With the holiday season upon us, finding the perfect gift for the gardeners in your life just got easier. As a passionate gardener myself, I’m thrilled to share my curated list of top gardening gear and gadgets. These aren’t just any tools; they’re the essentials that elevate the gardening experience, making it more enjoyable and efficient. Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned horticulturist or a budding beginner, this guide will help you discover the Best Gardening Gifts to cultivate joy and growth.
Think of this as your insider’s look into the must-have items that any gardener would be delighted to receive. I’ve carefully selected 12 standout items, but for an even wider array of ideas, be sure to download my comprehensive gift guide, The Best of the Must-Haves™, freshly updated for the 2023-2024 season, featuring 30 fantastic recommendations.
Let’s be honest – some gardening tasks are less appealing than others. But the right tool can truly transform chores, making them not just bearable, but even pleasurable. Beyond essential gear, I’ll also be sharing some book recommendations perfect for cozy winter reading, when indoor downtime calls. These selections are more than just how-to guides; they are captivating reads that celebrate the gardener’s spirit.
Unifork: The Indestructible All-Rounder
The Unifork consistently tops my list of must-haves, and for good reason. It’s a gardening gift that keeps on giving, year after year. Imagine a tool that’s part garden fork, part shovel – that’s the Unifork. Its long shaft and D-shaped handle provide excellent leverage, while the super-durable plastic construction ensures it’s virtually indestructible.
I’ve been using the same Unifork since 2007, leaving it outdoors in all weather, and it remains in fantastic condition, aside from some sun-induced fading. This tool simply makes gardening tasks less strenuous and more enjoyable. It brings a smile to my face every time I use it, so much so that I invested in a second one to have on hand wherever I’m working in the garden. It’s a unique and invaluable tool, and countless gardeners have thanked me for recommending it, as they might not have discovered it otherwise.
Soil Knife & Sheath: The Gardener’s Multi-Tool
A stainless steel soil knife is an exceptional gardening gift, offering versatility and durability. Similar to a hori-hori knife but with thoughtful improvements, my preferred version features a comfortable, bright orange plastic handle that’s easy to spot in the garden. The key is to choose a high-quality stainless steel blade to prevent rust and ensure lasting sharpness.
While I appreciate the traditional hori-hori knife, I find the squared-off wooden handle less comfortable and harder to locate if misplaced. You might recognize the soil knife I consistently use from my YouTube videos. I keep it secured in a sheath on my hip, ensuring it’s always within reach and safely stored.
For a complete and thoughtful gardening gift, consider purchasing the 6-inch soil knife with a sheath included. However, for the ultimate convenience, I highly recommend a dual sheath that holds both a soil knife and pruners. This combination is a game-changer, and the frequent inquiries I receive about my dual sheath on television and YouTube confirm its appeal and practicality. These are high-quality, long-lasting tools that any gardener will cherish.
Folding Pruning Saw: Tackling Thicker Branches
While pruners are indispensable for smaller cuts, a folding pruning saw is essential for branches exceeding a quarter of an inch to an inch in diameter. It’s a robust tool that makes a thoughtful gardening gift, ready for those tougher pruning tasks.
Although not needed as frequently as pruners, a pruning saw is vital when encountering thicker branches. I prefer a folding pruning saw for its compact design when not in use. The blade retracts into the handle, making it conveniently portable and safe to carry in a sheath alongside my soil knife and pruners. This allows for efficient work throughout the garden with all essential tools readily available.
My go-to is the Corona Tools 10-Inch RazorTOOTH folding saw. It’s perfectly sized, incredibly handy, and reasonably priced. Its bidirectional cutting action (on both push and pull strokes) enhances efficiency. For an alternative, consider loppers, which are essentially long-handled pruners capable of cutting branches up to 2 or even 3 inches in diameter, depending on the model. However, for anything larger, a saw is indispensable.
Diamond Hoe: The Weed Warrior
A diamond hoe is a weeding marvel, known by various names like scuffle hoe or winged weeder. For gardeners who appreciate efficient weeding, this makes an exceptional gift.
