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Index : Miscellaneous Gardening Topics
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- 34. Holiday Gifts For The Gardener - Top
Why not be bold this year and buy the gardener on you shopping list a gardening gift. It's true that gardeners are particular when it comes to their gadgets, but I have some suggestions that are guaranteed to please.
Gardening tools are treasured by gardeners, especially quality ones. There are certain tools gardeners always need. A pair of hand pruners are great for keeping gardens in trim. Felco brand pruners are the best and can be found at some local garden shops. Basic Felco #2 hand pruners cost about $25, but my favorite is the ergonomic Felco #8 priced at around $35. A wide selection of Felco pruners is available through A.M. Leonard at www.amleo.com or by phoning 1-800-543-8955.
Shovels are also prized gardening tools. I recommend a garden spade (a narrow, squared-off shovel). They are great for digging and transplanting perennials and for turning garden soil. Garden spades are also ideal for edging flower beds and walkways and spreading mulch and gravel. Fiberglass handled shovels are stronger than wood and they don't splinter in our dry climate. For a fiberglass-handled garden spade ($34.77), check out www.amleo.com For more on selecting gardening tools visit the Ames Tools web site at: www.ames.com.
Garden Tool Caddies are another great holiday gift idea. They come in the form of bags, belts and buckets, all designed with carrying pouches to hold a plethora of small tools and supplies. I particularly like the kind that fits over a 5 gallon paint bucket. Pockets on the outside hold your pruners, trowels, forks, gloves and note pads. The roomy inside can hold packages of speciality fertilizers and potting soils or hold garden trimmings. Put on the lid, and the "bucket organizer" turns into a convenient stool! A large selection of garden tool caddies including the "bucket organizer" ($16) can be found at: www.gardenscapetools.com While your at it, why not add some tools and supplies to your caddy, wrap it, and turn it into an awesome garden gift package!
Watering cans are another great gardening gift. Every gardener needs a watering can, and a uniquely-styled one provides a certain prowess to the gardener who displays it prominently on his or her patio. I like the old-fashioned galvanized cans, which can be found locally. But, if you're looking for something really special, a great selection of Haws English watering cans ($35-$85) are available at www.gardenscapetools.com.
Pot feet can be a funny and functional gift. Every pot on a gardener's patio should be setting on pot feet, so giving a collection of unusual feet can be a real treat. No Thyme Productions of Mercer Island Washington has turtle, frog and rabbit pot feet; dragonfly and ladybug feet; oakleaf and pine cone feet; even feet pot feet! Pot feet are priced at $10-$14 per set. Check them out at www.nothyme.com or phone 206-236-8885.
Garden Journals are a great way to keep track of what's going on in the garden. It's something gardeners rarely buy for themselves, but most would love to have. Writing down plans, plants, and garden activities is a rewarding way to keep track of gardening accomplishments and to note failures for future reference. Most importantly, a garden journal should have space for recording timely activities, such as fertilizing, watering and pest control. I came across such a journal at Gardener's Supply Company. The "Garden Keeper" has gardening reference materials, timetables, a garden design guide, and a planning and organization system. It can be ordered for various USDA hardiness zones. I would recommend the version for zones 7 & 8. This comes closest to covering Tucson's USDA hardiness zones of 8 & 9. You can order the "Garden Keeper" ($39.99) over the web at www.gardeners.com or by phone at 1-888-833-1412.
Garden tours are the ultimate gift for the gardeners who have it all, but never tire of seeing beautiful gardens. You may want to check out my second annual, 2002 French Garden Tour: "Paris to Provence" at www.gildedagetours.com or contact me at 575-2806 for more details. Other web-sites offering special garden tours include; www.gardengatetours.com and www.expogardentours.com
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161.
- Updated: December 9, 2001
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