Gifts for Gardeners

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you have been procrastinating buying presents, I’m guilty of waiting till the last minute; you might be looking for some gift ideas for the plant lover in your family. Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to present during the December Garden Hour on Enabling Gardening for All. I found many fabulous gift ideas I wanted to talk about for this year. If you are looking for some cool tools, check out these ideas. Hopefully, one of these will work for that hard-to-shop person in your life.

  • The first one I will admit I purchased for my father for his birthday last spring. One of my Masterbattery pruners Gardeners recommended it, and we tried it out during the fruit tree pruning workshop I held during the spring. These electric hand pruners are excellent for people who have arthritis in their hands or have a bunch of plants that need pruning. There is a wide variety of brands out there that work equally well. The one word of caution is to watch your fingers when using them because they cut pretty quickly, and they can easily nick fingers.
  • garden seatA stool might be an excellent option for the gardener who works out in the garden, lawn, or landscape. This particular picture combines a stole with a removable tool bag. Seats can help spare your knees, and a wide variety of options of shapes, sizes, and colors are available. Some excellent options convert from a stool to a padded kneeler. These options work well for someone who might have trouble getting off the ground or working closer to the ground.
  • Keeping the weeds down between rows without getting down on your hands and knees can be aweed weasel digger challenge, especially if you have arthritis or mobility issues. I snagged this cultivator/weeder from a garage sale earlier this year. Each of the teeth can help work up the soil and dig up small weeds as they are getting started. The long handle enables you to stay upright, so you don’t have to get down on the ground, and the small size is perfect for working around plants or between rows.
  • bulb planterAnother tool I found during my research is these augers that can be used on corded or cordless drills. These come in several sizes, but I love the longer ones, so you don’t have to be down on your hands and knees. They were initially designed to help plant bulbs, but I can also see them working well when planting smaller bedding plants or vegetables in the spring. Several other types of attachments for weeding have been developed for drills, with new ones coming on the market fairly frequently.
  • For the serious gardener who struggles with weeds, the Tertil weeding robot might be your option.weeding robot Based on the Roomba, this solar-powered robot is weatherproof and patrols its territory, cutting small weeds down as it goes. From what I've been told, the Tertil covers about 200 square feet and does relatively well. This is a pricier gift but is perfect for someone who goes on vacation during the growing season.
  • hori hori knifeHori Hori Knife-The most recommended product in this year’s survey was the Hori Hori Knife. This versatile product is a unique mix between a trowel, a saw, and a knife. The blade is serrated on one side and can be used to cut roots, dig and divide plants, remove weeds, and the measurement markings make it easy to plant bulbs.
  • Heavy Duty Wagon- Tied for the second most recommended item in this year’s survey is a heavy-duty wagon to use around your garden. The gardeners loved it for its usefulness in moving things around, hauling bags of leaves, moving plants, holding tools, and reducing the amount of moving heavy items the gardeners needed to do. There are a variety of different ones on the market depending on your price point and the size of the wagon you need.
  • Waterproof, Reusable Planting Mat- Tied as the second most recommended item are transplantingplanting mat mats. I have had several of these over the years, and have loved them for making clean-up easier. In our household, I have used my mats for transplanting plants, carving pumpkins, and any activity that might make a mess. There are a variety of different brands, colors, and sizes of these transplanting mats, but most have corners that snap together to keep the dirt from spilling while you are working.
  • Gift Cards- The next item on our survey is the ever-popular gift card to a local garden center or their favorite online garden store. This is the perfect gift for the person who has everything or the person who is hard to shop for.
  • We the Wild Plant Care- This company and its organic product line offer something for everyone. The products are all made in the United States including their compostable sticky traps. The website states that their foolproof formulas are packed full of beneficial bacteria and fungi to help your houseplants thrive like they would in nature! Rely on us for strong roots, vigorous growth, and resilient houseplants through every season, whether you're a beginner or an expert. If you are looking for a new line of fertilizers, insecticides, and general plant care check them out for the houseplant enthusiast in your life. Their website is: https://wethewild.us/
  • winter garden glovesWinter Gardening Gloves- These are the perfect gift for the gardener who loves to be outdoors in any weather. These gloves have an insulated shell to keep hands warm in colder weather and a smooth Nitrile coating provides excellent grip and protection. These gloves can be found at Home Depot in a package of three pairs of gloves. They do only come in large or extra-large sizes. You can also find similar gloves at other online retailers if you need smaller sizes.
  • Seed Saving Kits- This is the perfect gift for the gardener in your life who would like to start savingseed saving kit seeds or has been saving seeds for years. There are a variety of different seed-saving kits you can purchase. The typical kit comes with a box or container to hold the packages of seeds in and envelopes or vials to save the seeds in that can be labeled with what is in them and the date. Some kits also include things such as funnels to make it easier to store the seed, markers for planting seeds next year and instructions for how to save different types of seeds. These kits can be perfect for the gardener who likes to experiment and try different things in their garden.
  • Bonide Systemic Insecticide Granules- This product is one I have used and have had success with. Bonide Systemic Houseplant Insect Control provides insect control for up to 8 weeks. Protects plants from aphids, whiteflies, and other listed insects. I have enjoyed this product because it’s easy to find locally and effectively controls many houseplant pests. It makes an excellent stocking stuffer idea.
  • Bee and Bat Houses- Does your gardener love wildlife in their garden? Bee and bat houses arebat house perfect for the gardener who wants to bring more wildlife and native bees into their gardens. There are a variety of different styles and brands out there. When looking into purchasing a bat house, look for ones meet the criteria recommended by Bat Conservation International in regards to size and shape. Those houses have the best cavity sizes for the types of bats in our area. Bee houses can easily be found in a variety of stores and as long as they provide a mix of different sizes of holes and different materials there isn’t one bee house that is better than others.
  • SuperThrive- This product was recommended by houseplant lovers on our survey and in multiple plant groups. Started in a three-car garage in 1939, SUPERthrive has had a fabulous journey few products can match. SuperThrive is a unique vitamin solution of non-toxic ingredients that restores plant vigor, reduces transplant shock, and says it promotes chemical balance in houseplants.
  • Portable Umbrella with Stand- umbrellaThis portable umbrella comes with a three-legged stand or an anchor for stability depending on the brand. The outdoor umbrella blocks 98% UVA and UVB rays to keep you cool in the shade. The tilt feature allows you to adjust the angle with a push button for optimal shade all day long. This umbrella is lightweight and easy to move around your garden to provide shade in those sunny places. The gardener recommended the Ammsun brand which can be found at this link.

If you are still stumped for gift ideas, consider buying an Amaryllis bulb for them to plant and bloom this spring, a gift card to a local greenhouse that they don't usually visit, or a "coupon" book to help them in the garden this coming year. There are a ton of options for gifts that can be given to that hard to shop for person this season.

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Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu