David Domoney takes a look at some Christmas gift ideas for the garden lover
3 November 2020
Garden Christmas Gifts
The run-up to Christmas has begun, and there’s no better feeling than giving a gift to someone special and seeing their face light up. So, to help with the annual quandary of what to buy for those gardeners in your life, I’ve got some inspiration to help your gift buying, to save you a mad rush to the shops.
Practical Christmas Presents
For the keen gardener in your life, practical bits for their gardening activities will always be a great option. If they need some new gear for their outdoor pursuits like wellies, a warm coat, waterproof jacket, or body warmer, Christmas is a great time to gift these items.
Get Sowing for Christmas!
Gloves are an essential for every gardener to stay safe and protected, so gifting a quality pair of gloves for when their current pair of gloves wears out means they’ve got their next pair handy. Also, kneelers are a crucial item too because a gardener will need one to save their knees from the muddy, wet ground. Seeds are great stocking fillers as well, so maybe ask Santa to leave some seeds at Christmas for the stockings! Broad beans, lettuces and cauliflowers can be sown in January in a cold frame, greenhouse or indoors, so these are some great choices.
Christmas Gift for Nature Lovers
For the wildlife lover in your life, a book about nature or animals may be a gift they would appreciate. Or choose something to attract wildlife to their space such as a nesting box or bird feeder which will bring them joy whilst helping wildlife at the same time. It’s a win-win!
Garden Features for Christmas?
For a garden-proud gardener, some embellishment for their garden will go down well. A garden gift that will stick around and look great in their garden whilst also having a practical purpose is a stone bench.
Christmas Seating Plan
The Burford bench is a sturdy stone bench with curved tops that will add some sleek and sophisticated shapes to their space. The neutral, sandy tones mean it will suit any garden design, whether the recipient has a contemporary courtyard design or an informal cottage garden. The bench means they can sit and enjoy their space from the comfort of their stylish new bench and enjoy the soundtrack of their garden.
To give them something to add to their design, a stone sphere could be an excellent feature to add as a focal point. This is perfect if they have a pond for it to act as a central element, or in a smaller space they can look great in a cluster where the different shades of sandstone can complement each other with a magical impact that looks out of this world.
Gifts in Jars
If you are a keen gardener yourself, you may want to gift some homegrown produce to your family and friends. With a large harvest of apples or berries this autumn, make jams, preserves or chutneys which you can put into a hamper with some wine or sweet treats. Not only will they love the gift, but the thought and care that went into it too.
Planting Christmas Ideas
For the budding indoor gardener, houseplants will be sure to brighten up their homes for years to come. Either buy them from your local garden centre or propagate them yourself. For example, Sansevieria trifasciata
(mother-in-law’s tongue) can be propagated by cutting off a healthy leaf using a sharp knife and placing the cut end into a container filled with cactus potting soil where roots will grow. Mother-in-law’s tongue don’t like overwatering, so let the soil dry out a little before watering again and you’ll soon have a plant to gift to a houseplant enthusiast.
Or go bold with a bigger houseplant like a Yucca elephantipes (spineless yucca) which will perfectly fill the spot where their Christmas tree is once the festivities are over. This is a great statement plant to add to a contemporary living space with its thick trunk and striking angular leaves.
Gifts for Gardeners
There’s nothing like waking up on Christmas morning as a child and seeing that Santa has been, with snowy footprints outside, next to a carrot that Rudolph has chewed on. To make the day more exciting, giving a gift of wonder to the kids is a cracking idea, and it may even encourage them into a new hobby to take into the new year. Grow your own kits for the windowsill, mini tool kits just like your own or a terrarium are just some ideas to keep the kids occupied and entertained over the festive period.
With these tips, you’ll be able to give gifts to the gardeners in your life with presents that will bring them joy for a long time. Whether you’re gifting a practical present or something to embellish their garden, they will without a doubt be grateful for the thought.
In the meantime and if you're not ready to think about Christmas, then take your mind back to the warm summer month with this lovely seaside garden patio!
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David Domoney, TV gardener, horticultural expert and Pavestone brand ambassador blogs monthly on the Pavestone website on all things landscaping related.
We look forward to seeing you back again next month.
