fitting, breathable long-sleeve shirts.
- Wear a wide brim hat (not a baseball hat) to protect the ears, eyes, neck, scalp, and forehead.
- Wear UV-absorbent sunglasses that block 99–100% UVA and UVB radiation.
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and above.
- Choose light-colored clothes as they’ll reflect the sun’s light and reduce heat absorption.
- Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks or boots for better mobility.
fancysweetstx’s custom polo shirts are must-have heat gear for every landscaper. They're breathable, lightweight, and made with a polyester-cotton blend that makes them last.
Our polo shirts are also stain-resistant and moisture-wicking to keep you clean, cool, and dry at all times. We can screen-print or embroider your brand’s name, logo, or other text for a professional look.
2 - Winter Weather Landscaping Clothing
Working outdoors for prolonged periods in areas with high winds and low temperatures can cause injuries and cold-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia.
OSHA doesn’t have a specific standard for working in cold environments. But it does mandate employers to provide workers with a safe environment free from winter weather-related hazards.
Employers must provide workers with PPE that ensures warmth and protects landscapers from trips, slips, and falls on snow and ice.
OSHA recommends the following winter weather clothing to prevent cold stress:
- Wear at least 3 layers of loose-fitting clothing for maximum insulation: an inner layer made from moisture-wicking fabric, like wool, silk, or polyester, a middle layer of wool fabric for insulation even when you’re wet, and an outer layer of nylon fabric to protect against wind and rain.
- Avoid tight clothing since it reduces blood circulation, preventing blood from reaching extremities.
- Wear insulated, water-resistant coats or jackets to keep you warm and dry.
- Choose hats that cover both your head and ears. They’ll reduce the amount of body heat that leaves through your head.
- Wear insulated, water-resistant gloves and boots to keep your hands and feet protected.
- Carry extra clothing to change into if you get wet on site.
Note: OSHA doesn’t mandate employers to provide workers with ordinary clothing, skin creams, and other items purely used for protection, like raincoats and rubber boots.
However, most employers still give workers branded winter weather clothing like hoodies, jackets, and crew sweatshirts. Such branded apparel not only promotes uniformity but also freely advertises their brand.
Learn More: Construction Uniform: How Your Company Can Benefit From Branded Apparel
3 - High Visibility (Hi-Vis) Landscape Clothing
According to OSHA guidelines, any employee whose job exposes them to public vehicular traffic or construction vehicles and equipment must wear high-visibility (hi-vis) clothing.
The hi-vis clothing must meet the ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 standards—the nation’s approved standards for designing hi-vis clothing and accessories.
The ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 describes three classes of hi-vis clothing, each rated according to the level of protection it offers. The environment each class is suited to is also listed in a second column, as shown in the table below:
| Class | Description | Environment |
| 1 |
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| 2 |
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| 3 |
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Landscapers must wear a hi-vis garment from one of the three classes depending on their work environment. Most of these garments come in the form of vests, jackets, and shirts, but they’re also available as coveralls, pants, and rainwear.
When designing and manufacturing hi-vis clothing, the ANSI/ISEA 107–2015 recommends taking into account the following considerations:
- The components and materials of the garment must be safe, and not known to affect the wearer negatively in any way.
- Surfaces that are in direct contact with the body must be free from roughness, sharp edges, and projections that could cause irritation or injuries.
- The garment needs to be well-fitting and hard-wearing to withstand constant wear and tear.
- The horizontal retroreflective material must be placed at least 50 mm above the bottom of the hem on long-sleeved and short-sleeved hi-vis clothing.
- Gaps in retroreflective and background materials (for seam allowance or fastenings) must not exceed 50 mm horizontally.
- Hi-vis clothing needs to provide 360° visibility of the wearer from all angles on a horizontal plane.
When it comes to color, the guidelines state that all hi-vis clothing must feature fluorescent colors. Fluorescent colors have a high luminous factor, which makes them easily visible from afar.
Chosen colors should sharply contrast the work environment and be easily detected by the human eye. Such colors include fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, and fluorescent red.
4 - Quality Gloves for Hand Protection
According to the OSHA guidelines for landscape contractors, workers must use appropriate hand protection when handling hazardous substances or working with materials that could cause serious cuts, abrasions, or burns.
Opt for gloves that are durable enough to withstand robust landscaping tasks but also comfortable and flexible enough to be worn frequently without causing discomfort.
Always choose the right glove for the job and know when a glove is unnecessary.
A light, disposable glove, for instance, is appropriate for collecting dirt, but not for handling chemicals. Working with moving machinery, on the other hand, doesn’t require gloves.
Check out the different glove options below and their level of protection, as outlined by OSHA in the Personal Protective Equipment guideline.
| Type Of Landscaping Glove | Level Of Protection |
| Leather | Thick and durable. Handles thorny plants, abrasive materials, stones, wood, and moderate heat |
| Cotton Fabric | Lightweight. Handles dirt and splinters Note: Do not use around sharp materials |
| Disposal | Super thin and skintight, creating a waterproof barrier over the skin. Handles debris and liquids |
| Metal Mesh | For heavy-duty landscaping works such as cutting wood and handling stones and wood chips |
| Rubber/Vinyl | Coated with a resistant nitrile that protects against chemicals. Suitable for pruning and garden maintenance work |
Stay Safe and Productive With the Right Landscaping Gear
Well-branded and protective landscaper clothing keeps you safe and makes you look presentable while marketing your landscaping business.
But your safety apparel is only as good as your usage of it—if it’s not worn, it won’t protect you.
fancysweetstx understands the importance of keeping landscapers and construction workers safe. We offer high-quality safety clothing and PPE to ensure you’re protected.
Whether you’re a professional landscaper, a DIY homeowner, or a gardener, our safety work gear will protect you from landscaping-related injuries.
We offer one-of-a-kind custom screen-printing and embroidery services to ensure every piece of clothing is tailor-made to your preference.
Order your custom landscaper clothing and receive a free, no-obligation quote. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for further questions and clarifications.
"I would recommend fancysweetstx for anyone who is looking for quality clothes and excellent customer service."
- Matthew S, fancysweetstx Verified Buyer
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Wanting to get some good quality personal protective equipment
Shirts
Wide brim hats
Ankle supporting boots
Jim’s Mowing Franchisee
Can you assist in these requests ?
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