Overall, I definitely prefer NO GLOVES.

But, the risks you take working with metal, sharp edges, plants that poke and prick and slice, disease, and the risk of running into a scorpion barehanded tell me to wear gloves.

I'm not much of a planner. When I go to the garden it's possibly to move the dripping hose to another plant or pick some new growth off the Tarragon. In reality I know full well that little trip could end up to be 2 hrs clipping bushes and cleaning leaves without my gloves...because I didn't "plan" to be out doing maintenance.

If I plan to trim the bushes and clean out the fallen leaves I will put on the gloves.

I use the gloves sold in auto-mechanic stores (or Home Depot) with the Velcro wrist fastener. These are the only gloves I wear because they give the most tactile advantage.

I always PLAN to put on my gloves but find myself coming out of the yard many times having just ruined my hands, because I started by picking off a leaf, and ended up by repotting a dozen seedlings..... I am sure I am not the only one!!

I'm like Aquane. I go out to water and next thing I know , I'm deadheading, moving pots, pruning, etc. If I go out with the intention of pruning, I do wear leather gloves, or rose guantlets, as I have a bunch of thorny trees and shrubs.

Almost always bare hands...I just wash them more. But some things you just can't do with bare hands...blackberry plants with thorns, for instance.

I always wear gloves. In fact, I have the farmer's tan on my arms but very white hands.

Farmer's tan on the hands! I'm only laughing because I know I'd be envious of ya'lls manicure

I know what the rest of you are saying. That's why I have to spend so much time finding the gloves and why it takes me a blister before I go looking for them! It's fairly rare that I go out intending to do hard labor- it just happens.

I have to echo Dave's comments on when to use gloves.....rough stuff only

I like working in the soil with my bare hands.....so I keep my nails trimmed close for easy cleaning.....I think it's good to touch the earth

RE the nails. I once read a suggestion that if you scrape your nails across a bar of soap it will help stop dirt from collecting there. This does work for awhile. I tried it a couple times. But, once again, it does require that you "plan" to do some gardening. Maybe keep the bar of soap with your tools so it's handy for spur of the moment need to weed or whatever.

I'm like Hetty and Aguane...I have tons of gloves...pairs lurking in all the normally suspected places, but it's not my first priority when going "out". I usually go out to do something and wind up doing something completely different without gloves and the original task remains waiting!!!

If I am pruning, or doing something which requires planning, I usually remember the gloves...

I am plagued by ridges on my nails which seem to collect dirt...