2023 Gift Guide for Gardeners
Do you know someone who loves to garden?
Chances are, you do. It's estimated that about 63 million people in the United States alone enjoy gardening, whether it's growing flowers, food or a beautifully landscaped yard.
And about 20 million of those people are new gardeners who took up the hobby in the past few years.
No matter what your gardener enjoys growing, you can support their growing hobby with gifts chosen especially for them.
Read on for gift ideas that are unusual and others that are practical. And never underestimate the value of a new garden tool to replace a worn-out item!
Gift Ideas for Gardeners
Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you follow a link and then place an order, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure here.
But honestly, most of these items are things I use myself and absolutely love! Some were gifts, some are treats that I bought for myself, and some were sent to me for review. I haven't been disappointed!
Fun Things to Grow
This mushroom log will let your gardener (or cooking enthusiast) grow mushrooms at home.
Add a book such as Growing Mushrooms for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Cultivating Mushrooms at Home for a well-rounded gift.
I love this book, I've always been a bit afraid of mushrooms but author Sarah Dalziel-Kirchhevel is helping me overcome my fears.
Grow light bulbs
In winter, when I cannot garden outdoors, I really enjoy my houseplants. But we don't have as much sunlight in our home in the winter, so I have several of these grow light bulbs that screw right into regular light sockets.
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| Grow light bulbs can be used in overhead fixtures or in table lamps. They replace regular light bulbs, and keep house plants happy in the winter. |
They don't need a special fixture so they are super handy, and they boost the light over my houseplants and keep them happy, which keeps me happy!
No overhead fixtures where a grow light bulb could go? You can replace a regular lamp bulb with a grow light bulb, and set your plants on the table, under the lamp. A gooseneck desk lamp works great!
Garden Tools
Everyday tools wear out, it's a fact of life. Whether your gardener admits it or not, a new garden tool is always appreciated!
Fork hoe
All I can say about my Chillington Fork Hoe from Easy Digging is wow. This thing is a work horse! Your gardening friend or family member needs one too!
This fork hoe is designed to dig in and cultivate the soil with an easy and quick motion that's gentler on your back. You don't need to use a lot of force to break up dirt clods, work your garden soil effortlessly, and aerate the soil for good plant health.
It even dislodges the roots of large weeds so they are easier to pull.
And compared to the rakes and shovels and pitchforks I've used all my life, the quality of this fork hoe is amazing. It's probably going to outlive me.
The fork hoe makes the hard work of gardening easier. It's my tool of choice for working in our clay soil, a heavy compost pile, and in my raised beds - perfect for "mature" gardeners or those who struggle with heavy work.
You'll find more information at EasyDigging.com.
Pruning Shears
Even the best shears and loppers and scissors will become dull over time, perhaps it's time to give your gardener a new pair?
I bought a pair of these Fiskars pruning shears three years ago and they are still my favorite "cutting tool" in the garden.
They are definitely heavy duty enough to handle my rosebushes as well as the vegetable plants, and are easy on my "mature" hands. Let's just say that I don't have the hand strength that I used to have.
Rain Gauge
Rain gauge - I use a "redneck rain gauge" these days (ie, I look in the wheelbarrow or feed buckets and know that we had "a little" or "a whole lot" of rain), but I really want to know just how much rain we really got!
Real rain gauges come in a wide variety of sizes and features, are way more accurate than my redneck method, and many are less than $5.
I recommend a plastic rain gauge rather than glass because, um, that's why I no longer have a real rain gauge.
Watering Can
A watering can is very handy for applying comfrey tea to plants, or to mix water-soluble organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion. (I like brightly-colored gardening tools so I'm less likely to lose them in the garden!)
Garden gloves
Garden gloves wear out quickly, as well as getting dirty fast - because we're digging in the dirt, right? Why not gift a pair of new gardening gloves.
I have high standards for gardening gloves: durable and sticker-resistant. Fabric gloves attract all the awful stickers we have here in Oklahoma, and wisps of hay get stuck in woven fabrics.
In other words, I need heavy-duty gloves that protect my hands.
So I've given up on the cotton gloves that always disappointed me in the past and have been using a pair of these bamboo garden gloves. Your gardener is sure to love them too!
I've had this pair for several years and they've lasted very well in spite of how hard I require them to work.
In fact, I like them so much that I bought a back-up pair to use when these wear out, but the original pair is still going strong.
Prickly stems of comfrey and sticker-y weeds are no problem with these gloves, and my fingernails haven't poked a hole in the end of the fingers either.
The mesh-like fabric on the back is pretty breathable, and my hands aren't all sticky and sweaty inside. I love them, and I think your gardener will love them too.
Bird Feeders
For year-round fun, give a bird feeder. Add a bag of birdseed so it's ready to install immediately - or for the ultimate gift, include the gift of your time to install it for the recipient.
Feeders come in several types, such as the pole-mounted bird feeder we have in our yard (pictured above - we have two of them!), hanging feeders, and smaller, lightweight bird feeders that attach to windows with suction cups.
Window bird feeders are "up close and personal" and can bring entertainment to young children and to those who might not be able to go outdoors easily.
Some additional choices are suet feeders and thistle feeders. Suet feeders are excellent for winter birds, while the birds that enjoy thistle seeds are usually summer finches that migrate to warmer weather in the winter.
You'll find a large selection of squirrel-proof bird feeders here if you have squirrels to contend with.
If your recipient doesn't have trees to hang bird feeders from, you can include a shepherd's hook for a quick and easy solution. Just stick the pole in the ground and hang the feeder from the hook. Smaller feeders are best-suited to this solution.
