Question: What type of gifts should I give a gardener for Christmas?

Answer: Wow! There are so many choices of gifts to choose from. It shouldn’t be about the gifts, it’s the thought that counts. There are many different categories of gifts you can give a gardener. You have the live gift or a tool gift, which can promote more work and depending on the tool make the job easier.

Gardeners always love the gift of plants, especially if it’s something unique that they don’t already have. Depending on the receiver, gardeners enjoy flowering plants, shrubs, and/or trees.

Gardening clothing always makes a great gift. An avid gardener is always outdoors. During this time of year, they could use gloves, a toboggan, thick warm socks, a scarf, and a thick coat. During the summer gardeners could use sunscreen, wide brim hat, sunglasses, and of course gardening gloves.

Hand tools are a must. All gardeners need good hand tools to get the job done! One of my Master Gardener Volunteers asked her family for a cordless drill for Christmas one year. Her family couldn’t understand why she wanted a drill. She showed them. She attaches a small auger bit to the drill and drills holes in the soil to plant her bulbs and other small plants. She absolutely loves it! Don’t forget about the rakes, shovels, hoes, water hose and nozzle, sprinklers, and pruners.

Power equipment makes good gift ideas for gardeners. Examples of such equipment are tillers, mowers, small garden tractors, blowers, weed eaters, chain saws, power pruners, and many more. Be sure to use your garden tools safely, so you don’t have any injuries that will slow you down during your gardening season.

Reminder: A growing program this year is the “Sampson County Friends of Horticulture.” This program offers monthly “How To” Horticultural Seminars. Please call (910) 592-7161 for more information. Please call the Sampson County Cooperative Extension Center at (910) 592-7161 with your horticultural questions and to register for any upcoming events. Be sure to check out the Ask An Expert Widget at sampson.ces.ncsu.edu for any questions you may have.