Check out 25 great gift ideas for the gardener in your life – even if that gardener is you. Suggestions of gardener gift ideas for the holidays, or any birthdays or special events that pop up the rest of the year!
I love giving gifts. No lie, I start my Christmas shopping each year in October – even if just in the form of online window shopping and making lists of gift ideas. And unfortunately (/fortunately? I haven’t decided yet), my partner and both of my parents have autumn birthdays, so my gift giving muscles get quite the workout between September and December.
But while I love giving gifts, I recognize I’m a rather difficult person to give gifts to. Beyond books, which I’m always thrilled to receive, I’m picky about colors and fabrics. And as I’m trying to reduce consumption, I don’t want people to spend money on me if it’s something I won’t use and love.
So if you also have a picky gardener in your life, I thought I’d throw together this list of 25+ gardener gift ideas that I, and most gardeners, would love to receive.
(Also just FYI none of these gardener gift ideas are affiliate links, just products I love or think would make thoughtful gifts!)
While they weren’t a Christmas gift, two of the best gifts I’ve ever received were the raised wooden garden beds my partner built me last winter. As I told him then, he literally fulfilled a childhood dream of mine – one started when I first read the Little House and Anne of Green Gables books when I was six years old. So that, of course, is my first gift idea –
[potting bench photo courtesy of Ana White]
1. Go homemade – build a garden bed or potting bench
Find the plans we used to build our beds here, or check out these 65 DIY Potting Bench Plans.
2. Or go store-bought with a Vego garden bed
These modular metal raised bed kits can be reconfigured to fit your gardener’s space. And, being metal, they should last for ages!
3. Outfit the apartment gardener with a Greenstalk Garden
If your gardener has limited space, or is just trying to maximize the space they do have, a Greenstalk garden is an excellent gift. This tiered vertical planter can really grow so much food.
4. Bring the garden indoors for winter with a Microgreens Kit
Microgreens are a tasty little nutrient powerhouses. And, as far as gardener gift ideas go, a microgreens kit is a great way to give your gardener a growing outlet for when their outdoor beds are covered in snow.
5. Keep their feet dry with some cute clogs or Gardening Boots
Spring gardening is the best because you finally get to get your hands back in the soil and nurture growing things. Spring gardening is the worst because it’s mud and muck season. Keep their feet toasty and dry with some garden-approved footwear.
6. Upgrade their tools
Try these stylish gloves or this hori hori knife!
7. Help reap the harvest with a Garden Hod
At the height of summer, the bounty can get a little unwieldy. Make the trip from garden to kitchen counter easier with a garden hod.
8. …or with a Roo apron (or the Joey half-apron)
These are so convenient – both hands free to pick or weed or what have you!
9. Enable them to sport garden gear wherever they are with Nature Supply Co
“Eat Sleep Garden Repeat” is my official mantra.
10. Deck out the garden
In the words of Jessica Sowards, “the best medicine for the garden is the gardener.” Help make the garden a place they love to relax with decorative items like signs, wind chimes, or a fancy rain gauge.
11. Invite nature in with a bee or bird house
Welcome all the pollinators!
12. Help them enjoy the space they’ve created with a Hammock
They’ll mentally thank you every time they take a nap in their garden next summer.
13. Get them the materials for a Vermicompost bin
Or if you’re on a tight budget, make a simple, city-friendly outdoor compost bin with this tutorial!
14. Help them level up next year’s garden with a Grow Light or Seed Starting Kit
15. Or challenge an intermediate gardener with a soil block maker
If they already start their own seeds, help them do so while reducing their plastic use with a soil block maker.
16. Protect their hands with a Gardener’s Spa Gift Box
Gardening wreaks havoc on the hands, so a classic gardener gift idea is a soothing hand salve – this gift box takes the basic salve up a notch!
17. Help them preserve the harvest with tools like a Fermentation Kit
18. …or a Dehydrator
I love my Excalibur. In spring of 2020, when everyone else was hoarding toilet paper, I panic purchased a dehydrator. And you know what? Totally worth it. I use it all the time.
19. …or a Vacuum Sealer
For the newbie gardener who’s still intimidated by canning, a vacuum sealer will let them freeze their harvests to preserve for future eating – no freezer burn!
20. Books on Gardening
In my view, few presents can top a great book. I’ve attempted to restrain myself here, but the next few items curate a handful of books on garden-related topics. On gardening itself, try The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible, Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, or the Year-Round Vegetable Gardener.
21. Books on using + preserving the harvest
Or, help your gardener enjoy and preserve their bounty with one of these cookbooks: Food in Jars, the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, or The Forager’s Pantry.
22. Books that feed a gardener’s soul
Finally, check out Braiding Sweetgrass, The One-Straw Revolution, or Gaia’s Garden for a book that speaks to their plant-loving soul.
23. Membership to a local arboretum or botanic garden
Give the gift of inspiration – or at least a place to walk among growing things when their garden is dormant.
24. Gardening journal
Give them a handy place to record their notes so next year’s garden can be better than ever!
25. Finally, you can’t go wrong with a seed catalog and gift card!
Let them pick exactly what they want to grow in next year’s garden. Find some of my favorite seed companies in this post!
I have so many more ideas that I didn’t have space to include here (Indoor mushroom logs! Copper plant markers!) but I want to hear from you, fellow gardeners – what’s on your holiday wishlist?
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Such wonderful ideas! I’m going to save this for Mother’s Day for my mom who’s such a great gardener.
Thank you!
Sending this post to my husband for Christmas gift ideas! This list is perfect! Thanks for sharing!
Ah yay! I’m so glad!