The family that mulches together stays together. Now for a discrete way to wrap a pitchfork.
I might be kidding about Mary's gift, but Christmas shopping for gardeners is easy. Anyone who enjoys plants, yardwork or other gardening activities will appreciate receiving gifts related to their favorite pastime.
When choosing gifts, don't worry that a gardener might already have an item. We'd like another watering can to be used for the upstairs houseplants.
Hot new glitzy and glamorous gardening inventions might seem novel, but it's often the tried-and-true basic gardening items that we value most.
Gardeners are a thrifty bunch, and we don't always splurge on top-shelf items. Buy us high quality materials that we'll use for years.
Here are 100 ideas for the gardener you know:
Clay pots in assorted sizesDrainage saucers to accompany houseplant potsRooting hormone for propagating cuttingsHouseplant watering canInsecticidal soap and neem oil for insect control indoors and outWater-soluble fertilizers including all-purpose, flowering plants or vegetablesTimed-release fertilizer beads for container gardeningSystemic insecticide granulesApple picker for hard-to-reach fruitPole pruner for trimming high branchesHandheld pruning shears for pencil-sized cutsLong-handled loppers for one-inch diameter branchesPruning saw for larger branchesHedge shearsTree wrapDandelion diggerFertilizer spreaderHose guides to steer hoses around shrubs and flower bedsLawnmower blade sharpenerHeavy duty sprinklerPond kitWater fountainYard ornaments like pink flamingos, gnomes, sundials or gazing ballsWind chimesBench to sit and enjoy laborsAdditional tools like rakes, shovels or cultivatorsSmall rototiller for small flowerbed and garden areasTwine plus wooden stakes and yardsticks for spacing vegetable garden rowsSoaker hoses to help prevent foliage diseasesPump sprayerWatering wandExtra outdoor thermometerRain gaugeGalvanized watering cans are better than the plastic versionsRain barrels have made a comeback for collecting pure downspout waterGalvanized buckets for picking vegetables or collecting cut flowersChore glovesPlastic, metal or wooden plant labelsPermanent markers, the fade-resistant typesTwist ties on a roll for attaching plants and vines to stakes and trellisesKits for indoor growing of herbs, sprouts or microgreensSpecialized plant lights for indoor growingFluorescent shop-type light fixtures work great alsoMembership in the local garden clubMembership in the North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota State Horticultural SocietyGift certificate from a locally owned garden centerHouseplant book that identifies types and describes careGardening books such as Flowers Between the Frosts by Dorothy CollinsBooks with landscape ideasPerennial flower reference booksOutdoor potting benchHose end sprayer for applying insecticides or herbicidesHose end fertilizer attachments such as Miracle Gro feedersSeedling heat mat for reliable seed-starting indoorsAmaryllis kitSubscription to gardening magazineGarden hoseWheelbarrowBlocks of Oasis floral arrangement foamOrchid plantsSmall houseplant starter plantsTerrariums are popular once againCacti and succulent starter plantsPotting soils tailored to African violets, orchids or cactiSoil amendments like peatmoss, perlite or vermiculiteSeed-starting mix, trays and cell packsTomato cagesSelf-watering devices for houseplants while on vacationSpray bottle for misting houseplantsDecorative pebbles to make houseplant humidity traysHumidity gauge to monitor houseplant air qualityGarden hose reelTrellisGarden gateChicken wire for rabbit controlRabbit and deer repellents such as Liquid FenceFungicide to prevent foliage diseasesBird netting to protect fruit cropsPreen weed preventerPeat pots for seed startingBoot scraperHand trowelHand weederHouseplant moisture meterHose mending splicersHose-end water shutoff deviceMulti-shelf plant standSingle pedestal fern-type plant standCompost makerGift certificate for a load of loamy soilMembership in the Northern Plains Botanical Garden SocietyEdging for flower beds or landscapesWeed control fabricRaised bed construction kitSquare foot gardening kitFrost protectors like hotcapsPortable greenhouse or coldframeSoil thermometerGarden kneeling padA cow to graze the front lawn (just seeing if you're still with me)
Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, worked as an NDSU Extension horticulturist and owned Kinzler's Greenhouse in Fargo. Readers can reach him at [email protected].
He also blogs at growingtogether.areavoices.com.
