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Need a Gift for a Gardener?
Think All Four Seasons!
Find a gift for a gardener
no matter what the season! Gardening gift ideas
to please green-thumb recipients all year round.
As an avid gardener, I'm always learning something new – what works or doesn't, why one tool is better than another, and what makes a great gift for a gardener.
Back in Connecticut, I had a 40' x 100' garden. We reclaimed it from an old pasture, so it started out fertile (though plagued by witch grass). I raised just about every sort of vegetable, lots of berries, and flowers too. It was a way of life I loved, and we sure ate well!
Now I have a tiny yard, a very tiny garden, and some different ideas about what makes a great gift for a gardener – the gardener with limited space.
Your recipient's level of interest and garden type (flowers, veggies, landscape, or a combination) will be a factor in your gift selection. Most gardeners don't stop loving gardening in the winter, so feel free to consider a gardening gift for Christmas or that cold-weather birthday! Our ideas are arranged by season – just pick and click!
Choosing a Winter Gift for a Gardener
Gardening Gifts for the Spring
Ideas for a Summer Gift for a Gardener
Autumn Gardening Gift Ideas
Choosing a Winter Gift for a Gardener
What arrives in the mail during the last week of December, first week of January? Yeah, income tax forms, for those who don't do their taxes online. But also seed catalogs! Nothing is more satisfying for a gardener in winter than to settle down with a mug of something hot, thumb your nose at the snow or nasty weather, and pore through a seed catalog.
And it's all the better if you have a gift certificate to go with it! Here are some seed companies I have dealt with, all of whom have given me excellent service, and all offer gift certificates too:
- W. Atlee Burpee – since 1876, located in Pennsylvania. My grandfather was a truck farmer, and he used Burpee seeds 75 years ago. I've used them much more recently and been very satisfied. Great marigolds!
- Harris Seeds – since 1879, located way upstate in Rochester, NY. Their products and service have never disappointed me. I really like their pelleted seeds.
- Park Seed Co. – since 1868 in Greenwood, SC. I've been pleased with their seeds and garden supplies, including seed starter and potting soil mixes. They carry many hard-to-find flower seeds.
- Wayside Gardens in Hodges, SC has excellent perennials and shrubs, many quite unusual. They use botanical names so there's no confusion (common names differ in various parts of the country/world). Wayside has a beautiful catalog.
- Stark Bros. Nurseries and Orchards – in Louisiana, MO since 1816, is a quality source for berries, fruit trees and ornamentals. I've obtained top-rate strawberry plants and asparagus roots from them. Gift certificates via catalog or phone; not currently available online.
With the catalogs, your gift for a gardener might include garden planning materials – either planning software or more traditional garden planning supplies:
- A large pad of good quality white paper or graph paper
- A large pad of heavyweight tracing paper (get it at an art supply store; it should be heavy enough to withstand erasing)
- A T-square ruler (I like see-through plastic for this job)
- A supply of pencils, a soft eraser, and a fine-point pen or two.
- A mug warmer, so that cup of something hot will stay hot!
- Oh yeah… toss in a packet or two of gourmet tea or cocoa mix!
Your gardener can draw a permanent plot plan showing features like paths, rocks, trees and perennials on the white paper, then slip it under the top sheet of tracing paper to fill in this year's plan for crops and flowers. Another tracing sheet for another version, the rest of the pad for different garden plots – or for next year.
 A well-written gardening book is a useful and greatly valued gift for a gardener. If I could have only one vegetable gardening book, it would be Garden Way's Joy of Gardening, by Dick Raymond. It's packed with smart, useful information and it's very readable and well illustrated. I also like the Better Homes and Gardens gardening books.
Here's an interesting winter gardening gift – a mushroom kit. It comes complete and ready to go; all you need is a dark closet or corner of the basement. I've had good luck with them – it's so nice to grow the fresh mushrooms, at least, for your winter salad.
Your gift for a gardener, when late winter rolls around (March, here in Zone 5-6), might focus on seed starting supplies. These supplies come in all price ranges, from seeds and peat pellets or seed starter mix, to single or multi-tier lighted plant stands for the new sprouts, to a cold frame for toughening up seedlings outdoors.
Do some detective work and see what your gardener can use. Gardeners improvise a lot, and yours might like to have some real seed starting flats to replace those cut-up milk and OJ cartons. Or a heated grow mat to speed germination.
 Specialty gardening books – most gardeners enjoy trying new ideas, and a thoughtful gift for a gardener would be a good book introducing a technique he or she hasn't tried.
Here are some suggestions:
- organic gardening
- intensive gardening
- companion gardening
- raised beds
- shade gardens
- butterfly gardens
- container gardens
- composting
- water gardens
- related topics: walls & fences, topiary/espaliers, fountains.
