Garden Gift Ideas

Looking for unusual gift ideas? Whether practical or just pretty, garden gifts aren't just for dedicated gardeners.

It just could be that the very first plant given to a non-gardener is the start of a rewarding lifelong hobby. Anyone with a spot for a potted plant can also be given a decorative container or plant care products. And what better wedding or housewarming present than a good quality tool for the new garden?

Gardening gifts may be a good option for those hard-to-buy-for men in your life. If you're stumped for present for Father's Day, a brother's birthday, or your husband at Christmas, how about a well-engineered gardening tool? At the other end of the spectrum, you could pay to have their lawns for mowed for them for a year!

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Here are some ideas for presents that you probably haven't thought of before, but would delight someone who's already unwrapped their third set of wine glasses!

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1. Plants - don't forget mail order. See below
2. Gardening Book
3. Gardening Video, DVD, CD Rom
4. Gardening Magazine Subscription
5. Pre-pay for professional garden services e.g. gardening or lawnmowing
6. Garden Club membership
7. Pay for a Class or Workshop
8. Visit to a Garden show or open garden
9. Donation to horticultural or environmental charity
10. Decorative planters and pots, Pot feet
11. Vegetable planter or vegetable growing system
12. Plant stand
13. Garden arch, Trellis
14. Garden statue or ornament
15. Letterbox
16. Illuminated house number
17. Personalised plaque (e.g. house name, garden motto)
18. Sundial
19. Weather Vane (decorative)
20. Weather recording equipment (rain gauge, out door thermometer etc)
21. Bird bath (decorative)
22. Nesting box, Bird feeder
23. Bonsai kit or accessories
24. Garden Seat
25. Hammock Swinging Seat
26. Umbrella, Shade Structure
27. Outdoor furniture
28. Covers or cushions for outdoor furniture
29. Plant Carrier or Protective car boot lining
30. Basket, trug (for harvest)
31. Hat
32. Workwear (overalls, shirts, trousers)
33. Boots, Clogs
34. Gloves
35. Kneeling Pad, Knee Pads
36. Gardenng Apron
37. Tool Bag, Pouch or belt
38. Radio for the garden (try solar powered or wind-up)
39. Outdoor lighting, Solar powered lights
40. Garden camera
41. Pond kit
42. Fountain, Water feature
43. Shade House, Mini Shade House, Greenhouse
44. Garden shed or locker
45. Propagation Kit
46. Labels and pencils/markers
47. Secateurs, Snips, and Scissors
48. Digging tools - spades, forks, trowels etc
49. Motorised tools: mower, line trimmer, blower/vac etc
50. Pruning saw, Folding saw
51. Long handled loppers
52. Hedge trimmers
53. Lawn Edger
54. Pole pruner or fruit picker
55. Ladder suitable for garden use
56. Cart, barrow, trolley
57. Tools for disabilities
58. Tool Rack
59. Rake, Broom
60. Cleanup bag
61. Compost Bin, compost tumbler
62. Worm Farm
63. Chicken Tractor
64. Pressure sprayer
65. pH testing Kit
66. Pest Barrier Products (Fruit Fly bags or traps, Snail Trap, covers)
67. Bird scarer
68. Rainwater tank
69. Watering can, Watering Aids
70. Hose (good quality)
71. Trigger nozzle, Watering wand, hose fittings
72. Timer for tap
73. Tap handle accessory (for better grip)
74. Hose reel or rack
75. Irrigation kit, Individual plant waterers (water bags, bottles, basins etc)

Of course for the advanced gardener, there are endless ideas for presents. There'll always be something new and different they'll like to try. On the other hand, you could really get back to basics and arrange to have a big load of compost, mulch or manure delivered. They'll probably tell you it's the best present they ever received. (Just ask first!)

Plants as Presents or Commemorations

New Gardeners: A plant you know is easy to grow (avoid specialist plants like bonsai, orchids, cacti)

Housewarming: Fruit tree, Extra-special feature tree (suitable for the size of garden), Topiary, Plant chosen to suit decor of new home (Mediterranean, Tropical, Traditional, and/or colour scheme etc)

Apartment-warming: Indoor plant, Balcony plant (suitable for balcony conditions), Herbs in pots.

Birth, Birthday, Christening, Naming Ceremony: Shrub with same name as recipient or other meaningful name, (for some specific ideas, see Plants with special names), Feature tree

Anniversary: Named variety or type of plant for year (gold, silver, emerald, etc. For some specific ideas, see Plants with special names)

Commemoration: Favourite plant, Flowers in favourite colours, Flowers/foliage in club, national, state etc colours, Floral emblem of country, state, association, Plant native to region of birth, Any beautiful tree planted as a feature (provided it is suitable for the location on a practical level), Plant with same name or other meaningful name (see Plants with special names).

Stocking Stuffers

When brainstorming bits and pieces for Chritmas gift baskets or grown-ups' Christmas stockings, consider the kind of small and handy items we often don't get around to buying. Could also be given out as tokens of appreciation or prizes for party games.

• pot labels & marker pen or 6B pencil
• gloves
• sharpening stone
• small can of oil can for tool maintenance
• suncreen, insect repellant
• packets of seeds (subject to restrictions as indicated above)
• tiny pot ornaments
• pot feet
• small fertiliser packs, rooting hormone, pH test kit

Distant Friends

• gift vouchers with a garden centre close to your friend
• subscription to magazine or club
• books, videos, DVDs, CD Roms
• clothing, gloves
• hand tools
• donation to horticultural or environmental charity
• almost any item by mail order - have it sent directly from the supplier to your friend with your friend's permission. Make it clear to the vendor that you're paying for the goods and give your contact details also in case there's a problem with the order. There may be restrictions on movement of plant material or other items to certain areas - check first!