I might be kidding about Mary's gift, but Christmas shopping for gardeners is easy. Anyone who enjoys plants, yardwork or other gardening activities will appreciate receiving gifts related to their favorite pastime.
When choosing gifts, don't worry that a gardener might already have an item. We'd like another watering can to be used for the upstairs houseplants.
Hot new glitzy and glamorous gardening inventions might seem novel, but it's often the tried-and-true basic gardening items that we value most.
Gardeners are a thrifty bunch, and we don't always splurge on top-shelf items. Buy us high quality materials that we'll use for years.
Here are 100 ideas for the gardener you know:
Clay pots in assorted sizesDrainage saucers to accompany houseplant potsRooting hormone for propagating cuttingsHouseplant watering canInsecticidal soap and neem oil for insect control indoors and outWater-soluble fertilizers including all-purpose, flowering plants or vegetablesTimed-release fertilizer beads for container gardeningSystemic insecticide granulesApple picker for hard-to-reach fruitPole pruner for trimming high branchesHandheld pruning shears for pencil-sized cutsLong-handled loppers for one-inch diameter branchesPruning saw for larger branchesHedge shearsTree wrapDandelion diggerFertilizer spreaderHose guides to steer hoses around shrubs and flower bedsLawnmower blade sharpenerHeavy duty sprinklerPond kitWater fountainYard ornaments like pink flamingos, gnomes, sundials or gazing ballsWind chimesBench to sit and enjoy laborsAdditional tools like rakes, shovels or cultivatorsSmall rototiller for small flowerbed and garden areasTwine plus wooden stakes and yardsticks for spacing vegetable garden rowsSoaker hoses to help prevent foliage diseasesPump sprayerWatering wandExtra outdoor thermometerRain gaugeGalvanized watering cans are better than the plastic versionsRain barrels have made a comeback for collecting pure downspout waterGalvanized buckets for picking vegetables or collecting cut flowersChore glovesPlastic, metal or wooden plant labelsPermanent markers, the fade-resistant typesTwist ties on a roll for attaching plants and vines to stakes and trellisesKits for indoor growing of herbs, sprouts or microgreensSpecialized plant lights for indoor growingFluorescent shop-type light fixtures work great alsoMembership in the local garden clubMembership in the North Dakota, South Dakota or Minnesota State Horticultural SocietyGift certificate from a locally owned garden centerHouseplant book that identifies types and describes careGardening books such as Flowers Between the Frosts by Dorothy CollinsBooks with landscape ideasPerennial flower reference booksOutdoor potting benchHose end sprayer for applying insecticides or herbicidesHose end fertilizer attachments such as Miracle Gro feedersSeedling heat mat for reliable seed-starting indoorsAmaryllis kitSubscription to gardening magazineGarden hoseWheelbarrowBlocks of Oasis floral arrangement foamOrchid plantsSmall houseplant starter plantsTerrariums are popular once againCacti and succulent starter plantsPotting soils tailored to African violets, orchids or cactiSoil amendments like peatmoss, perlite or vermiculiteSeed-starting mix, trays and cell packsTomato cagesSelf-watering devices for houseplants while on vacationSpray bottle for misting houseplantsDecorative pebbles to make houseplant humidity traysHumidity gauge to monitor houseplant air qualityGarden hose reelTrellisGarden gateChicken wire for rabbit controlRabbit and deer repellents such as Liquid FenceFungicide to prevent foliage diseasesBird netting to protect fruit cropsPreen weed preventerPeat pots for seed startingBoot scraperHand trowelHand weederHouseplant moisture meterHose mending splicersHose-end water shutoff deviceMulti-shelf plant standSingle pedestal fern-type plant standCompost makerGift certificate for a load of loamy soilMembership in the Northern Plains Botanical Garden SocietyEdging for flower beds or landscapesWeed control fabricRaised bed construction kitSquare foot gardening kitFrost protectors like hotcapsPortable greenhouse or coldframeSoil thermometerGarden kneeling padA cow to graze the front lawn (just seeing if you're still with me)
Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, worked as an NDSU Extension horticulturist and owned Kinzler's Greenhouse in Fargo. Readers can reach him at [email protected].
He also blogs at growingtogether.areavoices.com.