Best Gifts for Gardeners: What They Secretly Wish They Get

I’m smiling right now. I’ve got the perfect gardening gift for my friend who is retiring – a bag of seed starter soil mix. What can I say? I nailed it. If you want to find the best gifts for gardeners, you have to think like them.

What you think is a bad gift, is glorious to them. I empathize with gardening enthusiasts when they add something to a Christmas wish list, and nobody gets it for them – because they think it’s dumb.

Take it from me, a fellow gardener, when we say we want something, we mean it! Step away from the windchime and cheesy garden gifts. I’m about to rock your world and give you a solid list of gifts for gardeners who have everything.

If you are struggling to find a Christmas or birthday gardening gift (or retirement gardening gift) for mom, dad, or special someone, it will be easy. They are going to love you forever because they will finally be heard and understood.

Let’s begin!

Table of Contents

• Gifts every garden enthusiast will love
  • Gifts for older gardeners
• Experience gifts for gardeners
• Special garden art decor
• Gifts for balcony gardeners
• Gifts for indoor gardeners
• Gifts for flower and herb gardeners
• Gifts for aquatic gardeners
• Gifts for seed starting saving
• Gifts for backyard gardeners
  • The gift of dirt
  • Gear for hardcore backyard gardeners
• Technology gifts for gardeners
  • Gardening classes
  • Noise canceling headphones
  • Waterproof speaker
  • Podcast subscription
  • Apps for gardeners
• The gift wrap up

Gifts every garden enthusiast will love

There are some very basic gardening gifts that work well, regardless of the type of gardening. Consider these all-around garden gifts that work great for a gift basket or solo.

• gardening gloves
• gardening clothes/aprons
• gardening boots
• gardening UV hat
• good quality gardening tools/equipment
• tool sharpening services
• sun tan lotion/hand repair lotion
• books about gardening (I’ve enjoyed many of the Jerry Baker Gardening Books)
• subscription to a gardening magazine
• gift card to a garden center, local nursery, or home improvement store
• repotting mats
• new plants (exotic plant seeds or more challenging plants to grow, unusal like carnivorous plants, or just a new flower color they don’t have in their perennial garden)

Gifts for older gardeners

Just a note about buying gifts for older gardeners. Obviously, you want to look for gifts that are not too heavy, are ergonomic and won’t fatigue hands. If this is a retirement gift for someone, they may not be an elderly gardener now, but aches and pains will come! Make their gardening days as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

• Comfortable knee pads or a kneeling pad to provide cushioning and support while gardening.
• A lightweight and durable garden apron with multiple pockets for carrying tools and supplies.
• A raised garden bed or elevated planter to make gardening more accessible.
• A selection of easy-to-grow and low-maintenance plants.
• A folding garden seat or stool to provide a place to rest while working in the garden.

If you have a gardening enthusiast in your life, you know how much they love spending time in their garden. Whether they have a small balcony garden or a large backyard garden, they appreciate gifts that help them take their gardening to the next level. Here are some gift ideas that every gardener will love.

Experience gifts for gardeners

An experience gift may be the perfect non-material gift for the gardener in your life! Here are some experience gift ideas:

• Des Moines Botanical Garden (where I viewed the Corpse plant that only blossoms 2-3 days every year or so, and has a not-so-lovely smell)
• SeedSavers.org (a nationally-recognized, heirloom seed-saving site in Iowa
• Japanese Gardens in Grand Fork, North Dakota
• International Peace Gardens, North Dakota
• Biltmore Mansion Estate & Garden Tour (the famed Vanderbilt family in North Carolina)
• Pella, Iowa Tulip Festival
• U.S. list of garden and mansion tours
• Local garden tours

Special garden art decor

I’m not talking about plastic garden decor you buy from Walmart. If this is a gardening gift for mom or dad retiring, you want something extra special.

Consider a beautiful water fountain, an artist-made pot, or antique garden sculptures. Nice antique garden sculptures. Think unique, like an armillary, antique birdbath, a vintage cement urn, or a sundial.

Quite honestly, I’m feeling pretty giddy of the possibilties. There is a whole world out there beyond same-old same-old kitschey garden baubles. I’m begging you, elevate your garden gift!!

You might even consider outdoor wall art for outdoor living spaces. If this works in your climate, go for it!

