This year we’ve got a gamut of gardening gift ideas from must-read books, to handy gadgets, to eco-friendly gardening goodies!

Great Gardening Reads

Gardener Scott’s Guide to Raised Bed Gardening

Gardener Scott is one of the foremost gardening experts on YouTube, and in his new book Gardener Scott’s Guide To Raised Bed Gardening he introduces gardeners to every aspect of raised bed gardening. Not only does the book have detailed information about the benefits of raised bed gardening and how to start your own raised bed garden, it’s also chock-full of great gardening advice that’s relevant to all gardening styles.

Good Bugs for Your Garden

When gardeners see bugs in the garden sometimes alarm bells go off, but it’s important to also learn about the ‘good guys’- beneficial insects that help keep garden pest populations in check. In Good Bugs For Your Garden Allison Mia Starcher teaches gardeners all about these garden superheroes and how to attract them to your garden.

The Living Soil Handbook

Jesse Frost is a market gardener (small-scale farmer) who runs the No-Till Growers channel and Grower’s Daily podcast on YouTube. Even if your giftee isn’t gardening on the scale of a market gardener, ‘Farmer Jesse’s’ book The Living Soil Handbook is a must-read for any gardener interested in building healthy garden soil and ecological gardening.

Seed Starting and Indoor Growing

Chestnut Potting Tools

These little potting tools might not look like much, but they are the handy-dandiest tools for seed starting and potting up plants! The pointed tool is perfect for dibbling seeding holes, picking up tiny seeds, and for pricking out young seedlings. The flat-ended tool is perfect for arranging and flattening soil in trays or pots. These tools are the perfect stocking-stuffer for the gardener on your list!

Soil Blockers

If the gardener on your list hasn’t given it a go yet, they’re sure to appreciate being introduced to the benefits of soil blocking. Soil blocking is space-efficient, can help reduce plastic use, and encourages healthy seedlings. To get started the 20-cell handheld soil blocker* is great for starting smaller seeds. For potting up the smaller blocks or for starting larger seeds the 4-cell handheld blocker is ideal (better yet pick up both!)

*At the time of writing, the 20-cell handheld soil blocker at Johnny’s seeds is less expensive but backordered. Lee Valley has a similar blocker that is slightly more expensive but appears to be in stock.

Microgreens Grow Kit

If your recipient is expecting a white Christmas this year, give them the gift of growing indoors with these Back to the Roots microgreens kits! Growing delicious, nutritious microgreens can be a bit of a learning curve but these kits make it super-easy for them to get started. Each kit includes a mix of different organic seeds, compostable starting trays and growing medium, as well as access to “Green-Thumb Text Support” for detailed microgreen growing instructions!

For the Garden Ecosystem

Native Wildflower Seeds

If your giftee has some open space in their garden, gifting them native wildflower seeds is sure to inspire them to create a natural garden oasis. Native wildflowers are beautiful, low-maintenance, and key for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden. For two great native seed sources to try: SFinBloom has stunning native wildflower mixes tailored to a variety of different regions and Roundstone Seeds also has a great selection of beautiful region-appropriate mixes.

Bat House

If the gardener in your life is interested in supporting all types of garden wildlife, gifting them a bat house (yes, a bat house!) is a unique gift idea. Why a bat house for a gardener? Bats are amazing hunters of all kinds of garden pests and in some areas certain bat species can also help pollinate plants!

Gardening Tools and Gear

Grampa’s Weeder

Any gardener would appreciate receiving a tool to make weeding a little bit easier! Grampa’s Weeders are well known for their design, quality, and craftsmanship. Grampa’s Weeders easily remove weeds with long taproots, with no bending over and minimal soil disturbance. Best of all they get the majority of the root out to prevent weed regrowth.

Muck Boots

Being a gardener sometimes means getting out in the garden even on days with less-than-perfect conditions. Muck boots are the perfect all-weather boots for doing just that. They’re flexible and breathable so they can be worn when it’s warm-ish out but they’re also tough and waterproof for damp days (there are also winter boots available). As a thoughtful design detail, the boot outsoles are self-cleaning so your giftee won’t be stuck walking around the garden on mud-clump-moon-boots.

Waterproof Pruning/Wash Gloves

These might not be the cutest gardening gloves around but these waterproof pruning and wash gloves are rugged, tough, and get the job done! They’re 100% waterproof so they’re great for washing down carrots, lettuce, and other garden harvests. Not only that, they’re perfect for working with pokey and irritating plants like zucchini and parsnips, so you can save your giftee from scraping and roughing up their hands and arms.

