My partner is obsessed with growing plants, both indoors and outdoors. Her garden kept us and our friends well-fed this summer. I, on the other hand, don’t know much about gardening. Her birthday is coming up, and I’d love to get her a gift that any gardener would appreciate. Is there a tool or item that’s especially popular or super useful among gardeners? Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance!
Felco pruners with a leather holster are a great choice.
A good hori hori knife. I’ve been gardening for decades and got one last summer based on a forum suggestion. It’s my favorite tool now. Also, I second the Felcos.
Landry said:
A good hori hori knife. I’ve been gardening for decades and got one last summer based on a forum suggestion. It’s my favorite tool now. Also, I second the Felcos.
Yes, hori hori! That or the Felcos would be perfect!
A quality pair of leather gloves. They need to be soft and flexible. After a few uses, they fit perfectly and are great for handling thorny branches or working on chilly mornings.
Tobi said:
A quality pair of leather gloves. They need to be soft and flexible. After a few uses, they fit perfectly and are great for handling thorny branches or working on chilly mornings.
I got goat leather gloves a couple of years ago, and they’re amazing! They’re not tough enough for blackberry bushes here in the PNW, but they work for just about everything else.
Thank you all for the amazing ideas! I’ve been looking at some Felco pruners and hori hori knife sets based on your recommendations. Really appreciate the help!
What’s your budget? Felcos are fantastic, but if she’s really into gardening, she might already have them. High-quality versions of tools she already uses could be a great option. A good digging fork or spade can cost $70–80 each but will last a lifetime. Not something you’d usually buy for yourself, but they make amazing gifts.
I grow a lot of food, and my top tools are an oscillating hoe for weeding, high-quality secateurs, module trays, and a dibber made from an old spade handle for planting. A good copper spade is also great to have.
There are already some great suggestions here. I’d also recommend something for relaxation, like bath salts, foot soak products, or cozy socks. Gardening can be hard on the body, and soaking with lavender or eucalyptus after a day outside feels amazing.
Amazon sells gloves with rubber palms (CoolJob gloves), which are perfect for heavy gardening. I buy them in bulk and go through several pairs every season. They’re affordable too.
Other ideas: a sundial, hummingbird feeder, stirrup hoe, OXO garden scissors, grafting knife, pH tester, cute rubber boots, large aluminum bowls for harvesting, or a big ball of twine.
Is that you, Steve? (Thanks for remembering my birthday, haha!)
@Adair
Not Steve, but these suggestions are great. Thanks, haha!
I can never have too many pruners or shears. If your partner gardens as much as you say, she probably already has a hori hori knife. It’s affordable and lasts a long time, but pruners or shears are much more useful and always appreciated.