Gifts for balcony gardeners

If your gardening friend has a small balcony garden, they will appreciate gifts that help them maximize their space. By the way, “balcony gifts” start with the letter B. If you need an idea page for balcony decor, check that out.

Apartment dwellers with balconies can garden on a small scale. A gift box filled with small pots, a pot maker, and some seeds is also a great idea. A tote bag to carry their gardening supplies is another useful gift. Consider this line up of great gifts for balcony gardeners:

1. Compact and stackable planters to maximize space and allow for a variety of plants.
2. A balcony railing planter box to add greenery without taking up floor space.
3. Hanging planters or baskets to create vertical gardens and add visual interest.
4. Lightweight and durable gardening tools specifically designed for container gardening.
5. Self-watering planters to help maintain consistent moisture for balcony plants.
6. A selection of compact and low-maintenance plants, such as dwarf varieties or succulents.
7. Solar-powered garden lights or lanterns to add ambiance and extend outdoor enjoyment.
8. Potting soil, coco coir bricks (they are great since they keep forever and don’t need much room), fancy mineral substrate for succulents.

Gifts for indoor gardeners

For indoor gardeners, a grow kit is a great gift. It comes with everything they need to start growing their own indoor plants, including seeds, soil, and a container. A self-waterer is also a great gift for indoor gardeners because it takes the guesswork out of watering their plants. A watering wand and a pair of pruners are also useful tools for indoor gardeners.

If your friend wants to start a new hobby, they should check out a Bonsai Starter Kit. “Bonsai Trees” are another gift that start with the letter B. On that page, I cover all the Bonsai-related tools to start this hobby (that’s why kits are a good way to get started. Also know that the Bonsai hobby promotes relaxation – perfect for a retirement gift!

Gifts for flower and herb gardeners

Flower gardeners love anything that helps them grow beautiful blooms. They will enjoy raised herb beds.

A set of gardening gloves is a great gift for flower gardeners because it protects their hands while they work in the garden. A set of shears is also a useful tool for flower gardeners to prune their plants. A watering can is another great gift for flower gardeners because it allows them to water their plants without disturbing the soil.

My daughter-in-law’s mother is an avid herb gardener. She uses outdoor boxes like these so she doesn’t have to bend down:

Other gifts for flower gardeners: a flower they don’t have. There is always room for one more flower in their flower garden. Growing flowers gives joy and personal fulfillment – it’s good for the soul!

Gifts for aquatic gardeners

If your gardening friend has an aquatic garden, they will appreciate gifts that help them maintain their pond or water feature.

A pond net is a great gift for aquatic gardeners to keep their pond free of debris. A water testing kit is also a useful gift for aquatic gardeners to ensure the water quality is optimal for their fish and plants.

Pond hobbyists are always looking for things to tuck in and around their pond. Consider water plants and pond-friendly plants, as well as ornamental grasses to surround their favorite water spot. A garden bench makes a great resting spot so they can sit and enjoy looking at their pond.

Gifts for seed starting saving

Bless those special people that save and start their own seeds. You already know how passionate they are about this special hobby.

For novel gifts, look into memberships to a heritage seed site. It can give them access to a wider variety, discounts and freebies. A friend shared with me that memberships help fund various display gardens and business expansion. You can even gift a membership to a local organic growers co-op.

Seed starting gifts can include:

• heat mat
• seed trays
• seed starting soil (or easy peasy like Jiffy Pods)
• seed storage cases
• grow lights/grow light system
• gifts of heirloom seeds (SeedSavers.org, RareSeeds.com)

These photo storage boxes (center photo) are excellent for storing seeds (just scooped this tip up from a seed starting class I took this weekend!). If you want to be a real rock star, give a timer to add to the grow lights. My favorite is the BN-LINK timer (I even use it to set my Christmas tree lights!).

As mentioned previously, consider an experience gift to a place like SeedSavers.org. This nationally-recognized organization in Iowa saves heirloom seeds and offers them to the public for sale.

From their website: “Seed Savers Exchange stewards America’s culturally diverse and endangered garden and food crop legacy for present and future generations. We educate and connect people through collecting, regenerating, and sharing heirloom seeds, plants, and stories.”