Rolling Work Seat

All gardeners know that working in the garden can be hard on the body. So what better gift to give a gardener than this rolling garden work seat with a tool tray? With this work seat, spending long hours in the garden will be a breeze. If the gardener on your list has physical or energy limitations this work seat is the perfect gift so they can enjoy gardening in comfort.

GreenStalk Vertical Planter

The GreenStalk Vertical Planter is a versatile self-watering growing system that makes efficient use of vertical space to grow a ton of produce in a small footprint. GreenStalks come in a wide variety of eye-catching colors so they’re both a growing system and garden art! GreenStalks are made from high-quality, UV-resistant plastic and come with a 5-year warranty- so they’re built strong and guaranteed to last! Use code PLANTERAPP to get $10 off your purchase of $75 or more.

Planter App and Merch!

Share the gift of the Planter gardening app with your family and friends this holiday season! Gift them a Planter Premium subscription so they can easily plan and manage their garden anytime, anywhere! We don’t have our own Planter branded gift cards (yet!) but you can gift them a Google Play or Apple App store gift card and point them to the Planter app.

This year we’ve also added brand-new planter merch so your garden giftee can show off their love for gardening and all things Planter!

If you’re struggling to find a gift for the gardener that has everything fear not- we’ve got gifting ideas for even the most geared-out gardener!

Erin:

Garden marker

Regular ‘permanent’ markers usually become not-so-permanent in a garden! Between the rain and the UV rays from the sun, invariably the ink will fade. The garden marker stands up to the elements so it can be used for writing garden labels or labelling seedling trays without fear of losing track of which plants are where. Makes a great stocking stuffer for any gardener!

Hori hori knife

A hori hori knife is an extremely versatile garden tool. It can be used for both digging and slicing- useful when transplanting, dividing plants, and maybe even cutting out those too-far-gone weeds (not that we ever let them get that bad…right? 😅) The measuring guide on the side makes it easy to determine the correct depth when planting. This particular model from A.M. Leonard even comes with a handy twine cutter built in!

Speciality garden hoes

Garden hoes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes to tackle different weeding and gardening tasks. While it might feel like overkill to have more than one garden hoe, it really does make a difference to have ‘the right tool for the job’…and for any sizable garden area almost anything is better than hand weeding! Lee Valley has a great selection of garden hoes but one that is especially versatile is the trenching hoe.

Garden cart

While a garden cart might not be a glamorous garden gift, they are amongst the most practical gardening tools. Save time and backaches by wheeling around large amounts of compost and mulch rather than lugging them in a wheelbarrow. It’s also more efficient to cart around several trays of seedlings at once instead of making multiple trips back-and-forth. While there are many brands of garden carts available on the market, the Gorilla cart brand is well-known for its strength and durability.

Paper weed barrier

What gardener wouldn’t love to be given the gift of less weeding? This paper weed barrier from Lee Valley is an effective, eco-friendly way to cut down on weed pressure in the garden. It’s thicker than standard rolls of brown paper so it won’t tear easily. Simply roll out and cut the desired length, bury the edges with soil, then cut holes or slits to plant into.

Samantha: 

The Gardening Book by Monty Don

Monty Don might be the United Kingdom’s guru of all things gardening, but his excellent advice goes beyond the borders of Britain. The Gardening Book is a treasure trove of Monty’s horticultural expertise and includes information on small-space gardening, houseplants, shrubs, trees, and more. It is filled with beautiful pictures and, like all of Monty’s books, is a joy to read. 

The Healing Garden by Juliet Blankespoor

If you want to get a gift for someone who has taken an interest in herbalism, then The Healing Garden is a must-have book. The author, Juliet, has been growing, selling, and teaching about herbs for decades. The Healing Garden gives tips on cultivating, harvesting, and processing many different medicinal herbs. It’s filled with stunning photographs and easy-to-follow recipes. 

Sili Seedlings silicone seedling trays

Sili Seedling trays are the perfect gift for the gardener who loves reducing, reusing, and recycling!  Since the trays are made from silicone, they can be used repeatedly. They are easy to clean and can be sterilized in the dishwasher. They come in a lot of cool colors and sizes, too. 

Personalized engraved seed storage box

A custom-engraved seed storage box can be the perfect gift for the gardener with all the tools, gadgets, and seeds. This wooden box can be personalized and will make any gardener smile. There are many seed boxes on Etsy, but this shop has many 5-star ratings.

