Gift Giving Ideas for the Gardener on Your List

By B. E. Conrad

If there is a gardener on your holiday shopping list, it can sometimes be difficult to find just the right gifts. This can be especially true if you are not a gardener yourself, but with a little bit of planning and some knowledge you will be able to find some knockout gifts for your favorite garden guru.

When it comes to shopping for the gardener on your list, practicality is the watchword. While there are some extravagant and very fancy gardening gifts out there, most gardeners will enjoy the practical gifts the most. Gifts gardeners can use are greatly appreciated, and it will give the gardener on your list a great excuse to get out there are start digging.

Some of the many things gardeners an always use include planting tools such as bulb planters, digging tools such as rakes, hoes and shovels, garden trowels and garden hoses. You should be careful, however, about buying one of those super fantastic gardening tools you may see advertised on late night television. While some are worth the money, others fail to live up to the extravagant claims made on TV. If you are considering buying such a garden tool, be sure to look for some independent reviews to make sure that the tool really does what it claims to do.

One great and unique gift idea for the gardener on your holiday shopping list is to combine a number of smaller items into a gift basket. This is a great touch, especially if you are buying a number of small and inexpensive gardening tools. You may even want to pack it all into a gardening box or a bucket for an extra practical touch. Some of the great things you can throw in your gift box include gardening gloves, rain gauges, bulb planters, towels and kneeling pads.

Gardening magazine subscriptions can also make a great gift for the gardener in your life, but find out in advance which magazines they like, and which magazines they already subscribe to. If your favorite gardener already subscribes to a particular magazine, you may want to pay for a subscription renewal.

Books make a great gift for the gardener as well, as do calendars that focus on gardening and gardening tips. A copy of the farmers almanac is always a welcome gift as well.

For those gardeners who enjoy welcoming wildlife to the garden, bird feeders, hummingbird feeders and even squirrel feeders can be a great choice. A bonus of these gifts is that they can be used and enjoyed right away, attracting lots of colorful winter birds all through the holiday season.

Garden enthusiasts may also enjoy a gift of garden stones in a selection of colors, shapes and sizes. There are some excellent kits on the market that allow gift givers and gardeners to make their own custom made and inscribed garden stones.

Gazing balls are always a great gift for the gardener as well. Buying your favorite gardener a lovely gazing ball and gazing ball holder is a great way to show how much you care this holiday season.

Other great gift ideas for the gardener on your list include wind chimes, spinners and garden flags. There are many choices for garden flags, chimes and spinners, including a variety of bright colors and vibrant materials.

When shopping for your favorite gardener, don't overlook the obvious. Many gardeners appreciate a gift of exotic plants, such as hybrid varieties of tulips, rare plants or even a Venus fly trap.

Finally, garden statues and sculptures make a great choice for your favorite gardener as well. Adding a sculpture or statue to a garden can be a great touch, and gardeners of all ages will love to add a bit of culture and beauty to their favorite patch of garden.

© Doityourself.com 2006