Gifts for backyard gardeners

There are loads of gift opportunities for gardeners with gardens in their backyard. There is no shortage of space for gardening equipment, plants, and related hobbies. These are the real gifts that gardeners desire:

The gift of dirt

You heard me right – dirt. There are backyard gardeners dreaming about premium compost, aged manure, rotted bales of straw, and any source of mulch. Beware of free public grass clippings as they may contain chemicals. Be their gift hero and give it to them.

Another related gift is to arrange to borrow someone’s truck to pick up/deliver these soil-enhancing products. I just found out about the website Chip Drop. Gardeners get free wood chips, while arborists have a local drop site for their wood chips and logs. Yeah!

Don’t forget some nice bark for landscaping. That cost adds up fast, I know I would be grateful to receive it (as I envision my dream backyard!).

Along with the gift of dirt, you can also gift the labor to go with it. That manure and compost isn’t going to spread itself! I look forward to Mother’s Day because that’s when I guilt the entire family to work in the garden (real gardeners would rather have this than go out for brunch).

Gear for hardcore backyard gardeners

These gardeners aren’t kidding around. They have some big wish items on their dream garden gift list. Is this the year you splurge and give it to them?

Technology gifts for gardeners

I’ve heard that when people retire, they just want peace and quiet. It also turn out that gardening gifts for retirement are well sought after. Here are some technology gifts to help your gardening friend be one with nature.

Gardening can be a calming and meditative activity, but sometimes you need a little extra stimulation to get through the day. Technology can provide that stimulation. Here are two technology gifts that can help make gardening more enjoyable.

Gardening classes

Gardeners are always learning! If your family or friend is entering retirement, they may be picking up a new hobby or want to learn more. Whether it’s enjoying a class hosted by a state extension service, or partaking online, classes are great gifts for gardeners. They can enjoy in-person or online.

If your gardener is not familiar with the world of YouTube, set them up with a tour and show them topics that they can enjoy online.

Noise canceling headphones

If you’re working in a noisy environment, noise-canceling headphones can be a lifesaver. They can help block out the sound of traffic, lawn mowers, noisy neighbors, and other distractions so you can focus on your gardening. You can even listen to your favorite music or podcast while you work.

Some popular noise-canceling headphones include the Bose QuietComfort series and the Sony WH-1000XM4. Both are wireless and have excellent noise-canceling capabilities. They’re also comfortable to wear for long periods of time, so you can garden to your heart’s content.

3M Worktunes headphones/ear protection with a real noise reduction rating, and they’re great, can’t hear anything when the music is going.

Waterproof speaker

If your gardening friend doesn’t like to wear headphones, they might go for a waterproof speaker instead. They’re great for singing in the shower, enjoying the tunes at the beach, camping, or of course, gardening. This versatile gift idea would get a lot of use. They can connect it via bluetooth and listen to podcasts or books on tape for long days in the garden.

Podcast subscription

Podcasts are a great way to learn about gardening while you work. They’re informative, entertaining, and can help you stay up-to-date on the latest gardening trends. There are many gardening podcasts to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that suits your interests.

Some popular gardening podcasts include The Joe Gardener Show, Epic Gardening, and The RHS Gardening Podcast. You can listen to them on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Just subscribe to your favorite podcast app and start listening.

Apps for gardeners

Your gardener will enjoy being able to quickly identify plants, plan their garden, and get fast gardening advice from these gardening apps. As long as they’re outside, they would also enjoy the Merlin bird identifyer app for birds they see and hear – it’s free!

1. Garden Tags: This app helps gardeners identify plants, connect with other gardeners, and keep track of their garden’s progress.
2. Gardenize: Gardenize allows users to plan, organize, and keep a digital journal of their garden. It also provides tips and reminders for gardening tasks.
3. SmartPlant: SmartPlant offers plant identification, care advice, and a digital garden journal to help gardeners keep track of their plants.
4. iScape: This app allows gardeners to virtually design and plan their outdoor spaces, including adding plants, trees, and hardscape features.
5. My Garden: My Garden provides personalized gardening advice based on the user’s location and the plants they are growing. It also offers a garden journal and plant care reminders.

These apps can help gardeners with plant identification, garden planning, care advice, and connecting with other gardening enthusiasts.

The gift wrap up

I hope you can see how lame it would be to give a gardener a gift of windchimes. There is a world full of magnificent gardening gifts, now you just have to narrow down your choices.

Yours in gardening, Renee