20 Essential Gifts for Garden Nerds

1   Garden Gloves That Last

Each year I go through anywhere from 6 to 12 pairs of garden gloves. This year, Watson Gloves celebrated their 100th year in business and sent me two pairs of these gloves. One with short cuffs and the other with long cuffs as you see in the photo.

I switched between both pairs all summer long and…drumroll please…they are still in excellent shape.

And I didn’t just work in the garden. I also wore them when building a giant privacy wall, a lean-to greenhouse, a garden gate, and a dozen other projects. They were definitely put to the test.

These gloves are tough but comfortable, and they don’t make my hands sweaty.

And, by the looks of them, I will likely get several more garden seasons out of them.

Watson Perfect 10 Garden Gloves on Amazon

2   Plant Propagation Bible

If you love plants, and want a lot of them, there’s probably some propagation in your future. It seems so daunting at first, but eventually a little lightbulb goes on and we realize, hey, if plant nurseries are knocking out millions of these things each year, certainly we can grow our own new plants at home with similar methods!

I have a few old favourite plant propagation books. Look for one that has illustrations that make sense to you, and a variety of instructions for the plants you grow.

Plant Propagation Book on Amazon

3   Plant Propagation Tool

Scalpel, please!

One of the easiest ways to propagate many types of plants is from cuttings, which makes a clone of the original plant.

I first started using scalpels for quilt-making (they are very good, fine seam rippers), and then I started using them for plant cuttings. I like a reusable handle and extra blades (#11), rather than a disposable plastic unit. And the super fine cuts mean there is minimal damage to the plant tissue.

Scalpel and Blades on Amazon

4   Water Wand

When we water plants, it’s really the soil (and plant roots) we want to reach. A long-handled water wand makes it much easier to get under the bottom leaves and aim the water directly where you want it.

Look for one like this Dramm model that has an easy-to-move thumb control for on-off action.

Water Wand on Amazon

5   Steam Cleaner

No, I’m not suggesting you clean your garden!

This summer I discovered that our home steam cleaner works beautifully to kill the weeds growing between the bricks of our driveway and garden paths.

You may not want one just for this purpose, but it is a bonus use for it. I refuse to ever use poisons or herbicides, so I was delighted to find steam works just fine with minimal effort.

Steam Cleaner on Amazon

6   Dolly Hand Truck

Hello, Dolly!

When I built our large in-ground pond, I had to move heavy rocks—some of them weighing 100+ pounds—from the front of our home into the back garden and down into the pond to form the walls.

The hand truck made it so easy. There was no heavy-lifting. Just some light pushing and turning.

The other good use is for moving large flower pots around. It’s a total back-saver.

I also use it to move large bags of composted manure. And, should we ever move house again, we’ll use it for that too. Well worth the purchase!

Dolly Hand Truck on Amazon

7   Forever Plant Tags

It’s never easy to find a plant tag or marker that is both long-lasting and nice-looking. But, if you want something that lasts for years (and years), this system works.

I use both stainless steel (special mail order-they are the best) and zinc plant tags (Amazon), and a label maker with permanent, waterproof tape. I’ve had some of these tags in my garden for years now (all year-round) and there is no sign of wear.

Zinc Plant Tags on Amazon

8   Label Maker

I don’t know if I’d buy the label  maker just for this purpose, but if you will be using it for labelling other stuff, it’s probably worth it.

Buy outdoor, waterproof tape and use them on stainless steel or zinc plant markers. They will last forever. Okay, a long, long time.

Label Maker on Amazon

9   Permanent Pens (Really)

If you have tried Sharpie permanent markers for labelling plant tags in the garden, you know they are not truly permanent. Over time, they fade in the sun.

These oil paint markers are a better option. I’ve got tests going now to confirm what I’ve heard from other gardeners: apparently, they do not fade or change, even through snow, rain, and anything else the weather throws at them.

Oil Paint Pens at Amazon

10   Moisture Meter

No batteries required!

These simple meters respond to the amount of moisture in the soil and let you know if it’s time to water.

They are particularly useful for houseplants, outdoor container plants, and in a greenhouse where it can be hard to tell by sight if the soil is drying out.

