Gifts for Gardeners
Great Gift Ideas for Gardeners & Plant Lovers
Gardeners and house plant lovers are fun and easy to buy for! But if you aren’t a plant-enthusiast, you may not know what’s needed and what might be appreciated. Fear not! These are gift ideas which will be loved by any plant parent — inside or out, patio or estate. And no matter your budget, there’s something on this list for everyone!
Garden Notes: a Journal for Gardeners
I created Garden Notes after using several other gardening journals and being frustrated with them all. They were either too fancy, too fussy, or too small! Garden Notes is perfect — it has just enough guidance for those who like a little structure, but plenty of blank space for those who need to get creative, too. I keep track of what I plant, how well it grows, what I harvest, and everything in between. Each copy covers 6 months — a growing season for most. But put two together, and you have a whole year of gardening.
Garden Notes makes a wonderful gift for gardeners and plant enthusiasts!
Books for the Gardener
Reading about gardening can be a wonderful way to spend the winter, dreaming and scheming for the coming months. There are many gorgeous books out there about gardening, but these are some of the best-written and most helpful I have found in my reading.
If you are going to buy one gardening book, it should be The Complete Gardener. This is hands-down the best gardening book I’ve ever read. It is wonderful, well-written, readable, and written with the home gardener in mind by someone who has been a home gardener and a writer for many years. It’s honestly the best and only gardening book you really need.
Gardener’s World
One of the best gifts you can give any gardener is an introduction to the BBC’s Gardener’s World. This beautiful show has been on for more than 50 years, and while it is focused on gardens in Great Britain, it teaches more about gardening and good practice than entire networks here in the US. And it is calm, relaxed television — both entertaining and educational without any trumped up drama or an emphasis on instant results. But, it can be a bit of a hunt to find here in the US. Here’s the best solution I have found: a combination of Amazon Prime and Brit Box.
There are multiple past seasons available on Amazon Prime, and with Prime you can get a free 7-day trial of Brit Box where the most current two seasons are available. So consider giving a gift of Prime and/or Brit Box with the instructions that your beloved gardener find and enjoy Gardener’s World.
I’m not a big TV watcher, but our whole family LOVES Gardener’s World! It’s what will get us through the winter and will help our imaginations focus on the spring to come!
Tools for the Garden
Novice gardeners and experts alike need a variety of tools for their work, and high-quality tools are essential. Frankly, duplicates are welcome, too, as they can be stored in multiple places.
These two wagons are workhorses in my garden. I have both of them, and while I thought that was an indulgence at first, they are in almost constant use. If I had to choose one, I would choose the green as it is larger, but they both perform different functions. They make a great gift!
Gardening Hand Tools
Good hand tools make gardening so much easier. I have several sets which I keep stashed in different parts of the yard which is unexpectedly handy. Choose tools with good handles — that’s critical! I love these from Ames. They are my go-to tools in the greenhouse.
Barebones Gardening Tools
If you follow me on Instagram, you know how much I love Barebones tools. They are very high quality and have a gorgeous aesthetic and feel. I truly love them!
These are a few of my favorites. You can read more about Barebones and my love affair with them here.
Watering Cans and Tools
Did you know that different styles of watering cans and watering tools perform different functions? They do! And a really good watering can will last decades. I always buy steel or another metal, and I look for the best quality I can afford. Haws watering cans and devices are the gold standard, but they can be very hard to find in the US. I have a vintage one for house plants which I found on Etsy. That’s a testament to their quality: I found a vintage one on Etsy, and it is a gem.
Inexpensive Gardening Gifts
If you are looking for something that’s really inexpensive, every gardener can use a new pair of gloves. I’m a big fan of the Digz gloves which last multiple seasons for me before wearing out. And a padded kneeler is a game changer for any gardener! I like the neoprene kneelers which seem to last and last and last. Both of these items are relatively inexpensive and will be appreciated for a long time to come!
Garden Trugs
If you aren’t a gardener, you may not be familiar with the idea of a trug. Basically it’s a container with handles for moving things around the garden. Personally, I love the plastic ones and have several in two different sizes. I use them to move dirt, collect harvests, to hold bulbs and plants when I am planting, and fill them with weeds when I’m weeding. I use them all the time — almost daily. But those beautiful wooden harvest trugs are fabulous for veggies and flowers, too. They make a lovely gift!
Seeds for the Garden
Gardeners spend a lot of time in the winter months planning for seed starting in the spring. I know I do! One of my favorite seed companies, Botanical Interests, has seed collections and gift sets which make a great gift for a gardener no matter their experience level. And a gift certificate is always welcome, too!
Click the link below to see all of their gift sets and collections. Such a great way to get someone started!
Seed Starting Supplies
If your favorite gardener or house plant lover has talked about starting plants from seed, they will need some supplies in addition to the seeds. Grow lights are great if they don’t have a good windowsill or a greenhouse. And even organizing seeds can be a job, so this little galvanized seed organizer is a great choice. And a seed-starting kit can be a wonderful way to get a small garden up and running inside before it is time to plant out.
Amaryllis
I love giving amaryllis! They make a wonderful gift — particularly in the dark days of winter. Your recipient will recieve a bulb and a container along with planting instructions. Within a month or so, they will have gorgeous blooms which will last for weeks!
They are great for gardeners who might be missing their gardens in the dark days of winter. Houseplant lovers also love them as they thrive inside. And they are such easy plants to grow that they make a great gift for beginners, too!
Gifts for House-Plant Lovers
Whether you are buying for a gardener or a house-plant parent, copper trays and a good watering can are indispensible. Copper trays can be used underneath pots to protect tables and other surfaces. And a good watering can makes all the difference. I love copper, too. It is beautiful and lasts for decades with little maintenance.
Gifts for the Wildlife Gardener
One of my most important goals as a gardener is to increase and improve the habitat in my yard for native species. One important part of that is to make my yard more hospitable for nesting insects. Bug Hotels like these are an easy way to provide nesting spots and places for insects to lay eggs in urban or suburban enviroments. We have the Haba bug hotel, and it was shocking how quickly insects moved in! Many of these are kits, too, which kids can help to assemble — super-fun!
And birdfeeders always make a good gift for a gardener who wants to support wildlife — especially in the fall and winter. These all claim to be squirrel-proof. That’s tricky, but it’s worth a try!
I hope you’ve found something that will please every plant-lover on your list! And a small portion of anything you purchase goes to support Mid Modern Mama. For that I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
However you are celebrating, I wish you joy and love!