I consider it an absolute must-have in any gardening toolkit because, surprisingly, I enjoy weeding – especially with this tool. The scuffle hoe features a sharp, stainless steel flat blade in a diamond shape, sharpened on all four sides. Its long, 60-inch handle is crucial for leverage and minimizing back strain. The pistol grip at the handle’s end enhances pushing and pulling efficiency with minimal effort. The diamond blade effortlessly slices through surface-rooted weeds like butter.
While a diamond hoe excels at surface weeds, it won’t fully remove tap-rooted weeds like dandelions or wild onions. For those, a specialized deep-root weeding tool is needed. Fortunately, most common garden weeds are surface-rooted, making the diamond hoe incredibly effective for routine maintenance. With proper care, this high-quality stainless steel tool with a hardwood handle will last for generations of gardeners. In my experience, the diamond hoe is simply the best weeding tool available.
Water Right Hose: The Kink-Free Hydration Hero
Finding a truly great garden hose can be a challenge, but the Water Right Hose stands out as a top-tier gardening gift. It’s the hose that solves all the common frustrations: no kinks, lightweight design, easy coiling, and exceptional durability. Plus, it comes in attractive earthy tones like eggplant, wine, and mocha.
Water Right hoses are crafted from food-safe polyurethane, making them highly resistant to UV and ozone damage. My hoses endure year-round outdoor exposure and still perform and look like new after years of use. Available in 25-foot, 50-foot, and 100-foot lengths, they eliminate the need for multiple connections. Their smaller diameter also makes them easy to manage on a hose reel.
Tubtrugs: The Indispensable Garden Tubs
Tubtrugs, now also known as Gorilla Trugs, are incredibly versatile and make fantastic gardening gifts. These lightweight, flexible, and virtually indestructible plastic tubs with handles are available in a rainbow of vibrant colors. In all my years of heavy use, I’ve only ever broken one handle, and that was after countless loads of heavy garden materials.
Tubtrugs are ubiquitous in my garden, used daily for everything from hauling mulch and compost to mixing and diluting liquid fertilizers like fish emulsion in large batches – a real time-saver. They come in various affordable sizes, making them a practical and appreciated gift for any gardener.
Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder: Birdwatching Bliss, Squirrel-Proof
For gardeners who enjoy the sounds of birds as much as the sights of their gardens, the Squirrel Buster Plus bird feeder is a game-changing gift. It’s the only squirrel-proof feeder I now rely on, after years of battling seed-stealing squirrels.
I often have multiple bird feeders near my office to enjoy birdsong and birdwatching while working. My previous favorite, with a wire mesh cylinder and numerous feeding ports, unfortunately led to excessive seed wastage. The expensive birdseed, especially the shelled sunflower seeds that birds love, was being depleted weekly, becoming quite costly.
Switching to the Squirrel Buster Plus solved this problem. Its solid plastic tube dispenses seed only at four dedicated ports at the bottom. Birds can easily access the seed by landing on a hoop around the base, while a squirrel’s weight triggers the ports to close, preventing seed theft. This feeder has dramatically reduced my birdseed expenses, paying for itself over time. The Squirrel Buster Plus, priced around $120, is durable, easy to fill, and attractively designed. Its tray-less design is also beneficial, preventing water accumulation and mold growth, which is healthier for birds.
One-Touch Watering Wand: Gentle and Efficient Watering
Dramm products are renowned for their quality and American-made craftsmanship, making them excellent gardening gifts. My favorite is Dramm’s watering wand with a one-touch valve, which allows for effortless on-off control with just your thumb. The integrated, leak-free valve eliminates the need for a separate valve between the wand and hose.
Dramm revolutionized watering nozzles with their water breaker design, producing a gentle shower pattern favored by nurseries. Unlike flimsy imitations, Dramm wands are built to last. Priced around $30, they come in a variety of fun colors and are indispensable for hand-watering tasks. For any gardener who hand-waters, a Dramm watering wand is a truly appreciated gift.
