GARDENING GIFTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

by Judy Allen, Denton County Master Gardener Association

Gardening can be a wonderful activity for people of all ages. In addition to enjoying the fruits of your labor, gardening offers many opportunities to exercise different muscle groups, get some daily vitamin D from the sunshine, pass on knowledge to children, and make new friends who share common interests. Quality tools and supplies are always a thoughtful gift.

For beginning or experienced gardeners, a raised bed garden is often easier to create and initially may be more productive because our native soils require substantial amendments or organic material. This leads to the first gift recommendation. Local nurseries, big box stores and online vendors offer raised bed gardening supplies. Some are as simple as corner pieces and wood slats ready to assemble, and some are boxes or containers that resemble horse troughs that either sit on the ground or are mounted on legs.

MORE GIFT IDEAS:

A tool bucket with canvas insert that has slots for each tool is a welcome addition. Many small tools can be added to the bucket. Hand shears; a pair of gloves; hand shovel; wipes for hands and tools; plant tags with pen or pencil; a pocket size tool sharpener. As you can see the ideas are endless. Add a gardening journal and possibly a gift card to a favorite nursery. What a fantastic gift for the gardener in your life.

A gardening apron with a couple of pockets that keep your phone, gloves and a hand tool at your fingertips.

A Hori Hori knife. This tool may be used for digging, cutting, harvesting, weeding, and planting. It usually comes with a protective sheath because the sides are quite sharp.

A Root Slayer shovel for tough tree roots. Cuts through our clay soils.

A scuffle or triangle head hoe makes weeding a breeze.

Pruning shears or loppers that give the gardener more leverage than hand shears to cut small limbs but are easy to carry around.

A folding hand saw. These saws lock open so they are safe to use and are a must for anyone cutting brush or dealing with medium tree limbs. They lock closed as well so they are safe when being stored.

A folding hand lens can be helpful when scouting for insects and disease.

A cushioned kneeling pad makes weeding and planting much easier on the knees.

A portable garden cart or a wheelbarrow for moving larger tools, plants, and soil amendments. A wheelbarrow with dual wheels on the front is easier to balance.

A watering wand or hose attachment that allows water to stay off the leaves as well as regulate the flow of water.

As many of us get older, we find that the physical effort of gardening is more difficult, especially on our hands. If so, there are adaptive garden tools (called ergonomic tools) designed to ease the strain on our bodies.

Some of these tools include:

Roamwild hand digger; Bionic Relief Grip gloves; gloves with claws, easy turn faucet grips. Peta easy grip arm support adds strength to wrist and arm while using.

Brightly colored hand tools that are easy to see when dropped into the flower bed.

Check out Michigan Horticulture Therapy for a full list of adaptive tools: https://michiganhta.org/adaptive-tools-3/

Gardening in Texas has some unique challenges! So, how about a gardening book? Just 3 of many:

Dr. Greg Grant, Smith County horticulturist-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service:“Texas Fruit & Vegetable Gardening”

“Easy Gardening for Texas” by A&M University Professor, Dr. Joseph G. Masabni

“Easy Gardens for North Central Texas” by horticulturist Steve Huddleston and garden writer and landscape architect, Pamela Crawford