Choosing a present from amongst the wind chimes, plastic meercats and decorative wellies found in most garden centres nowadays can be daunting. A shift towards lifestyle and houseware goods means that the practical, down to earth gardening stuff is harder to find or has been re-branded. Diligence can pay off though and there are many useful items to choose from for people who prefer functional gifts. Here are some ideas for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays or a little self-indulgence.
Many of the things here fall into the category ‘things you didn’t know you needed but now can’t live without’…
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For the frugal grower:
All shapes and sizes are available from terracotta beehives to mock cast iron, sleek contemporary containers or standard barrels. Can be difficult to wrap…
Making compost is economical, turning waste into sweet smelling black gold. The holy grail of gardening…is finding a decent small kitchen waste bucket. It needs to have a lid that can’t be blown off or knocked off by mice or rats, pets etc. and to be a convenient size to carry to the compost heap. Wee ones to put on the kitchen counter made of earthenware are fine but usually too small. It needs a lining too or the juices will seep and potentially stain. When the perfect receptacle has been found, buy at least two!
Presents for the geeky gardener:
Hours of fun. If you have a greenhouse or grow anything tender, it’s handy to know just how low the temperatures drop. Weather forecasts usually give an average temperature but a gardener needs to know the minimum – this is what will kill off those precious plants.
Biology in action… Food scraps in, soil out. Magic!
One of the most useful things ever invented…Hunt slugs and snails at night, empty the compost bin without falling into it, search out things in the shed, and pick herbs for those romantic evenings without poisoning the guest. Keep it handy, but don’t forget you’re wearing it as you blind all and sundry…
For the comfortable horticulturalist:
These come as simple foam pads but the ultimate gift would be the seat/kneeler combo for those well-earned tea-breaks after a long weeding session.
There are some lovely gloves out there, fleecy lined with tough but flexible rubber. Choose gloves that are waterproof and thorn proof or a selection for different tasks.
For anyone who has difficulty bending or reaching, these are incredibly useful. The long handle on the loppers gives extra leverage too making cutting tough branches easier.
For the green gardener:
Many bees are solitary and emerge from holes to forage for nectar. Help bumble bees by giving them a safe haven.
Bats need a variety of roosts and are fascinating to watch as they hunt insects at dusk. Bird boxes come in all shapes and sizes; some even have wireless cameras built-in.
All sizes, styles and species are catered for.
Attractive and good for wildlife, birdbaths give a source of water for garden birds; invaluable during the summer (if there is one).
Jute matting that is impregnated with seed – just roll it out where the flowers are to bloom and a mini-meadow will grow.
Confound those grey squirrels with some ingenious devices designed to prevent them stealing food from bird feeders.
If none of these ideas will suit that certain someone, don’t forget that plants make excellent presents too. Happy hunting!
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