Winstrip Air Prune Trays: Seed Starting Revolution
A newer addition to my must-have list, Winstrip air prune trays are a game-changer for seed starting and an innovative gardening gift for those who love propagation. These trays mimic the benefits of seed blocking but in a convenient tray format.
Invented by my friend Conor Crickmore of Neversink Farms, Winstrip trays feature a unique design with air gaps between cells. Unlike traditional seed trays with connected squares and minimal drainage, Winstrip trays promote air circulation around each cell, leading to superior root development.
Since using Winstrip trays, I’ve observed remarkable improvements in seedling quality, root systems, and overall growth speed. They are available in 50-cell, 72-cell, 128-cell, and 288-cell options. Like soil blockers, Winstrip trays are reusable and eliminate disposable plastic. Constructed from robust, rigid plastic, they are incredibly durable and designed for years of use. They are also easier to use than soil blockers, requiring less precision with soil media and moisture levels.
Root Trainers: For Deep-Rooted Success
Root trainers are an ideal gardening gift for those who grow root vegetables or plants sensitive to root disturbance. These extra-deep cells (about 6 inches) are perfect for vegetables like carrots, beets, parsnips, peas, and cucumbers. Each root trainer contains four cells in a clamshell design.
When transplanting, the clamshell opens to fully expose the root ball in each cell, allowing for seamless transplanting with minimal root disturbance. This is particularly beneficial for plants that dislike root disruption or for normally direct-sown vegetables like carrots, which can be challenging to start indoors.
Root trainers transform the often unsuccessful practice of indoor carrot seed starting into a viable method. In areas with hot, dry soil that hinders carrot seed germination, root trainers offer better control and improved success rates. While some reviews mention the lightweight plastic, I’ve found it durable enough for its purpose, lasting for years with occasional use. A root trainer kit typically includes eight four-cell clamshell containers, a bottom frame, and a humidity dome for 32 seedlings.
Farmers Defense Sleeves: Sun and Scratch Protection
Farmers Defense sleeves are a practical and thoughtful gardening gift, offering protection from sun and scratches. These sleeves, designed to be worn with short-sleeved shirts, provide SPF 50 UV protection, eliminating the need for constant sunscreen reapplication on arms. They also guard against scratches when working with thorny plants or harvesting prickly vegetables like okra or squash.
Despite initial hesitation, I tried Farmers Defense sleeves after seeing them online and now regret not using them sooner. I own four pairs in various colors and patterns. The sleeves feature a thumb hole to stay securely in place, protecting from wrist to bicep. They are durable, washable, and surprisingly cooling in summer, even offering more comfort than bare arms. Whether pruning roses or harvesting okra, these sleeves provide reliable protection and comfort.
Book Picks: Winter Reading for Gardeners
As the gardening season winds down and winter approaches, books make wonderful gardening gifts. Here are three captivating reads, moving beyond how-to guides to offer enriching gardening stories perfect for winter evenings:
“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book beautifully illuminates the deep reverence for nature and seeds held by Native Americans and ancestral cultures. It emphasizes respect for the earth and a mindful appreciation of its gifts, moving away from greed and over-consumption.
“The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year” by Margaret Renkl
Released in October, this book is structured as a journal, with short chapters chronicling nature’s unfolding year in the author’s backyard. Margaret Renkl, a New York Times columnist in Nashville, Tennessee, shares insightful observations and a profound respect for nature, life, and seasonal rhythms. I’m looking forward to interviewing Margaret for an upcoming podcast episode.
“What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seeds” by Jennifer Jewell
Jennifer Jewell, host of “Cultivating Place,” explores the multifaceted world of seeds in this captivating book. As discussed in my recent podcast interview with Jennifer, she delves into the unexpected dimensions of seeds, framing them within a year-long cycle and uncovering their rich history and vital importance in our lives. This book is a rewarding read, packed with insightful information and perfect for absorbing during quiet moments.
These gardening gifts are sure to delight any gardener, offering tools for every task and books for every season. Consider these top picks to bring joy and enhance the gardening journey for your loved ones.
