Spring and early summer mean many people are spending more time outside planting flowers and gardens, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. Gardening and yard work can provide a great workout but your body used to winter time activity may struggle with all the bending, twisting, reaching and pulling. Stretching before reaching for your gardening tools can provide protection against injury. The back, upper legs, shoulders and wrists are all major areas where muscle and joint strain can occur. Having a warm up and cool down period may seem strange for gardening but it is as beneficial as it is for any other physical activity. Without the proper preparation of your body, the gardening season may be made uncomfortable by unwanted muscle and joint soreness. The following stretches are great for alleviating soreness during and after activities in the garden.