One more thought – late winter is a good time to put up a birdhouse, so it will be waiting when Mr. & Mrs. Songbird arrive to set up housekeeping. Choose from the vast array available in yard and garden stores, or help your child build one during winter break for Grandpa's late-winter birthday.
back to seasons
Gardening Gifts for the Spring
As soon as the frost is gone and the ground has dried out enough, it's time to turn over the garden and prepare it for planting. I can't resist starting at the top of the food chain.
The most princely gift for a gardener is a rear-tine rototiller. Our Troy-Bilt turned that piece of rocky pasture into a finely-tilled garden with ease and even beat the witch grass. I used it every spring and fall. Honda and DR Power Equipment also manufacture rear-tine rototillers.
A quality rear-tined tiller is not cheap but it's worth every penny. The power-driven wheels deliver an operation so smooth that you walk alongside and guide the machine with one hand. With the tines behind the wheels, it leaves no tracks in your newly-tilled soil. Pitch in with others on a joint gift… sell your recipient's friendly neighbor a half interest… do what you must to make it a rear-tine tiller!
Another princely gift for a gardener is a sturdy garden cart - the kind with two large bicycle-type wheels makes it easy to transport very heavy cargo over rough terrain is far more stable than a wheelbarrow. Carts Vermont makes the original of its kind and is simply the best on the market. I've kept mine through two moves so I'll have it when I leave these city surroundings!
A soil testing kit is a useful gift for a gardener as the season begins. The soil must provide nutrients for the plants it will support. It's important to know what, if anything, should be done to build up the soil before planting.
Garden tools, both full-sized and hand tools, are an obvious choice as a gift for a gardener. Your gardener probably has the standard basic assortment: spading shovel, spading fork, hoe, garden rake and edger; and a hand trowel, fork, cultivator and clippers. If not, there's your idea! Always go for quality – it does make a difference when it comes to gardening tools. Tip: hand tools with brightly colored handles are easier to keep track of.
Every gardener can use another of certain items: an extra spade with a longer handle; a better pair of clippers, another length of garden hose. And every gardener has tools that become favorites for one reason or another. Here are a few of mine:
- Watering nozzle producing a soft, rain-like stream to deliver water quickly, without damaging seedlings. If you choose one with multiple settings, be sure it has a gentle one like rain. Too fast a stream (even a mist) will flatten seedlings.
- Watering wand producing a rain-like stream. This is great for reaching up to water hanging plants or directing the water under a row of beans, straight to the soil.
- Hand cultivator - My favorite has very narrow, slightly flexible tines and is especially good for delicate work around young plants. I also like a cultivator that has just one heart- or arrowhead-shaped blade.
- Tool caddy - a carrying caddy is a nice gift for a gardener to help keep hand tools from being misplaced. It can also hold a collection of seed packets, plant and row labels, and other small items (cell phone, maybe?) that we use out in the garden at planting time. For the tall tools, look for a large caddy that can be wheeled out to the garden and back.
- Skin care products - a fine gift for a gardener like me, who can't stand gloves. Nothing dries out the hands faster than handling soil and, let's face it, nobody is going to try to plant petunia seeds while wearing gloves! A can of Boraxo hand cleaner will really scrub out the dirt; then the hands will drink up a nice moisturizing lotion. Don't forget sunscreen – it's easy to get a burn before the trees are in full leaf. While you're at it, some nice bath salts will help to soothe those gardening muscles that haven't been used all winter!
 Before Spring turns officially into Summer, your gardener will be picking peas, lettuce, asparagus and strawberries, and barbecue season will be in full swing. A good late-spring gift for a gardener is a comfy lawn chaise, or perhaps a hammock, so he or she can relax for awhile and enjoy the perfect weather.
back to seasons
Ideas for a Summer Gift for a Gardener
Summer is the time when the vegetable garden looks its best. Here in New England, the corn is "knee-high by the Fourth of July," the tomatoes are setting fruit, and everything is filling in nicely and looking lush. Flowerbeds in full bloom brighten every corner of the yard and patio. And the weeds are growing like… well, like weeds!
Here are some ideas to help you find a wonderful gift for a gardener who will be spending a lot of time out there:
 Baskets for gathering cut flowers, berries or veggies. Shallow baskets are best for soft berries and heavy, juicy tomatoes – if stacked too deeply, those on the bottom will get squashed (pardon the pun). A long shallow basket with a tall, over-the-top handle is fine for cut flowers, too. For blueberries or beans, choose a finely-woven basket so none will slip through the cracks.
A hose rack or caddy is very helpful for controlling a willful hose and keeping it out from underfoot. If it's a long distance from spigot to garden, look for a caddy with a winding reel – hose reels are also available for mounting on the side of a building. For shorter hoses, a rack will suffice to store the hose neatly. Hose racks are available with wall brackets or attached to posts.
Hose guides are (often decorative) stakes placed at the corners of flower beds or garden paths to protect plants from being run over by the hose. Also known as hose fenders, they usually come in sets of 4 or 6 and make a functional and attractive gift for a gardener.
