The best practical gifts for gardeners 🌿🎁🌿

Who needs some practical gift ideas for gardeners? I got them. Hey friends, I'm Erin the Impatient Gardener. I live and garden here in southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5b6a, and none of that matters for any of the gifts that I'm going to show you today, except to know that everything I'm showing you or telling you about today is something I use and love. And all the tools I'm going to be showing you, because there's a lot of tools in this video, have been very used and well-loved. So nothing shined up, but consider this proof that I love these tools. So I'm actually going to start with a gift that I don't think you should give, and that is hand pruners. So these are my absolute favorites. These are Milwaukee's. I actually will put, by the way, links to everything in the description. These are my very favorites, and I can't even remember the model name of these. I also have the GR Pros. I absolutely love these. They work with my hands, and that's why you shouldn't give these as a gift, unless someone has given you a specific type that they want. As a suggestion, I feel like of every tool for gardening, hand pruners are the most personal of all the tools. This is something I'm cognizant of the more time I spend in the garden, which is to say the older I get. So I deal with a little bit of carpal tunnel. I deal with all those things that happen, and so I really need to make sure that I have the right tool for my hand, and everyone's hands are a little bit different. I think the key thing is is that they fit your hand properly, and that they just work in a way that works with your hands. So while I love these, these will probably not be the best for you. I have used several other brands. I've used Felkels, ARS, Bakos, and all of them have been okay. These are the ones that are the best for me. Personally, I don't recommend buying hand pruners for anyone, just because there is a specific type that everyone seems to use, or this seems to be the most popular, or you hear about the most, because I don't, I think you're taking a big bet on whether those are right, and the problem is once you buy these things, it's hard to know, which brings us to the question of how are you supposed to know what hand pruners you can buy. If you are really looking to invest in good hand pruners, highly recommended. If you're going to invest in any tool, I say invest in good hand pruners, protect your hands. I think you should seek out people who have different ones, or go to a store to buy them so you can at least hold them in your hands and squeeze them a couple of times. I realize this is difficult because sometimes you can't even find some of these in a store. You have to go online. I would just make sure that they have a nice return policy if you are buying online. If you are a member of a garden club, might I recommend that one event that you have throughout your year is a meeting or an event in which everyone brings some of their favorite tools and allows everyone to at least lay hands on them, and feel them, and try them out a little bit. It is a very good way to find out if a tool might be right for you without having to invest in it. So if you're looking for a gift, and I'm telling you not to buy this, here are some suggestions. I do think these little snips are really nice gifts for people, and I think everyone can use these. And this is not as sophisticated of a tool as the hand pruners, so you don't get into a lot of comfort factor things, which are naturally quite comfortable, I think. This one is the Milwaukee Snips. I have several of these. I quite like these. They have a really nice fine point on them. The one thing I don't like is this little loop on the end tends to get caught. So if I'm using these, I always flip the loop around, because otherwise they will close on you, which is a little annoying. These are the Felco Snips, which have that kind of closure, but a rounded tip. They're both nice. I use them interchangeably. One cutting tool that I think does make a good gift, and I have personally actually asked for for Christmas this year, is loppers. The ergonomics of loppers are not as important as the ergonomics of a hand pruner or secateurs, whatever you would like to call them, because you aren't using them as often. These are in your hand. As you know, you're running around the garden. You are using these constantly. Loppers, not as much. So I have actually asked, not for a specific loppers, but the person who had asked for some gift ideas for me, I just sent them to the Corona website, because Corona makes really nice tools at a range of prices, and I don't, because I don't know what the price range is here either, but you can get something in a wide range of prices there, and high quality tools. I've liked what I've had from them, and they have a whole bunch of loppers. So that's where I sent the person who I specifically asked for loppers from, to go look for one for me. Next, in terms of cutting tools, is this guy. This, if you have a gift recipient who likes to cut flowers, this thing is great. This is the flowers, I think it's called the Flower Snips from Milwaukee. I am a, I do like Milwaukee. By the way, nothing in this video is sponsored, but I've gardened long enough that I have very strong preferences and tools, many of which fall under the same brands. That's just why you're going to hear the same things repeated. Anyway, do love Milwaukee. These Flower Snips are really, really nice. They have a ceramic blade on them. They've got this nice little spot to hook your finger in, a nice comfortable handle. I actually use this for deadheading too, although it's not as easy to get in to little fine areas, but very nice for harvesting flowers or vegetables, whatever, but really meant for, as a Flower Snips. If you are ordering from Milwaukee, you are probably shipping from England, and the shipping is not that expensive, but you are going to have to pay for shipping unless there's some sort of special going on. So, highly recommend the Milwaukee Garden Gloves. I mean, these are inexpensive garden gloves, and these are a riff on the same gardening gloves you've seen in a lot of places, but