It doesn't take much imagination to say that a gardener's hands are his most important tools.

Even with the finest gloves and the fanciest hand tools, our hands still take a beating. By the time I am done in the garden on a weekend day, it looks like I have been digging for my food.

Short nails and a good nail brush are a good first step.

But I am also a big fan of Crabtree and Evelyn's Gardener's Hand Therapy Cream. It is a thick and rich shea butter mix with a distinct herbal fragrance, and it sells for about $14 a tube.

C&E also has a hand scrub with pumice. It is a liquid version that replaces an earlier dry version which seemed almost like shaking sawdust on your hands. Nevertheless, it was a quick and effective cleaner.

The new version sells for about $15.

And while we are talking skin care for gardeners....don't forget to soak in a warm bath with 1 to 2 cups of epsom salts. It will take the itch and sting out of your skin and the pain out of your muscles.

Remember to rest for 20 minutes after you finish bathing, and you will feel like a new person.