Weeding stools and kneelers will relieve wear and tear on the knees of both gardener and jeans. There are several types, from a folding seat that inverts to a kneeler, to an ergonomic stool that rocks forward as you bend, to a stool on wheels with a comfy tractor-type seat. This gift for a gardener will prevent a lot of backaches, too!
 Plant supports and trellises make it possible to grow more vegetables in a small space. They keep the fruit off the ground to discourage rotting and garden pests like slugs. A trellis covered with morning glories or clematis (or cherry tomatoes) forms a lovely backdrop for a flower bed. Supports and trellises in wood or metal are available at most garden centers.
A boot brush/scraper mounted by the back door will be a blessing in both winter and summer. Some are quite cleverly designed. A boot scraper is a gift for a gardener that the housekeeper will appreciate too!
A yard or garden accessory is a gift for a gardener that should be carefully chosen and tasteful, not tacky. Suggestions:
- Bird bath
- Garden bench
- Garden globe
- Garden statuary or figurine
- Solar path lights
- Sundial
- Weathervane
If your gift is for someone whose tastes you don't know for sure, it's wise to run your idea past someone who does know. As with clothing, some yard accessories are very much a matter of taste!
 Patio plant containers and window boxes come in many sizes, shapes, materials, and colors… a useful gift for a gardener who has limited space. Beautiful veggies as well as flowering plants can be grown successfully in containers. Be sure the container provides drainage – even if your gardener sets already-potted plants in the container, a heavy summer shower can leave them drowning in rainwater if there are no drainage holes.
Outdoor accommodations for houseplants. Most houseplants greatly benefit from a summer vacation outdoors. A must-have gift for a gardener who keeps a lot of houseplants is a plant bench. Plant benches come in wood or metal and usually have two or three tiers. Corner units fit well on many porches and patios. Equally useful are plant hanging brackets – garden centers carry handsome wrought iron posts with hanging hooks, as well as fixtures to mount on a wall or tall fence.
back to seasons
Autumn Gardening Gift Ideas
Autumn doesn't officially begin until late September, but we still think of Labor Day as the beginning of Fall. Whether late summer or early fall, September is busy – it's harvest time for many long-season crops. Later, as Autumn draws to a close, we must put the gardens to bed for the winter. Here are good seasonal gifts:
 Let's start with another book. Now is the perfect time for some good information on preserving the extra bounty for the winter. My all-time favorite is Putting Food By, by Janet Greene et al. With an emphasis on food safety, this excellent book has fully detailed and illustrated instructions for every food preservation method. Plus a great recipe for tomato marmalade that is delicious on biscuits!
Along these lines, equipment and supplies for preserving food come in all price ranges from big-time gifts with a capital "G" to items a child can afford. Here are some suggestions:
- A freezer
- Pressure canner
- Boiling Water Bath canner
- Food drying rack & trays (no metal, please)
- Heat-sealer for freezer bags
- Canning jars, pretty jelly jars
- Personalized jar labels
Your flower lover may wish to preserve some nice blooms before they fade, and a flower press is a thoughtful gift for a gardener who enjoys art and crafts projects. You might add a box of blank note cards and envelopes to get her started.
A pedestal plant stand is an excellent gift for a gardener who somehow has larger houseplants (or more, which always seems to happen!) to bring back inside than were brought outdoors in the Spring. A pedestal has a small footprint, yet it shows off a large plant to its best advantage.
What gardener wouldn't like a terrarium? Early autumn is a good time to gather small woodland plants and mosses (partridge berries do well) to plant in a large, covered glass apothecary or penny-candy jar. Let the materials be your gift, or assemble the terrarium yourself. Be sure the moisture level is just right before tightly covering the jar.
A leaf blower is one of the greatest inventions since sliced bread, in my opinion! Mine is electric and reasonably lightweight, but it does a great job even under a row of very large maples. This gift for a gardener will make leaf clean-up a breeze (oooh, sorry!).
As the days grow shorter and cooler, and frost begins to threaten, a handsome outdoor thermometer is also a practical gift for a gardener. The old Yankee farmers say that if it's 40 degrees Farenheit when you go to bed, there won't be a frost overnight.
As autumn fades, your gift of a birdfeeder and a sack of sunflower seeds will add enjoyment to the long winter months. I never met a gardener who didn't love the sound of chickadees and a glimpse of a beautiful red cardinal. A covered metal bucket will keep furry varmints from invading the seeds.
The high-end winter gift for a gardener who doesn't want a winter vacation from gardening is a greenhouse, but a "bump-out" greenhouse window, or even a skylight will provide the natural overhead lighting that so many houseplants crave. If you have the motive (your gardener wants one), opportunity (a house where it's feasible), and means, you'll have a very happy gardener all winter long!
How's all that for a start? The nice thing about having a gardener in your life is that there is such a wonderful variety of gifts that relate to gardening. Again, I encourage you to consider the type of gardening and the level of your recipient's interest…
…and you will find a gift for a gardener
that is sure to please!
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