2020 Gift Guide - Find the Best Gifts for Gardeners
Looking for gift ideas for the avid gardener in your life? Go beyond stepping stones with these books, pottery, tools and more they’ll love.Finding a thoughtful gift for a loved one can be a challenge, but we’re here to help! Here are our favorite gardening gifts—curated by the Garden Design editors.
Uncommon Goods
Heart-Shaped Garden Trowel
Add an 'Alice in Wonderland' feel to your favorite gardener's shed with this hand-forged multipurpose gardening tool. Just like their love for gardening, this trowel will last a lifetime.
Wind and Weather
Heart Rock Garden Stake
Did you know rocks say I Love You? It's true. Especially when they're in the shape of a heart and forever staked in the garden.
Rifle Paper Company
Floral Tumbler
Stay hydrated with this sweet floral insulated tumbler. Enjoy your favorite hot or cold drink while tending the garden.
Etsy
Gardening T-Shirt
We think this shirt speaks for itself. Your favorite gardener will love lounging or working in the garden in this comfy & stylish t-shirt.
Olga Akbarova
Tea Towel
Brighten the kitchen with an adorable tea towel designed by artist Olga Akbarova? Towels are brightly colored with original illustrations, like the Pacific Grove Tea Towel shown.
Monticello
Jar Flower Arranger
Up your flower arranging skills with this easy and attractive way to create an instant arrangement. Plus, your purchase will be supporting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
LeJardinet.com
Designing Abundant Containers Online Course
Gift this online course and help someone special learn how to design and plant beautiful garden containers from professional designer, Karen Chapman. Add a beautiful container with some potting soil as well, so all they'll have to do is add plants.
Crocs
Garden Boots
Waterproof boots that are easy to slip on and off are invaluable for gardeners. These Crocs come in 6 colors, including classic Navy (shown) and bright Lemon.
Kerry Ann Mendez
Online Learning Bundle
Give the gift of gardening knowledge with this online, 4-video bundle from plant expert Kerry Ann Mendez. Lessons on designing a sustainable flower garden, bold and fine foliage plants, plants for shade gardens, and perennials that do double-duty.
Ballard Designs
Sculptural Terrarium
For someone who likes to keep up with the latest trends—this antique brass terrarium will let them showcase plants in a unique way. Add some succulents, ferns, soil and moss to make the gift complete.
Frontgate
Porthole Infuser
This infuser can be used to create cocktails, oils, teas, dressings, lemonade, coffee and more. For spring and summer, we think a lemon and lavender infused water sounds wonderful! Durably constructed of stainless steel and tempered glass.
Thoughtfully
Mason Jar Herb Garden
If you know someone who spends just as much time in the kitchen as they do in the garden, they're sure to enjoy this cute and convenient herb garden set. It even inludes rosemary, basil and sage seeds and soil pods.
Proven Winners
AquaPots
Give the gift of a top quality, self-watering, ceramic planter that outperforms any other on the market. With high-quality finishes, trendsetting colors, and multiple sizes, there is an AquaPot that will fit any garden, patio, or outdoor space.
Dan Bernarcik
Garden Chair
Kick your feet up! For nearly 20 years, Dan Benarcik has been building and refining the design of this garden chair. It’s made of red cedar and/or Douglas fir, so it can withstand the outdoors.
Niteangel
Insect House
This home for insects would be a wonderful gift for those who love to observe the little creatures that keep our world going.
Tyson M. Weiss
Fish Garden Art
Maine artist Tyson M. Weiss makes these unique ceramic fish sculptures that appear to lazily cruise through pristine plantings. A school of three is ideal for conveying the impression of movement. They can stay outdoors all year and come with garden rods. The Medium Salsa Fishie is shown, but there are three sizes and a cobalt color available.
Esschert Designs
Fire Bowl
Extend time spent outdoors in the evening by gifting this attractive rusted-steel fire bowl.
Proven Winners
The Proven Winners Garden Book: Simple Plans, Picture-Perfect Plants, and Expert Advice for Creating a Gorgeous Garden
Expert plant knowledge and creative design ideas from America’s #1 plant brand. The Proven Winners Garden Book contains simple garden plans, including a welcoming entryway, pollinator garden, flower garden, shady summertime retreat and deer-resistant garden. It also has 25 container recipes to add color to a patio, porch or balcony. The authors share lessons on garden prep, design choices, and how to buy the right plants.
Proven Winners
The Gardens of Mackinac Island
Who better than Jack Barnwell (Mackinac's premier landscape architect) to share nearly 100 public and private, humble and grand gardens of the island, along with interwoven narratives, poetry, history, and horticulture.