Peter

Custom Garden Sign

What do you gift the gardener who already has all the tools and equipment they need? A decorative sign so they can proudly proclaim that it’s their garden! I gifted a few of these last year from this Etsy shop and they turned out great.

GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter

You might have seen the GreenStalk Vertical Planter showcased on your favorite gardening YouTube channels…And for good reason! The GreenStalk is a super-versatile self-watering growing system that makes efficient use of vertical space to grow a ton of produce in a small footprint. The GreenStalk is made from high-quality, UV-resistant plastic and comes with a 5-year warranty- so it’s built strong and guaranteed to last! Use code PLANTERAPP to get $10 off your purchase of $75 or more.

Bootstrap Farmer Air Prune Propagation Tray

These propagation trays provide the benefit of ‘air pruning’ the roots of growing seedlings without the added learning curve and work of soil blocking. These Bootstrap Farmer Air Prune Propagation Trays are made with high-quality plastic that is built to last (and they come with a 2-year warranty!) so your giftee will get many years of life out of them. As an added bonus they come in a variety of colors- which is not only fun but also can be handy for grouping your seed starts!

Give the gift of Planter

Share the gift of the Planter gardening app with your family and friends this holiday season! Gift them a Planter Premium subscription so they can easily plan and manage their garden anytime, anywhere! We don’t have our own Planter branded gift cards (yet!) but you can gift them a Google Play or Apple App store gift card and point them to the Planter app. If your giftee already enjoys the perks of a Planter Premium subscription, why not gift them some snazzy Planter merch instead?

GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter

You might have seen the GreenStalk Vertical Planter showcased on your favorite gardening YouTube channels…And for good reason! The GreenStalk is a super-versatile self-watering growing system that makes efficient use of vertical space to grow a ton of produce in a small footprint. The GreenStalk is made from high-quality, UV-resistant plastic and comes with a 5-year warranty- so it’s built strong and guaranteed to last! Use code PLANTERAPP to get $10 off your purchase of $75 or more.

Bootstrap Farmer Air Prune Propagation Tray

These propagation trays provide the benefit of ‘air pruning’ the roots of growing seedlings without the added learning curve and work of soil blocking. These Bootstrap Farmer Air Prune Propagation Trays are made with high-quality plastic that is built to last (and they come with a 2-year warranty!) so your giftee will get many years of life out of them. As an added bonus they come in a variety of colors- which is not only fun but also can be handy for grouping your seed starts!

Johnny’s Serrated Greens Knife

It might feel a bit odd to give a knife as a gift, but we can assure you any serious gardener will love this Serrated Greens Knife from Johnny’s Selected Seeds! The half-moon shape makes it easy to harvest even at awkward angles, and the fine serrations offer a nice clean cut. It’s not only great for harvesting greens but could also be used to harvest zucchini, broccoli, cabbage, and more!

Park Seed Easy Tunnel

The Park Seed Easy Tunnel is an easy and inexpensive way to get started with season extension techniques! They offer convenient telescoping low tunnels covered with either poly plastic, fleece row cover, or netting depending on the desired degree of protection. The best part is how easy it is to move the tunnels around the garden to where they’re needed.

Hamilton Beach Dehydrator

While technically a kitchen gadget, the Hamilton Beach Dehydrator is the perfect gift for an avid gardener who finds themselves with gluts of produce that need preserving! Having a dehydrator means that fresh garden fruits, veggies, and herbs can be enjoyed year round- as dehydrated produce can be stored for several months- and helps prevent any precious harvests from going to the compost pile!

Spider Farmer Seedling Heat Mat Kit

A seedling heat mat might seem like an unnecessary extra piece of equipment, but for some seeds such as peppers having the added heat in the soil is crucial for good germination rates. Be sure to choose a heat mat set that comes with a thermostat and probe such as this Spider Farmer Seedling Heat Mat Kit to avoid over- or under-heating the soil. For more information on how to use seedling heat mats check out Heat Mats for Starting Seeds.

True Leaf Seed Kits

What gardener wouldn’t love getting seeds for Christmas? For gift-giving we especially love these True Leaf Seed Kits- they have a great selection of themed seed kits from salsa gardens to salad gardens to culinary herbs. The kits come in attractive gift-ready packaging and include some basic seed starting supplies so your giftee will have everything they need to get growing!

Earthway Precision Garden Seeder

For those with a large-sized in-ground garden who are direct seeding long rows of vegetables, a row seeder like the Earthway Precision Garden Seeder is a gamechanger! No more struggling to drop tiny seeds into rows by hand! The seeder comes with several different seed plates and they can also be customized to drop a huge variety of seeds. The handy row marker ensures that rows stay straight with the correct spacing- which is not only nice to look at but also makes weeding a much more efficient task.

