By William Terry Kelley
University of
Georgia
Another holiday shopping season is upon us, bringing the age-old
dilemma of deciding what to buy that special someone who loves
gardening. What do you get the gardener who has everything?
Well, maybe they don’t quite have everything yet. Let’s look at a
few possibilities and some tried-and-true suggestions.
The easiest thing that comes to mind is a nice gift card to the
local garden center. Every gardener will be buying seeds and
fertilizer for the spring crop, so a gift card might come in
handy. There are tools that need replacing, too, and maybe a few
other necessities and gadgets they can choose from.
If you’re just not the gift-card type, consider more specific
gifts.
Take a look
It might behoove you to check out the tool shed to see if a hoe,
rake or spade is in disrepair. This is the perfect time to give a
new garden tool to replace the one with the handle held together
by tape or nails or broken off so short that only your 3-year-old
grandson could use it.
There are all types of weeding gadgets on the market, too. And
various three-piece hand tool sets normally include a trowel,
garden fork and cultivator. Newer ones have extensions that fit
around the wrist for added comfort.
And what about personal protection gear, such as a new pair of
gloves or a pair of coveralls? What about a wide-brimmed hat or
one with a covering attached to protect the ears and neck? This
keeps your special gardener from being exposed to too much
sunshine.
For those who use pesticides, disposable rubber gloves, a face
mask and some goggles would be appropriate, too.
Think of the gardener
What about something to make gardening more ergonomic? A nice set
of knee pads, a kneeling pad or a gardening stool are all useful
for any of that close-to-the-ground work.
In fact, one gardening stool is made to wear. It attaches to the
gardener with a harness and allows hands free movement around the
garden. A coil spring on the bottom cushions the seat and allows
the gardener to plop down just about anywhere.
For the more technically advanced, electronic meters help monitor
soil pH, moisture and fertility. For under $40, you can equip
your favorite gardener to quickly determine whether more
fertilizer or maybe some irrigation is needed.
Speaking of irrigation, how about a new garden hose or sprinkler?
Kits are available for under $100 to set up drip irrigation in
the garden. Drip irrigation is more efficient. It helps reduce
diseases by keeping the foliage dry while providing moisture
right at the soil surface.
Compost
Does your gardener use compost? A plethora of composting aids is
available, from simple wire mesh bins to polyurethane compost
tumblers made from recycled plastic. There are collapsible bins,
food composting containers, biodegradable composting bags,
compost thermometers, choppers, turners and even books on how to
do it.
Finally, consider a rain barrel to collect natural irrigation
water, a garden cart for transport or maybe some hand lotion for
the end of the day. Don’t forget the postharvest gifts, such as
salad choppers, pressure canners or freezer containers, either.
If your gardener has all of this, never fear. There’s always room
for a new garden gnome somewhere. Happy holidays.
(Terry Kelley is a Cooperative Extension horticulturist with
the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.)