these breathe much better, they fit much better, and I find that whatever this coating is, which I don't know if it's nitrile because it's not shiny like some other nitrile gloves I've had, is much more durable than the other cheaper gloves that I've gotten on Amazon. So, while I wouldn't buy these just on their own from Milwaukee, if you're ordering anyway, highly recommend the Garden Gloves. Highly recommend the Cremate, which is essentially a pumice that cleans your tools better than anything else. I have a ton of them because I don't ever want to be without one, and there was a period there where they were sold out of them for a while, and I felt lost without being able to get my hands on a Cremate. So, also recommend the Cremate. They also have an excellent kitchen shears, which is fabulous, which the price has gone up on quite a bit since I started buying them. If you need a really, really good kitchen shears, again, Milwaukee. That is maybe not the best gift idea, but it's a very good kitchen shears. Okay, let's move on to some hand tools now. I think every gift guide I've ever done has had this tool on it, and you guys hear me talk about this tool all the time. This is the Snebor Great Dixter planting spade. They have another planting spade that is flat. This one has the V, which I prefer quite a bit. These are all hand forged tools that are handmade by amazing craftsmen, and these are lifetime tools. These are tools you own for the rest of your life, so when you give one of these as a gift, this person should have this for life. They sell replacement handles if you happen to break one, which these are really strong. I believe they're ash handles, and unless you do something stupid with them, like I once did with this one. Oh, no. These handles should last you a lifetime. If they do break, though, you can buy a replacement handle and replace it yourself, which I actually made a video about how I did that. I will link below if you want to see the process, but if I can do it, you can do it. Love this tool for all the things. I have just really come to like these tools that fall in this mid-area of height, and this I use for digging, planting, you name it. Now, they do have a new tool out this year. This is called the hand spade, and these two tools, you don't need to buy both. If someone is a Snibor fan and already has this tool, I highly recommend this one. I don't necessarily see these being interchangeable. This one is definitely more, I think, for planting. This one is more for digging holes on the run. Obviously, you can plant with this as well, but when I've been using this, this is to run around and dig a hole and then plop a plant in it. This I feel I use more often for things like, you know, sticking in the soil, pulling it, plopping a plant in, also digging a little bit. Obviously, something with a square head will be more efficient at digging. This is a new one in my collection. This is the Dutch style planting trowel. This is Monty Don's favorite, so if you have a person in your life who loves watching Gardener's World, they will recognize this tool and they probably want this tool. This is great. Same thing, you know, there's a lot of height. I really love pulling to plant things. I love being able to put something in and pull. I love the handle length on this. I more and more and more have very little interest in tools that have short handles. I just find like there's so much better leverage with this. I just use this to plant some bulbs. In a recent video, this is an excellent tool. And like I said, this might be maybe the most recognizable Snebor tool. Now, I am not. I've talked about this before. I'm not huge on traditional style trowels, but Snebor also has this tool and this is, I believe, their most popular seller. This is the tool they sell more of than any others. And this does have a really nice shape to it. Obviously, a really nice point to it and kind of got a curvy handle. I do love the curvy handle on this quite a bit. So clearly, if this is their best seller, like millions of people can't be wrong, right? So if you, if you're using this to pass along ideas to people or if the person you're shopping for, you know, is a person who really likes a traditional trowel, this is your go-to right here. By the way, all of these tools are made from really beautiful stainless and are very sharp and can and should be sharpened over the course of their lifetime. So that's why these last you forever. I did a whole video on how to choose a spade and how to, what to look for in a spade to make sure you're getting the right one for you. And much like secateurs, I feel like this is a very personal decision. And unless you are recommending what you want to somebody else, I think this is a hard tool to buy for somebody without a better feel for exactly, you know, what they need. That said, there's one exception to a spade that I think you're safe buying for another person. And that is this one that is new to me this year. This is the Snebor transplanting spade. This spade is for somebody who is a very hands-on gardener, who has been gardening for a while, maybe has a little bit more established garden and divides perennials. This is really what this is for. This is really about moving and dividing perennials. So if you have a person who gardens, who does a lot of that, this tool to me is a total game changer. I didn't think I needed another spade in my life. And then I tried this one and now I'm, you know, I think I said in that video, actually, this one and one other one are the ones I'm taking. If the garage starts on fire, I'm running for these two. And for a long handle tool, if you want to have fun trying to wrap something, I would say a hoe. I think a lot of people think hoes are tools that our grandparents used. Hoes are amazing. I didn't realize how great hoes could be until I started using some proper hoes. Now, my favorite type of hoe is a Dutch style hoe that is like a Dutch push-pull hoe. There's several. DeWitt has a version of this that I know is Roy Diblick's favorite. But the key is a tool that cuts going forward and going back because that's how you use hoes, right? I don't particularly love the hula hoe. I think it has