Gloves to gadgets: Great gifts for gardeners

It’s the holiday season, a time of gift-giving — and if you have gardeners on your list, these practical ideas are sure to please.

Contribute the essentials

If others are like me, they can always use a new pair of garden gloves. Even when I manage to keep up with both gloves, they still wear out under frequent, punishing use. I have a quirky habit of losing every right-hand glove because I set them aside when I’m using my pruners. 

 On a positive note, I’ve had better luck holding on to both gloves and hand tools since I started using a garden apron — another gift idea someone on your list might find useful.

A good pair of hand pruners is a must-have that makes a welcome gift. Some quality brands have replaceable parts, which is a big plus. 

There are two basic types of pruners: bypass and anvil. Bypass pruners, which have a scissor-like action, are recommended over anvil-type pruners for most applications, since they frequently make a cleaner cut rather than crushing the stem against a flat surface. 

The same holds true for loppers, which are available in the same types but have longer handles and are often rated to cut through a larger-diameter limb. Convenient options are available for both pruners and loppers. Some are available with a hooked end to prevent branches from slipping, and some have a ratchet action to cut through slightly larger diameter stems.

Cut Through Challenges

Over the last couple of years, I’ve added some digging tools that have become favorites. Both have wicked toothed edges that make cutting through roots and our dense Georgia clay much easier.

Transplanting shrubs became far more manageable with a particular shovel I received as a gift last Christmas. While not endorsing a specific product, this type of performance shovel is sold under such trade names as Root Slayer and Root Assassin.

Another versatile tool is the Hori Hori, a Japanese garden knife that’s great for dividing perennials, weeding, digging and even measuring planting depth for bulbs. 

It’s also handy for collecting soil samples for testing through the University of Georgia — but that’s a topic for another Macon Melody article.

Consider Comfort

If someone on your list loves to spend time cultivating the garden but has found the hobby to be increasingly challenging physically, consider one of many ergonomic gardening tools designed to reduce strain and increase comfort for older adults. 

These implements incorporate features such as cushioned grips, extended handles, light-weight construction and adapted shape to maintain natural wrist position. Such modifications can enhance the gardening experience considerably for seniors by reducing the need to bend, stoop or painfully exert powerful force. 

You may also consider a small garden cart that has a seat and storage space for hand tools or a combination sitting/kneeling bench. These handy devices flip over to change from a seat to a padded kneeler with handles to support the gardener in rising up from the kneeling position.

As you wrap up your holiday shopping this year, consider a gift that the gardener in your life will truly appreciate — something that makes outdoor work more enjoyable, more comfortable and a bit more efficient.

Kathy Hensley is the program assistant for University of Georgia’s Bibb County Extension.