Do you need a last-minute gift idea for the plant lover in your life? Maybe your New Year’s resolution is to get your hands dirty in the garden. We are here to help!
I spoke Donna Moramarco, the director of horticulture for Planting Fields in Oyster Bay, NY, to help curate a list filled with things every gardener needs!
Essential Garden Gifts
We can't garden without the right tools. There are a lot of cheap garden tools out there. Some are good in a pinch and others are just gimmicks. We recommend splurging on high quality, tired and true tools. They're appreciated by the beginners and the pros and will get the job done right.
A high-quality metal shovel is a must for gardeners that plan on digging deep into the dirt. Smaller garden trowels are great for any gardeners that work a lot with containers or smaller plants.
Pruning shears come in all shapes and sizes. The highest quality pruners can cost between $50 - $100 and last a lifetime if used properly. Donna encourages people to only use pruning shears for plants, like they’re intended. Cutting things like metal wire with pruning shears will wear out the blade.
Garden gloves constantly rip and break. A fresh pack of these will always be appreciated by gardeners. Donna suggests elevating this gift idea with high quality, thick gloves for gardeners with bigger projects. She also recommends long sleeve gloves to protect gardeners working with thorny plants like roses.
Gifts with a personal touch
Seeds are a great purchase this time of the year. Some gardeners start seeds under grow-lights as early as February, and specialized seeds sometimes run out in the spring when demand increases.
Starting plants from seed make it possible to grow plants that nurseries typically won’t carry. Did you know there are more than 50 varieties of basil and 10,000 types of tomatoes?
Beautiful pottery is a great investment and will have gardeners dreaming ways to fill it up this spring.
How about a gift card?
When in doubt, purchase a gift card! Many gardeners have a favorite local nursery. A gift card there is thoughtful and helps support local garden centers during their slower season.
Keep an eye out for some savings! Some local garden shops and online stores offer discounts on gift cards around Thanksgiving time. Although those savings are harder to find this time of the year, you might still find some gift card discounts, and leftover holiday plants will be deeply discounted starting this week.