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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Alice Vincent

The 19 best Christmas gifts for gardeners, by gardeners

A composite of a watering can, a terrarium and a boot held up by illustrated hands on a green background

Christmas can be a challenging time for gardeners. Daylight is limited, most plants are hiding underground, wilting poinsettias are everywhere and, all too frequently, naff gifts are picked out at those sprawling garden centre emporiums.

Non-gardeners can’t always be blamed for getting it so wrong: gardening can be a particularly personal hobby, and only the well-versed are to know just how useful a mattock can be. So, let us gardeners share our dream gifts for the green-fingered in your life this year. After all, who would argue with Monty?

* * *

The ultimate watering can

The Warley Fall watering can, £175
haws.co.uk

I would love a traditional Haws watering can in racing green. They’ve been handcrafted in the UK for more than 130 years, and are the ultimate gift. Pollyanna Wilkinson, garden designer and broadcaster, The Ins & Outs podcast
For more essential kit chosen by experts, see our guide to the best gardening tools

* * *

Practical gloves

Gardening gloves, £6
niwaki.com

Give me any gloves that aren’t twee with a floral print, and I’ll be happy. These ones are excellent: light enough to do the job but still protective. And unlike the flowery gloves, it doesn’t matter if the grey ones get dirty. Jo Thompson, designer and writer, The Gardening Mind

* * *

Work jacket

Norfolk work jacket, £130
carriercompany.co.uk

Norfolk-based Carrier Company consistently charms me with its workwear, which blends design and functionality. The ticking jacket is a wardrobe hero. Hazel Gardiner, botanical designer, writer and broadcaster

* * *

Gardening knife

Higonokami folding knife, £36
niwaki.com

A quality gardening knife is an indispensable part of my kit for harvesting. Making sharp cuts is crucial to avoid tears and the introduction of disease. Claire Ratinon, organic food grower and writer

* * *

Terrariums

Terrariums voucher, from £10
londonterrariums.com

During the winter months when we spend less time in the garden, having a self-contained and sustained ecosystem indoors tops up our connection with nature. And what’s more fun than building one yourself? This voucher can be put towards a ready-made terrarium, workshop or plant. Gynelle Leon, houseplant expert and owner of Prick, a cactus shop in London

* * *

Support a garden

Great Dixter annual friend membership, from £72
greatdixter.co.uk
Serge Hill Project annual friend membership, from £40
sergehillprojectcic.com

At their best, gardens are communities – and one of the best presents you can give is an introduction. I’ve been a Friend of Great Dixter, and it makes you feel part of something extremely precious and magical. Or you can become a friend at our charitable project in Serge Hill, for events, tours and more. Tom Stuart-Smith, landscape architect and garden designer

* * *

The best secateurs

Kurumi secateurs, £169
niwaki.com

Expensive, but a joy to use and worth every penny. Monty Don, gardener, broadcaster and writer

* * *

Japanese pruning saw

Folding saw, £39
£39 at niwaki.com

Japanese saws (like Japanese ladders) have revolutionised pruning. They are razor sharp, cut on the pull, and are indispensable. Monty Don

* * *

A tool holster

Leather double holster, £48
niwaki.com

A holster means that both the saw and secateurs are ready for use every moment you are outside. Result: pure horticultural joy! Monty Don

* * *

Great gardening boots

Brown and olive boots, £170
blundstone.co.uk

These boots are lightweight and versatile, great for gardening. There is a steel-toe version for super-heavy work, or colour-themed boots you can wear to the RHS Chelsea flower show. Tom Massey, designer and author of The Resilient Gardener

* * *

Simple essentials

Colourful jute twine, £4.45
nutscene.com

Felco secateurs, from £34.95
worldoffelco.co.uk

Gardener’s pencils, £3.95
tinkerandfix.co.uk

Get those floral trowels and elaborately dowdy smocks away from me. I just want a guinea pig, trained to poo on command, fitted with panniers containing Nutscene twine, Felco secateurs and graphite pencils, thanks. Charlotte Mendelson, garden writer and author of Wife, her latest novel

* * *

Bulb planting tool

Bulb planting auger, from £6.99
crocus.co.uk

My top planting design tip is to plant more bulbs. These augers make it easier, and are also useful for planting 9cm pot plants or in narrow-but-deep containers. Ula Maria, Best in Show Winner, RHS Chelsea 2024

* * *

Micro shovel

Micro round shovel, £10.51
toolstation.com

This is my go-to tool. The power of a full shovel, but with less stress on the body. And it’s perfect when you’re planting in restricted spaces. Flo Headlam, designer and Garden Rescue host

* * *

Colourful flowers

Zinnia seeds, £1.95
chilternseeds.co.uk

I’d love a few packets of zinnia seeds to bring hope, colour, fun and exuberance for the following year. Troy Scott Smith, gardener and writer

* * *

Botanical candles

Beeswax candles, £40 for 4
waxatelier.com

These products embody the garden: each item is crafted using botanical dyes and fragrances from laurel to goldenrod, and the results are beautiful. PS the Horniman Museum is selling hand-dried bouquets from their prairie fields this Christmas. Errol Reuben Fernandes, head of horticulture at the Horniman Museum and Gardens

* * *

Horticultural book

Piet Oudolf At Work, £59.95
phaidon.com

A rare horticultural coffee table book with use. This collection of the Dutch garden designer’s drawings showcases unusual plants and how to place them.

* * *

Stocking filler seeds

Alma | Proust seeds, from £2.90
milliproust.com

This is the perfect stocking filler: beautifully illustrated packets of impeccably curated cut flower varieties, grown and packed in Sussex. Choose sweet peas for Boxing Day sowing.

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