Gifts for gardeners indoors and outdoors
Do you have a gardener in your family or circle of friends? Looking for some ideas for a holiday gift? Here are a few to consider for the indoor as well as the outdoor gardener.
All of these gifts can be purchased from local nurseries and specialty stores as well as online.
Your outdoor gardening friend or family member may have a large collection of tools; however, they may not have an adjustable rake.
These small metal rakes allow the width of the tines to be adjusted so the rake can work easily among shrubs and narrow spaces in flower beds.
A gift for an experienced gardener is a seed storage kit with a container in which to store the seeds. Seed saving will take their gardening to a new level and inspire them to harvest the seeds from their favorite flower or vegetable plants. A seed collection kit would be especially good for a native plant enthusiast.
Outdoor gardeners know the value of attracting and keeping pollinators around their plants, particularly vegetable gardeners. Consider giving a bee “hotel.”
Created for solitary bees, these houses provide tunnels for nesting. There are many styles and sizes on the market; choosing one that allows the tubes to be replaced (add an extra set of tubes!) is a sustainable option.
If you have small children, there are online directions for making bee hotels that could be a fun handmade gift for gardening grandparents.
The vegetable gardener on your list or someone with a cutting garden may be very appreciative of a harvest basket with a handle that slips over the lower arm and allows harvested vegetables and flowers to be easily carried. There are many different types made from a variety of reasonably priced materials.
Stocking stuffers and small items that a gardener can always use include gloves, snips for deadheading flowers, pruners, plant markers (another home-crafted project possibility), and more gloves! Gardeners can never have enough gloves, and there is a range of prices to fit your budget.
Consider bulk packs of gardening gloves, or elbow-length suede gloves for pruning rose shrubs. Thin gloves work best for potting up and caring for indoor plants, while thicker gloves work better for outdoor pruning, raking and planting.
For the indoor plant gardener, several gift items can help with growing and maintaining houseplants of all varieties.
A decorative plant mister or small watering can help to maintain appropriate soil and ambient moisture control and still be attractive enough to display on a shelf or table for quick availability.
A growing kit for herbs can make a wonderful gift for the indoor gardener and cook. Kits usually provide seeds, potting soil and pots with instructions for growing your favorite kitchen herbs such as basil, oregano and parsley. Kits may be purchased for growing microgreens or sprouts; some kits may include a light source for seed starting and plant growing.
Decorative pots in smaller sizes for indoor plants are always appreciated. Make certain the pots allow for drainage and perhaps even have a matching saucer to catch water from the pot. There are also online sources for instructions on how to decorate plain pots for a personalized gift. Children can beautify the pots as gifts for grandparents or other family members.
Stocking stuffer gifts for the indoor gardener include snips for deadheading and trimming, plant markers (homemade!), and a small trowel.
Other gifts appreciated by both indoor and outdoor gardeners include a gardening journal, gardening-themed calendars, books or gift cards to their favorite local nursery or garden center.
All of these gifts represent the tools of the gardener’s trade. To keep the gardener sharp and ready to garden, the gift of education cannot be overlooked.
Penn State Extension, along with other state extension offices, offer online and onsite training courses for gardeners of all ages and abilities at a reasonable cost. Explore these options when gift-giving to your favorite indoor or outdoor gardener! To learn more about gardening-related education offered by Penn State Extension, visit https://extension.psu.edu. If you have questions about gardening practices, call the Master Gardeners of Butler County Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.
