Gifts for Gardeners
With Christmas around the corner, there are a lot of gift choices for that special gardener in your life. After gardening for more than 40 years, I’ve compiled a list of useful products and tools.
My favorite tool is my Felco pruner. There are right- and left-handed types and even a lightweight version. They range from $40 to $70; rather pricey, but I’ve had mine for more than 30 years.
Gardeners always need gloves. Leather gloves are great for heavy-duty work. Foxgloves are a type that are stretchy, thin and tough. They’re great for weeding since heavier gloves make it hard to feel weeds versus desired plants.
Garden trowels by Radius have great ergonomic handles that are curved. The metal blade is extra-long and marked for planting bulbs. The fork trowel is also extra-long. The metal in the shovel and fork trowels is one continuous piece through the handle, which makes them extra-strong and durable. Screwed or welded handles often break after one season.
A Hori Hori knife is another great tool. I use it for making a hole quickly for planting bulbs or transplants. It also makes dividing mature plants easy. Its serrated edge can cut branches.
Garden kneelers make a great gift that saves the gardener’s knees. They come in many sizes and colors, from flat pads to knee pads to benches.
Give a good watering can for another great gift. One-gallon watering cans with long spouts are great for watering plants that are just out of reach. A small one-quart watering can with a long spout for indoor plants also makes a great gift.
For small gifts or stocking stuffers, plant twist ties on a little plastic reel are a handy tool for tying up plants. Rapiclip by Luster Leaf has a built-in wire cutter.