Gifts for the Gardener

By Cody Snyder

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County

Appeared in the 11-06-24 Mountain Democrat

If you are lucky enough to know a gardener, then you have probably received some wonderful gifts from them. Every friend looks forward to fresh tomatoes, green beans, a bouquet of beautiful flowers, or maybe even the annual zucchini doorbell ditch in August. But what do you give them in repayment? We are going to help you pick out a super special unique gift for all the gardeners in your life.

Giving your gardener friend a comfortable place to work will always be a winner. Look into a two-in-one bench that can be used as a stool or a kneeling pad. This will help with those long hours of pulling weeds or trimming flowers. Their knees and backs will appreciate it!

Gardeners always need gloves, new clippers, or hand tools. But these can be very personal choices as these are the tools of their trade, and everyone likes something different. If you want to give the gift of new gloves or tools, put together a nice new garden tool tote with a gift card and a nice note so they can pick exactly the right tool for themselves.

It seems like everyone is catching the composting wave! And why not? It is the best way to get the most out of all those kitchen scraps. Why not give the gift of a kitchen compost bin along with a book on how to get the most out of your compost? Countertop kitchen compost bins save trips to the backyard compost and come in many colors to complement kitchen decor.

Gardeners spend so much time outside, digging around in bushes, climbing around in trees, why not give the gift of arm protection? Stretchy gardening sleeves cover the gardener’s arm from wrist to shoulder and protect arms from scratches, harmful sun rays, and they come in so many fun styles, you are sure to find a set that matches your gardener’s personality.

Every gardener loves it when we see our little pollinator friends in the garden. If we see them, we know our friends are helping our plants thrive. Help your gardener friend to create the perfect habitat for their little friends. How about butterfly house or feeder, miniature bee boxes, or an insect habitat. All of these come in a variety of sizes and designs, you may just see yourself ordering two!

Does your gardener often say that they wish they had one tool that was their go-to tool? Why not look to adding a hori hori knife to their box of tricks? This tool is a work horse in the garden. It digs, measures depth, and has a sharp serrated edge for cutting just about anything.  

Garden journaling helps to make garden planning easier. Journaling helps a gardener learn from their experience, and to plan their next garden and plant choices. There are lots of different styles of gardening journals from inexpensive to leatherbound.

No matter what you choose, your gardener will love you for the thoughtfulness of your gift and will keep you in tomatoes for years to come.