Lee Valley Bottle Top Waterers

These Bottle-Top Waterers from Lee Valley Tools make the perfect stocking stuffer! They deliver an ultra-fine and controlled spray of water that’s perfect for seed starting- where a regular watering can may flood the trays and move or dislodge tiny seeds. The set of 4 waterers can serve a variety of purposes wherever precision watering is needed!

Adjustable Tabletop Grow Lights

For a gardener that’s new to seed starting or working with limited space, these Adjustable Tabletop Grow Lights are the perfect solution! The bendable necks offer the ultimate flexibility for indoor seed starting without needing to purchase an entire rack of grow lights. The built-in timer ensures that plants will consistently get the desired amount of light each day without having to remember to turn the lights on and off!

Planter Premium Subscription

And of course, if your recipient doesn’t already have a Planter Premium subscription, why not get them a gift card for the App Store or Google Play so they can subscribe! They’ll be able to plan unlimited gardens, use the Planter web app, customize their garden and more!

Seeding Square

Translate your garden plan from Planter into your garden with the handy Seeding Square! This nifty square has color-coded holes to help you sow the seeds of your favorite plants following recommended per-square-foot spacings. The graduated dibber helps to ensure your seeds are planted at the right depth, too.

Gardening Socks

The best socks to garden in are usually boring old black socks (they never get dirty!) But gardening-themed socks make for a fun holiday gift that lets the recipient show off their passion for gardening even when they’re not in the garden!

Gardening Apron

Serious gardeners will love this Roo gardening apron. It’s not just any old apron with pockets- it opens at the bottom allowing you to quickly offload a large harvest into a wash bin or storage container. This is a must-have for gardeners that grow lots of tomatoes, peppers, or squash.

Garden Tool Set

If your giftee is just starting out with gardening, snap up a handy garden tool set for them! A basic but sturdy set like this one from Friskars is perfect for new gardeners.

Indoor Hydroponic Garden

How do you scratch that gardening itch during the winter? Move the garden indoors, of course! AeroGarden Hydroponic Gardens are easy to use and will provide fresh herbs, lettuce, or even cherry tomatoes year-round!

Mini Greenhouse

Mini greenhouses are great for protecting tender seedlings and plants from harsh winds, driving rain, and chilly-ish weather, or for an indoor seed-starting setup. For outdoor use, be sure to weigh the mini greenhouse down (or otherwise secure it to the ground or a fence) and use extra fastenings to hold down the shelves.

Garden Labels

Gardeners can always make use of an extra set of garden labels to help keep track of seedlings and plants. Garden labels make a great stocking-stuffer!

Gardening Hat

Spending a lot of time in the garden means a lot of potential for sun exposure. This Einskey gardening hat is inexpensive, but it stands up to the elements. After a full season of daily use, the only noticeable wear is a slight color fading. The under-the-chin drawstring may not be the most fashionable choice, but it’s a lifesaver on windy days!

Garden Trug

A garden trug is a super-handy flexible basin for harvesting, washing produce, lugging around compost and soil- or just about anything really! They are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors so be sure to choose the one that’s right for your intended recipient (or yourself!)

Soil Sieve

This compact soil sieve is great for sifting soil and compost, and you can also use it for rinsing off your veggies! It’s not the biggest sieve on the market, but it’s the perfect size for sifting potting mix for seed starting and for sifting soil in smaller garden spaces.

Kneeling Pad

A comfortable kneeling pad is a must-have for gardeners. Having a kneeling pad helps tackle long weeding, seeding, and transplanting sessions without getting scraped up knees. Gardeners who have trouble kneeling may prefer a garden seat instead.

Grow Bags

Even if your recipient mostly gardens in-ground or in raised beds, every avid gardener can make use of fabric grow bags. Great for patio gardening, these bags are lightweight and easy to move around, so plants can be repositioned as needed throughout the season. Grow bags have very good drainage, so make sure your giftee knows to keep an eye on watering.

Gardener’s Hand Care

A hand care gift basket is a thoughtful gift for gardeners. Include some gardener’s hand soap, gardener’s hand cream, a nail brush and other hand care tools to clean and soothe hard-working hands!

Planter Premium Subscription

If your recipient doesn’t already have a Planter Premium subscription, why not get them a gift card for the App Store or Google Play so they can subscribe! They’ll be able to plan unlimited gardens, use the Planter web app, customize their garden and more!