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Gardening Advice

Great Gifts For The Avid Gardener

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If there’s a gardener on you list to buy for this holiday season you have quite a bit to choose from. Any gardener would appreciate reference guides or other garden related books. They’ll also appreciate a quality garden tool or a bag to organize and carry them. Add decor to a yard with a garden accent such as a sundial. Allow your friends keep their feet dry in the garden with a pair of clogs.


Pruners are an essential part of the gardener’s tool collection. As a landscape professional, I know the value of well made garden tools. They’re the difference between a pleasurable gardening experience and frustration. Qualities to look for in a pruner are reliable, sturdy construction and a soft grip.


Garden Bag Gift Sets are great way for the avid gardener to organize and carry tools. Since a garden bag carries sharp tools, choose one that is well made and easy to carry. Some garden bags will include some products to add to your collection of tools such as towels and hand rakes.


Garden clogs are wonderful since they provide protection for the gardener’s feet while in the garden. Along with keeping feet dry, a pair of soft clogs are comfortable enough wear all day while working in the garden. Waterproof clogs are also easy to clean up.


Garden benches can transform someone’s garden or patio into a sanctuary. They’re great as they allow you rest and view the landscape. Choose a bench which will add character to the garden as well as a place to relax. Garden benches can be traditional or modern. Benches made from eco-friendly, weather-resistant wood are long lasting and age beautifully.


Birdbaths are an attractive way to enhance a garden or turn a backyard into a wildlife habitat. Depending on the type, birdbaths can either be hung from a branch of a tree or placed on a stand in the garden. Styles can vary from very simple and modern to ornate and decorative. If the water will freeze in the winter where you live, consider including an ice melting device so the birds have adequate water in the winter.


Sundials are classic garden decor. A decorative one, such as a Butterfly Sundial, is perfect for any garden. Decor such as this gives character to the garden and helps make it unique.


The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is great for gardeners seeking specific plant information or general gardening advice. It covers 15,000 trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials, annuals, rock plants, bulbs, and succulents. It’s an ideal reference guide for those who want descriptions of popular plant species.


Garden Gloves are essential when pruning roses, raspberries or other thorny shrubs. Look for gloves that provide a balance between dexterity and protection. Leather or canvas usually provide the best protection.


Gardeners are generally easy to please and patient. Any of the gifts listed above are sure to put a smile on their face.

Tim Birch is the publisher of GardenListings.com, a garden resource website. Visit Garden Listings for more great Garden Giftideas.

Gardening Advice

Garden Gift Baskets for the Avid Gardener

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If you have a friend or relative that is an avid gardener, there is no more thoughtful gift than a garden gift basket for a holiday, birthday or anniversary present. At first, you may seem overwhelmed when shopping in your garden center or on the internet. There are a few things to consider when trying to find just the right “flavor” for your garden gift basket to give to the people who love to play in the dirt, so t speak.

First you must determine how much you want to spend for the garden gift basket. After you have the dollar amount, walk through the aisles of the garden center to see what items are available. Of course, you could also do an internet search to see what the most popular tools and gadgets are selling. You will be surprised at the range of goods that are available from the inexpensive to the extravagant. Keep in mind that you will want to get quality products that will last so your friend or relative will have years of enjoyment.

If your gardener is a novice you may want to start with the basics, a pruner, a watering can, gardening gloves, or special nozzles for the hose. There are many garden centers that have gift baskets already made up. It could include some gardening tools and seeds revolving around a specific theme like, vegetables or roses or herbs. If you choose to go with the herb theme and want to do it on your own, include some tasty herb seed packets, some small, pretty pots and a journal where notes can be kept.

If you have a gardener with a well used garden rake and tool belt, you can pretty much surmise that they have all of the state-of-the-art tools and have been collecting gardening equipment for years. Here, a simple but thoughtful gift would be a work apron that has be monogrammed or personalized with a funny garden saying. A well seasoned gardener will appreciate the thought you have put into the gift.

To really get the best gift for your gardener you should know the level of their expertise and if they have a theme. For example there are gardeners that only grow roses while there are others that specialize in herb gardening, knowing this will help you pick out the perfect gift. For instance a scarecrow would look dumb in a rose garden whereas a hummingbird feeder is way out of place in a vegetable patch. And be careful with the “cutesy” garden decorations, some people love garden gnomes or stone gargoyles whereas someone with an award winning exotic tropical garden wouldn’t think of having one.

If after you have gone through all these options, level of expertise and if they have a theme or not and you still don’t know what to buy, the answer is simple. Purchase them a gift certificate from your local garden center. Every gardener needs supplies through the year and your gift will help to offset the expense of their garden.

If after considering the gardener’s experience level and theme of their garden you remain stumped, a gardening gift certificate allowing them to select their own gift is a surefire way to please and inspire them as their garden grows through the years.

With a little inspiration you can find the perfect gift basket for your avid gardener. Don’t forget to put a pretty bow on the basket! Here is a natural pesticide that you may want to print on a card and include in the gift basket:

In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

Every gardener likes to keep the garden as chemical free as they can.

 

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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