Christmas Gifts Under Twenty Dollars

Standard Christmas gifts for gardeners usually include tools, plants and bulbs. Choices are limitless for the vegetable or fruit gardener in the family because there always seems to be a need for new tools, implements, seeds, fertilizers and storage solutions.

The problem with this is that some of these items can be very expensive. With this in mind, the list below includes twenty items which are under $20.00. Any of these inexpensive yet indispensable gifts should please the vegetable or fruit gardener in the family.

1. Apple Picking Bag These are great helpers for the orchard grower. An apple bag can be found at many local garden centers for under $20.00.
2. Bat House Inviting bats to the garden area is a natural way of controlling insects. Bat houses can be made for under $10.00 or purchased at garden centers for under $20.00
3. Bird Houses Bird housing near the garden, especially Martin houses, assists the gardener by offering natural pest control. These can be made from gourds strung on a line or mounted to a very tall post. Housing made from wood can be purchased at garden centers and flea markets for under $20.00.
4. Club Memberships Many local garden clubs will offer memberships at a discount during the winter months. This is a good way for the gardener to be involved in the communtiy.
5. Ezimate® Ezimate is an attachment for long handled tools which can be used outdoors on rakes, hoes or any long handled tool. It allows the gardener to stand straighter while working which eliminates back strain. This product was invented in New Zealand and is selling in markets worldwide. In the USA the Ezimate may be purchased from Yankee Postman. Current price listed is $9.99.
6. Floating Row Covers Floating row covers are perfect for the gardener who likes to get a head start on the season or wants to harvest vegetables a little later in the season. Row covers protect plants from frost. The covers can be purchased in varying lengths at garden centers. A section of 50′ long can be found for under $20.00.
7. Fruiting Bushes Blueberry bushes and other fruit bearing bushes can be found at local garden centers for approximately $10.00 each.
8. Garden Journal Journaling for gardeners is important in that it helps them to keep track of what is happening in the garden from season to season. A nice journal or set of journals can be purchased at local stationary and discount stores.
9. Garden Books How-to books are inexpensive and are always a big hit with gardeners.
10. Gift Certificates Gift certificates from a favorite seed or garden supply catalog is sure to please any gardener.
11. Gloves Gardeners can never have too many pairs of gloves. Purchase several pairs of inexpensive gloves for light duty jobs or one pair of durable gloves for heavier work.
12. Knives Knives have many purposes in the garden. They can be used for cutting away small diseased branches, cutting fruit free from stems and many other tasks. Straight and curved knives can be found at local garden centers starting at $5.00. Remember to purchase a sheath if one is not included.
13. Orchard Trees For the fruit grower in the family, many fruit trees can be purchased for under $20.00 when found locally.
14. Seed Starting Pellets Jiffy seed starting pellets are dry, compressed peat wrapped in netting which expand when watered. They can be found at any local garden center as well as several online garden supply stores. Peat pellets are inexpensive at approximately 100 pellets for under $20.00.
15. Set of Hand Tools Hand tools such as pruners, hoes and cultivators can be found bunched together at local garden centers and are an inexpensive gift for gardeners.
16. Soil pH Tester Used for testing the pH of soil. This is an essential tool for gardeners as it aids in keeping track of the health of soil. Inexpensive varieties can be found at garden centers and hardware stores for under $20.00.
17. Soil Thermometer The soil thermometer is used to check the temperature of soil. Seeds need certain temperatures to assure good germination.
18. Sun Hat Very nice wide-brimmed sun hats can be found for $20.00 or less.
19. Twine Jute twine is used to tie sprawling or climbing plants to support stakes and trellises. It can be found at garden centers for under $5.00 but the savvy shopper might also find it at discount stores for $1.00 per roll. Each roll contains several hundred feet of natural twine.
20. Veggie Cage The Veggie Cage is used to contain vegetable plants. Unlike wire tomato cages, this great invention uncoils up to 7 feet high. It is attached to a stake (not included). The great thing about this ‘cage’ is that it can be taken down at the end of the season and stored nearly flat for use next season. It can be found at Heirloom Seeds. Current price listed is $7.99.

More gift ideas for gardeners can be found in these articles, “Christmas for Every Vegetable Gardener“, “Gifts for the Vegetale Gardener” and “Specialty Gift Baskets for Gardeners“.