By Amy-Lynn Albertson

If you have a gardener in your life and you are looking to buy a holiday gift or maybe you are looking for new things for yourself. Here are some gift ideas for the season.

Pruners:

A good pair of pruners is always an excellent gift for a gardener. When looking for pruners, you want to ensure they are well-made and can handle the wood you are trying to cut. The most common type is the bypass pruner. It has two blades and works like scissors, giving a clean cut. These are great for delicate stems but can struggle with thicker branches. The anvil pruner has a single blade that closes on a hard cutting block. This is perfect for pruning dead wood. A ratchet pruner has a ratcheting mechanism that cuts in several stages. This allows you to cut through thicker material, enabling several attempts in one cut. It is also beneficial for mobility issues like arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. There is a pruning job for each of these, so why not buy all three? Make sure the blades can be sharpened and parts can be replaced.

Kneeling mat:

The ground can be hard and uneven, and long periods of kneeling without protection can cause sore joints and back pain. A kneeling mat helps reduce discomfort and pressure on the knees. I’ve read that thicker and broader mats make it easier for gardeners to work on their knees for extended periods.

Books about gardening:

Two of my favorites are “Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard” by Doug Tallamy and “Native Plants of the Southeast” by Larry Mellichamp. These two books are great for anyone interested in native plants and planting for pollinators.

Garden boots or clogs:

It’s always great to have a good pair of boots to muck about in the mud and a pair of clogs that you can quickly slide on and off to work in the garden. Two of my main requirements are that they be waterproof and easy to put on and take off. Fun designs and colors are also lovely.

Gift cards to local nurseries/garden centers.

You can always go right with a gift card to a local garden center or nursery. Gardeners always want more plants. Another nice gift is a trip to a botanical garden or greenhouse. Even in the winter, there is a lot to see. Stowe Botanical Garden in Gaston County is a great day trip for plant lovers.

Lego plant sets

For the friend who tries and tries but can never seem to keep their plants alive, give them a flowering Lego set. These sets have a realistic look and don’t require maintenance. They provide hours of activity and fun, especially for those in a hospital or office without natural sunlight. For more plant information or other horticulture questions, please contact the Rowan County Extension Center at 704-216-8970.