Timber Press
Nature into Art: The Gardens of Wave Hill
Embracing not only classic, but also daring and innovative designs, Wave Hill is a world-renowned 28-acre pubic garden in the Bronx, New York. This book explores the beauty of the plants, flowers, and design with photographs by Ngoc Minh Ngo along with author Thomas Christopher's insights about the iconic garden overlooking the Hudson River.
Timber Press
Deer-Resistant Design
For those with the common problem of deer eating their plants, this book has the answers! Karen Chapman explores intentional garden design solutions and plants to use (there are zones listed, so you know they'll work in your garden!), all while showcasing beautiful gardens across the country—each with its own story of trouble and triumph.
St. Lynn's Press
The Right-Size Flower Garden
Do you know someone who is overwhelmed at the task of maintaining their garden? Help them enjoy gardening more with this book from gardener, writer, and teacher Kerry Ann Mendez. She shares simple design changes that make smarter use of space, along with tips on choosing the best low-maintenance plants for your garden.
The Countryman Press
Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces
Landscape and garden expert Jan Johnsen provides inspiration and instruction with over 100 unique techniques to transform humble gardens and yards into magical outdoor spaces. Her tips are illustrated, specific and easily applied. She suggests simple changes and design strategies that can have big impact, such as accenting curves and cascading trimming techniques. Over 100 color photos bring her book to life and help readers see just what is possible in their own yard or garden.
Optimism Press
How to Make a Plant Love You
Houseplant expert and environmentalist Summer Rayne Oakes teaches how nurturing plants can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve our overall health and well-being.
Rizzoli
The Art of Outdoor Living
Shrader has a talent for extending the indoors outside to create stylish and enjoyable outdoor spaces. In his first book, he shares twelve beautiful properties and shows how to connect the landscape with a livable ease that is not only for entertaining, but for relaxing as well. Photography is captured by Lisa Romerein.
Harry N. Abrams
The Scentual Garden
Ken Druse offers a complete survey of fragrance in the garden, giving gardeners a vastly expanded palate of scents to explore and enjoy. Plus, the artful botanical images from Ellen Hoverkamp are beautiful to look at.
See more great gardening books in the Garden Design Bookstore
Proven Winners
Twist 'N Plant Gardening Auger
Save time and plant more with the Twist N Plant gardening auger! This high quality auger is a great choice over using a trowel—especially where roots are involved. You'll be changing out garden beds left and right!
Fisher Blacksmithing
Handmade Garden Tools
Garden enthusiasts will surely feel the difference in these heirloom-quality tools handcrafted by blacksmith Tuli Fisher. Gift the whole set or start building their collection one tool at a time.
Vremi
Tool Set
If you know someone who is looking to get into gardening (or if you know someone who you want to get into gardening!), this is a nice starter kit. It comes with 9 pieces: trowel shovel, rake hoe, weeder, spade, cultivator, pruning shears, spray bottle, and gloves—all in a handy storage caddy. All tools are rust resistant.
Corona Tools
Forged Dual Cut Bypass Pruner
Corona Tools is known for making sturdy, functional tools that serve gardeners well. This pruner has a second curve within the hook of the blade that allows you to easily cut branches up to 2 inches in diameter. It also has an internal spring, so it shouldn’t get bumped loose as you’re reaching inside a tangled shrub. This is a solid midrange model for the weekend warrior who prunes for short periods of time.
Josh Endres
Okatsune No. 103 Pruners/Secateurs
With no gearing, cushioning, or added leverage from the handle, these no-frills pruners by Niwaki rely on a sharp edge and hard steel to achieve crisp cuts—even on fibrous materials like bamboo. The latch can be slid open or closed on your hip, and the Japanese-style spring doesn’t fall off. In a nod to ergonomics, the blade has a slight angle downward. For those who appreciate simplicity and strong steel, this minimalist model is a satisfying choice.
Meg Smith
Go-To Tool for Loosening Soil
Peter Jacobsen grows food for The French Laundry, a Michelin 3-star restaurant. The Meadow Creature Broadfork is his go-to tool for loosening soil without destroying its structure. “It works better than a hand rototiller and you get a nice workout,” he says. Under the bar are four 14-inch-long spikes; after driving the spikes into the soil, you use the handles to pull back on the tool, loosening the earth.
Green Heron Tools
HERShovel
The HERShovel was built to make the most of a woman’s stature and strength, but the company has also received positive feedback from men who have used the shovel. Its steel blade with extra-large step and its two-handed grip reduce shoulder and back strain while digging.
TDI Brands
Serrated Farmer Dagger
With its thick, highly sharpened teeth and nearly unbreakable boron steel blade, this knife by Dewit could be as useful in a dark alley as it is in the garden. It’s incredibly sturdy; a hammer can be used on the flat top of the handle to drive the tip of the knife through hardpan or rocky soil. It can be used right- or left-handed. For gardeners working in hard soil, it’s indispensable.
