It’s time to get out in the yard and garden. It’s time to make them look fantastic, but before you pick up that rake and start raking there are a few things to know so you can avoid hurting your back.

Experts say to make sure to take caution and don’t jump into the summer activities too fast because after a long winter rest jumping in to fast can cause back pain. “When it comes to gardening and back pain, your body may need a few weeks after the long winter to become accustomed again to the physical stresses of gardening, such as squatting, twisting, lifting and digging” said Dr. David Wang, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in Mclean, VA, in a news release.

Let’s prevent this back pain and use these few tips to all stay healthy for the summer.

• Take it slow
• Warm up
• Consider Body Position
• Take Breaks
• Use Proper Equipment
• Stretch