some or a stirrup. I think those are called stirrup style hoes. I think those have applications in particular for row cropping because I think it's really nice to make a row with. But for most people, I would say in gardens where you are using a hoe primarily to take out small weeds, the Dutch style push-pull hoe is key. This guy right here is my favorite. This is the Snebor Royal Dutch hoe. You can tell this thing is a total beast because look at so it's all sharpened here on this side and here. And what's nice about it is that I think you can see the angle here. So this is the angle it sits on the ground. And what you want to do is run this, you know, right like right at like half an inch, an inch below the surface. And it just lays right on the surface. It has this beautiful handle right here. The nice thing about this is that you can stand up straight and use these tools. And that is where hoes absolutely shine. Hoes have great purpose if they are used at the correct time, which is when weeds are just starting to germinate and just starting to come up. You can cut down your weeding for a season if you time it right by so much if you just get out there with the hoe. And actually it's a little bit of a zen moment, I think. Okay, that's the big tools. Let's talk about a couple other things I just think every gardener needs. Maybe these have different names and that might even be a brand name. This, I would be lost without these things. So I will link the one that I have. I'm pretty sure this is the 13 gallon one. They come in a bunch of different sizes. I don't know a gardener who doesn't have a use for one of these. And I don't know a gardener who wouldn't appreciate another one, even if they already have one. These things, I just use them for everything all the time. You cannot go wrong with this. If you have someone who is just getting into gardening, has just gotten a house, is just starting the garden, you cannot go wrong with one of these. And if you want to fill it up with some other stuff to make it look like a theme present, that does a great job. I have done that before myself. I just feel like you can't go wrong with the tub truck. You need a stocking stuffer. This stuff is amazing. This is, I mean, I know garden twine is like a weird gift, but this is the kind of gardeners like practical presents. And this is the ultimate impractical. This is my favorite type of twine. It comes in about 14 different colors. I prefer the black. You can pick any color you want. Comes in these nice little tins and the twine itself you can buy replacements for. I use this all the time. The other thing about this garden twine is that it breaks down in the compost. Before I was using just kind of cheap garden twine that I found in other places. And I don't know, I think there must have been, there must be some synthetic in it because I will find that in the compost pile 10 years later, still not broken down. This stuff will break down, you know, in a year. So I highly recommend this stuff. Plus it's really cute. It makes a really cute little gift. I'll put two places for you to get this in the description because sometimes it's cheaper at one than the other. Another stocking stuffer is this little guy. Now this is truly a gift that it makes a really good gift because a lot of people are not going to buy this for themselves because this is the Sneabor seedling divver. And I'll start by saying you don't need this. I will also tell you it's lovely to have and I use it all the time. So what do I use this for? So well, first of all, this is a nice little stainless steel tool. We've got a nice little point on it and then we've got this end, which is kind of this little like spoon bill type end. I use this in almost every stage of the growing from seed process. First of all, this little end works very good for picking up small seeds. You just get it wet. It works just like the toothpick does. Can you use a toothpick for that? Yes, you can. But you could also use this. So use it for that. This is also good for making a little hole, which is where this part comes in. So the way I've been growing a ton of seeds lately is to broadcast sow them into small trays and then prick them out. Very efficient way to do it, I think. And this is an amazing pricker. So you just get in there and you just kind of scoop that out, the little roots. You know, it has nice weight to it. You can flip it around in your hands and try not to poke out your eye. When you want to replant that seedling, you make a little hole with this end again. And this is kind of a sweet little gift for somebody who just really loves gardening. If you've got someone who really, like, is addicted to snee board tools. Not that I would know anyone like that, like me. This was a gift, by the way, my sister-in-law gave this to me several years ago. And I love this thing. Now, in terms of practical gifts, I think this next one is the ultimate in practical gifts. If you have a higher budget, because this is a higher priced item. And that is a hose link hose reel. Let me start by saying that I was not a hose reel person until I got a hose link. In fact, for years, people have been talking about and telling me about how amazing hose link hose reels were. And I was like, yeah, hose reels kind of, they're just not my thing. I don't really like them. I got one. I tried it. And then I bought two more because like within a week I went and bought two more because that's how sold I was on them. I've been using mine for several years now. Highly recommend the hose links. They come in charcoal and like a natural color. I think there might be a Black Friday sale on those. Just throwing that out there. So keep that in mind. Now let's just talk about books because books make amazing gifts. If you're in a pinch and it's last minute, they're often pretty easy to get your hands on kind of quickly. And there are some great gardening books out there. So I do have some suggestions for gardening books. I have all of these in my library and none of these are particularly new books, but I think a good book is a good book. It doesn't have to be new to be good. If you're looking for additional book recommendations for a specific situation, leave