Hummingbird feeders are also a nice gift. Include the recipe for homemade nectar.
Garden Seeds
Honestly, any gardener would love a gift certificate for seeds! You decide the amount and they decide what seeds they'd like to receive.
They can choose flowers, vegetables, herbs... a new variety of tomatoes... whatever they would like to grow next season in their own garden.
I recommend Mary's Heirloom Seeds. Mary sells organic, heirloom seeds which are better for our gardens, for our bodies and even for our wallets. Read why in this guest post by Mary.
Go here to order a gift card from Mary's Heirloom Seeds.
If you'd prefer to choose the seeds for your favorite gardener, Mary also offers several seed collections, such as a pizza garden pack, pollinator collection, herb garden, edible flowers and others.
A few years ago a dear friend sent me a birthday card made with seed-embedded paper. I planted the paper and had beautiful zinnias blooming all summer long, then I saved the seeds from those flowers and have planted them each year since.
In fact, that's how my love for zinnias began. They're easy to grow and withstand our hot and dry summers. I never would have discovered them without that gift.
Wouldn't a seed-embedded card be a fun little gift?
You can find a variety of seed-embedded cards as well as card enclosures, bookmarks, tags and more on Etsy (click here) and on Amazon (click here) - or learn how to make your own seed-embedded paper here.
- Claude Monet
Calendars, planners and books
The Gardening Through the Seasons calendar is for gardeners and anyone who loves a farmers market.
Your gardener will love this Herb Gardens Calendar (above) with tips for gardens, herbal garden remedies, health and home garden tips.
If you prefer a planner that's garden-focused, take a look at this lovely 6.25" x 9" Garden Botanicals weekly planner with garden-inspired art inside as well as outside.
The Family Garden Planner by Melissa K. Norris
A fifth-generation gardener, Melissa K. Norris designed this all-in-one garden planner/weekly planner with helpful worksheets, expert advice and suggested weekly tasks to help your gardener have the best gardening year ever.
The worksheets inside include finding your garden zone, identifying which plants you want to grow and how much to plant.
Melissa has also written a comprehensive gardening book, The Family Garden Plan, on feeding your family from your garden. Although the book and planner are not a "set" they complement each other and work together as a wonderful resource.
Garden fun
Solar fountain - Water attracts all sorts of beneficial songbirds and pollinators to a garden, and moving water is even better, adding the beauty of sight and sound to the loveliest places in nature.
Imagine a yard full of birds and hummingbirds, and the soft sound of tinkling water that's calming and tranquil.
This fountain is powered by the sun and adds motion and water spray to any container of water without needing a nearby electrical outlet or extension cord.
Place this solar fountain in a container of water such as a birdbath, decorative bowl or a small garden pond and watch as the sunshine powers the spray. There are four nozzles included so you can choose the height and spread of the spray pattern.
(I've put my birdbath away for the winter but wanted to show you how well the fountain works, so this bucket of water had to do for now. Next year, I plan to use it in a DIY small garden pond.)
Wind chimes are another gift that many gardeners - and even non-gardeners - will enjoy. The gentle sound is restful and soothing, turning a breeze into music.
From large wind chimes that make a statement both visually and musically to smaller accent pieces, you'll find a large assortment online or at your local garden center. Aluminum alloy chimes make the purest sound, but capiz shells and bamboo chimes make their own kind of music too.
Frog houses and other garden decorations - Frogs and toads are so beneficial in the garden and frog houses are easy to make.
See this how-to from Gardening Know How for a simple DIY frog house, or you can buy one ready-made from Etsy or Amazon.
I happen to think they're cute, and so is this frog statue at Amazon that will secretly hold your extra house key.
Jigsaw puzzles - If your gardener lives in a cold climate, winter is pretty much spent indoors. What do you do during those long evenings?
Amazon has a large selection of jigsaw puzzles and many are garden designs: seed packets, a hummingbird garden, houseplants and this farmhouse garden.
Gardening ebooks
Perhaps your gift recipient would be interested in my own garden ebooks. They are filled with helpful tips and inspiration, and are available in my Etsy shop.
If you'd prefer something tangible instead of a digital file to give as a gift, ebooks are easy to print out, then add to a binder or a presentation folder.
(This link is to a presentation folder at Amazon in case you aren't familiar with them. Amazon only sells them in a pack of 12 though. Sometimes you can find them offered individually at back-to-school sales or office supply stores too.)
The Down-to-Earth Guide to Composting for People Without a Science Degree will help any gardener begin and maintain a successful compost pile to amend and enrich their garden soil, whether you have clay or sandy soil or something in between.
A gardener who can make their own rich garden amendments at home? Priceless!
How to Grow Vegetables and Herbs in a Shady Garden will help any gardener with a shady yard or just a shady corner.
This ebook also includes lists of shade-tolerant vegetables and herbs as well as how to identify the best location for a garden, growing in containers, and boosting the sunlight in shady areas such as patios and apartment balconies.
There's renewed interest in growing food at home these days. A backyard shaded by beautiful mature trees doesn't have to "stunt your growth."
Growing Lemon Balm will teach you how to grow this fragrant herb for culinary and medicinal use or as a happy houseplant.
Learn how to plant lemon balm from seeds, find the best location for your plant, and how to propagate them. Recipes are included too.
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Whatever your favorite gardener enjoys, I hope you've been inspired by this list of practical, functional and beautiful ideas.
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Related posts:
Homemade Gifts from Your Garden
Simple Gift Ideas from Your Homestead
Vegetables You Can Grow in Containers