If you’re interested in hearing more about my gardening gear recommendations and other gift ideas for gardeners, listen to the audio version by scrolling back to the top and clicking the play button.
What are your must-have gardening gear recommendations? Share them in the comments below!
Links & Resources
Some product links in this guide are affiliate links. See full disclosure below.
Episode 030: Best Gardening Products Ever: Gear, Tools & Resources We Can’t Live Without
Episode 082-Finding the Best of the Best Gardening Products and Tools
Episode 131: My Top 12 Tools to Make Your Gardening Life Easier
Episode 140: The Successful Journey of a Market Farmer: Conor Crickmore of Neversink Farm
Episode 184: More Must-Have Books for Every Gardener: Encore (Hybrid) Presentation
Episode 336: What We Sow: The Significance of Seeds, with Jennifer Jewell
joegardenerTV YouTube: How to Save Time While Fertilizing
The Best of the Must-Haves™ Resource Guide
joegardener Online Gardening Academy™: Popular courses on gardening fundamentals; managing pests, diseases & weeds; seed starting and more.
joegardener Online Gardening Academy Organic Vegetable Gardening: My new premium online course. The course is designed to be a comprehensive guide to starting, growing, nurturing and harvesting your favorite vegetables, no matter what you love to eat, no matter where you live, no matter your level of gardening experience.
joegardener Online Gardening Academy Master Seed Starting: Everything you need to know to start your own plants from seed — indoors and out.
joegardener Online Gardening Academy Beginning Gardener Fundamentals: Essential principles to know to create a thriving garden.
joegardener Online Gardening Academy Growing Epic Tomatoes: Learn how to grow epic tomatoes with Joe Lamp’l and Craig LeHoullier.
joegardener Online Gardening Academy Master Pests, Diseases & Weeds: Learn the proactive steps to take to manage pests, diseases and weeds for a more successful garden with a lot less frustration. Just $47 for lifetime access!
joegardener Online Gardening Academy Perfect Soil Recipe Master Class: Learn how to create the perfect soil environment for thriving plants.
Earthbound Expeditions: Discover South Africa with Joe Lamp’l
Harold Moore Extended D-Grip Unifork
A.M. Leonard Classic Soil Knife
A.M. Leonard Classic Soil Knife with sheath included
A.M. Leonard sheath for soil knife and pruners
Corona BP 7100D Forged Steel DualCUT Bypass Hand Pruner
Corona Tools 10-Inch RazorTOOTH Folding Saw
Water Right 25-foot soaker hose
Water Right 50-foot garden hose
Water Right 50-foot soaker hose
Water Right 100-foot garden hose
Greenhouse Megastore – Our podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of joegardener.com – Enter code JG10 for 10% off your order
Disclosure: Some product links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we get a commission if you purchase. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us, and compensation is not an influencing factor on their inclusion here. The selection of all items featured in this post and podcast was based solely on merit and in no way influenced by any affiliate or financial incentive, or contractual relationship. At the time of this writing, Joe Lamp’l has professional relationships with the following companies who may have products included in this post and podcast: Corona Tools, Milorganite, Soil3, Greenhouse Megastore, Territorial Seed Company, Earth’s Ally, Proven Winners ColorChoice and Dramm. These companies are either Brand Partners of joegardener.com and/or advertise on our website. However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide. The inclusion of any products mentioned within this post is entirely independent and exclusive of any relationship.
About Joe Lamp’l
Joe Lamp’l is the creator and “joe” behind joe gardener®. His lifetime passion and devotion to all things horticulture has led him to a long-time career as one of the country’s most recognized and trusted personalities in organic gardening and sustainability. That is most evident in his role as host and creator of Emmy Award-winning Growing a Greener World®, a national green-living lifestyle series on PBS currently broadcasting in its tenth season. When he’s not working in his large, raised bed vegetable garden, he’s likely planting or digging something up, or spending time with his family on their organic farm just north of Atlanta, GA.