a comment and I'd be happy to try to make a recommendation for a book. So these are a few that I often recommend to people and often give as gifts. Number one, if you are looking for a book that is garden inspiration, I would go with American Roots. Yes, I'm completely biased. I was featured in that book. I'm very extraordinarily proud and honored to have been featured in that book. But I refer to that book all the time. There are, I think, 20 some different gardens in that book. Anytime I'm lacking in inspiration or I'm working on a new garden and I'm just trying to get some ideas flowing in my head, I go back to that book. So this is not a one and done book. This is a book that I like having on my shelf and I go back to frequently. For somebody who's getting into flower gardening, I like Matt Mattis' The Art of Flower Gardening. It's a beautiful book. Matt Mattis is a very knowledgeable gardener, but on top of that, he researches better than than most people I have seen who have written books. His research is impeccable. He grows, he does all these growing experiments. I really trust him a lot. I love having that book. I refer to it often if I'm going to grow some type of new flower and I need to get some more information on it. For someone who's getting into perennial gardens, this is the book that I have given more than any other book, which is Tracy de Sabado-Oss' The Well-Tended Perennial Garden. I believe it's on it's like third or fourth edition now. I still have my old first edition copy that I love, but this is a great book and it's a really good book because actually it's a book that you want to sit down and read, but you can also refer back. This is not necessarily like a quick go back for a quick bit of information. It's not just lists of stuff. It's more of a holistic read, a great for winter in front of the fire, but I do find myself going back to certain chapters or just refreshing my mind on some things. Tropical plants and how to love them. I point out this book all the time. This is the book that got me very comfortable growing things like the Red Abyssinian Bananas and even Colocasia and all of these tender kind of wild plants that have no business being in Wisconsin. This is a very hands-on how-to book. Excellent reference. I would show you my copy, except it's currently at the office because I took it to the office for some reason at some point and now I got to get home. I should probably just get two copies of it. Also Roy Diblek's The No Maintenance Garden. I like this book because it has recipes in it. So if someone is interested in Roy's style of planting, which is more naturalistic, but doesn't know where to start, this book has recipes in it and shows you exactly how to take those recipes and apply them to your own garden. And more than that, those recipes are really a starting point because of course you can add in other elements or swap things out, but it's very much a good place for someone who doesn't know where to start. This is a really good book. And then don't sleep on magazine subscriptions. So there are two magazines that I subscribe to. Actually there are more than that that I subscribe to, but two that I really recommend for gift giving. Number one is Fine Gardening Magazine, which is an excellent magazine with really good information in it and a lot of really nice features in it. Very good. The other one actually is Gardens Illustrated Magazine, which is a British magazine which costs quite a bit more to get a subscription. I think a subscription is it might even be close to $100 a year. I happily pay it. I love that magazine. The one problem with Gardens Illustrated is that you tend to get a magazine about a month after it gets out in England, which is a little frustrating and I know they could avoid that if they tried, but they're not. Whatever. I still love the magazine. It's worth it, even though it's expensive and it often comes late. If someone is a very keen gardener, perhaps a membership to the American Horticultural Society, which also comes with a subscription to their magazine, which is an excellent magazine, definitely for keen gardeners, for people who really want to up their knowledge. But that's nice. And also you do get discounts to a ton of public gardens if you are an AHS member. So there are a lot of benefits to that as well. I would also recommend thinking about a membership to the Garden Conservancy. You might know the Garden Conservancy. They do a lot of things, including they're doing a lot more educational programs now. However, they also do their Garden Conservancy garden tours, which are amazing. I think you get 50% off the entry if you're a member. So usually if you're going to go on a garden, go do any of the garden tours anyways. It's often worth buying the membership. Plus you're supporting a really good organization, which is kind of nice too. And I think those are both really nice gifts, those two memberships. Very nice gifts for someone who is not really interested in accumulating more stuff. I have a lot of people in my life who are don't want more stuff in their life. They're trying to get rid of stuff. They have what they want, or they buy it themselves. But you want to get them a gift. I think a membership like that, good idea. Lastly, I'll just say amaryllis bulbs. I just did a video on that. So a really pretty special amaryllis bulb planted in a nice pot. Perhaps not falling under my practical gift idea, but certainly a great gift as well. So I hope that helps spark some gift ideas for you to give to someone as a gift idea for yourself. By the way, little tip, if you hit share below this video, you can actually put a timestamp in there. So if you want to drop a hint to somebody, you can just timestamp what time we're at the tool you like and send that off to them and the video will start right at that timestamp. Or hopefully this helps you buy some gifts for some people in your lives. Like I said, every single thing in this video is something I use and love and recommend. Otherwise I wouldn't be telling you about it. All right, there you go. There are your practical gift ideas for gardeners. Go forth and shop. Have a great day in your garden, everybody. We'll talk to you soon.