Moisture Meters on Amazon

11   Mobile Phone Camera Lenses

Much of my time in the garden is spent, well, just watching and listening. And taking photos and video.

I got a set of these cheap camera lenses for mobile phones and they have been a lot of fun.

The set comes with a clip and you switch out the lenses. The clip fits right over your phone, with the external lens covering the built-in phone lens.

The types of lenses will depend on the set you choose. I like the macro lens for extreme closeups of insects, the fisheye lens for fun effects, and the wide-angle lens to get wide shots. Mine also came with a Bluetooth remote control which is handy when you’ve lined up the shot and don’t want to disturb it by touching the camera shutter button.

Mobile Phone Camera Lenses

12   Retractable Hose Reel

If you water a garden, you know how annoying water hoses can be. They tangle. They crush plants. They can be heavy. And, you have to tidy the whole thing up after each watering session.

I do not have one of these reels, but I do fantasize about them every time I water! If they work according to plan, at least part of the task is easier.

If you get one, be mindful of the length and diameter of the hose it uses to be sure it suits your needs.

Retractable Hose Reel on Amazon

13   Digital Kitchen Thermometer

I love it when a gadget has multiple uses. When I started paying attention to optimum soil planting temperatures, I discovered that my digital kitchen thermometer (with a probe) measures soil temperatures accurately.

This is particularly handy in spring when you’re eager to get the early veggie crops in but don’t want to sow too early. Once soil temperatures are 50°F | 10°C or more (consistently), I’m cracking open the pea seeds.

Digital Kitchen Thermometer on Amazon 

14   Pond Heater (De-Icer)

If you want the plants and wildlife in your pond to survive the winter, you have to keep the water flowing. In addition to running recirculating pumps, I use pond heaters, also called de-icers. It’s the same gizmo used to keep water liquid in livestock water troughs in freezing weather.

All you do is plug them in and they generate enough heat to prevent the surrounding water from freezing. Read the specs before you buy one to see the electrical consumption (they vary quite a bit between models), and how low a temperature they can withstand.

Pond Heater (De-Icer) at Amazon

15   Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song

When you become a gardener, no one mentions that you’ll probably also become a birder. Or, at minimum, a bird lover. The two just go together!

Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song is an encyclopedia of birds that comes with a bird song player. Just press in the corresponding number and listen to a recording of that bird. It’s fun and very helpful for identifying the birds in your garden.

While adult gardeners will enjoy this, I can think of a few bird-loving children who would also love it.

Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song on Amazon

16   Fiskars Big Grip Garden Knife

If I could only have one garden tool, it would be this one. I use it for all sorts of things: weeding, trimming, digging (small holes)…. I used to call the Billhook my fave, but once I started using this knife, I found I use it even more.

I received this one from Fiskars. It’s lightweight, the handle has a nice grip, and it’s just a good, multi-purpose tool. There are much more expensive versions of this sort of knife, but I see no need to spend so much when this one works so well.

Fiskars Big Grip Garden Knife on Amazon

17   Fiskars Kangaroo Container

This is one of those things that I would have never thought to get on my own, but Fiskars sent me a sample one and—holy cow—they are so useful.

I use mine for weeding and gathering debris. The container is lightweight yet strong enough to hold a lot of stuff. The handles are well-placed both for lifting and dumping. And the whole thing folds down so it’s easy to store.

Absolutely one of my favourite gardening tools!

Fiskars Kangaroo Container at Amazon

18   Wear Your Love of Gardening

Whether you like them sweet, funny, or salty, there’s t-shirts and hoodies for every type of gardener.

Garden Wear on Amazon

19   Gift Certificates

Truth be told, many gardeners like complete control over their gardens, and this includes everything from tools to plants.

And that’s where gift certificates for gardeners may be the right choice.

Plants. Seeds. A delivery of beautiful composted manure. It’s all good!

20   Help

The last item on the list is help. Gardening is a lifelong love affair, but, as we get older, many of the tasks get harder to do.

The gift of help is a good one. If you can offer it, great. Or, perhaps you can hire someone. Either way, an unopinionated helper with a great attitude and willingness to work is a gift any gardener would welcome.