Gifts for Gardeners Christmas 2015

Some of the best gifts are things people are not likely to buy for themselves. For some gardeners that might be a piece of garden whimsy and the smile it inspires. Any green thumb will appreciate a gift that makes gardening life easier or something to sooth a tired body.

Think of how beguiling it would be to see a tiny hummingbird sitting on a diminutive copper swing with a wooden perch. A red (the bird’s favorite color) bead hangs at the top. The copper swing with its wooden perch is designed to give hummers a rest. It is best hung close to a hummingbird feeder near their favorite flowers. It is made in the USA. You can buy the swing locally at the Original Hammock Shop in Pawley’s Island. It is also available for $12.95 from kinsmangarden.com

Car trunk organizers keep plants upright and stable during the trip from the nursery to the garden. They also contain the dirt that spills out of pots during the trip. The bins are good for groceries, too. Some fold flat for space conservation when not in use. Google Trunk Organizers on Amazon to see an excellent selection. Prices range from $15 - $35.

Gel Root, developed in England, provides a concentration of rooting compounds suspended in a sterile gel medium that protects cuttings from pests and pathogens. It is specially formulated for soft wood cuttings and houseplants. The stem submerged in the gel is visible so one can watch as roots develop. It’s a good system to root cuttings that may not so easily be propagated. It is an interesting product in an experimental and functional way. The price is $20.95 for a 6-pak of reusable gel cells with a clear cover for humidity. From kinsmangarden.com.

Gardeners are obsessively concerned with the weather—sun, rain, humidity, temperature. As weather watchers they will welcome electronic weather measuring and predicting devices. Windandweather.com has a wide range of weather instruments. You can find a variety of weather forecasting gizmos in big box stores, too.

Hawes has been in the business of making excellent watering cans since 1886. The plastic models are notably less expensive than the metal cans, but the design is the same—well balanced for precision watering and no spills along the way. The plastic cans feature the same brass-faced watering rose as the pricier metal cans. The Hawes Patrician 1.6-gal/6-liter outdoor watering can for $31.86 has two handles for balance and a high neck to prevent spills. The Hawes Heritage plastic .25-gal/1-liter plastic watering can for $17.95 is made of high quality injection molded plastic with a glossy finish and surface trellis design. Both are available at Amazon.com.

The two-person PotLifter for $29.95 which moves a 200 lb. is available at big box stores, Amazon.com and through some gardening catalogs. However, the Magnacart 200 lb. folding hand truck for $49.99 or the Magnacart 150 lb. personal folding hand cart for $39.95 do the same job with just one person. The cart is available through major retailers and online through Amazon. It moves not only pots but mulch, bags of potting soil, bricks, stone and many other garden supplies.

If you are searching for the right gift for someone special, registration for the spring Master Gardeners Program could be a singular gift. The training course which runs from February 3 through May 4, 2016 meets Wednesday mornings from 8 AM until 12 PM at the Horry County Extension office building in Conway. The cost is $300. Call Gary Forrester at 843-365-6715 with questions and to make arrangements.

Keep in mind that gardeners are practical people. Gardener’s soap and hand cream together with a nail brush make a serviceable and economical gift. Inexpensive hand pruners and nitrile gloves are always useful. Or, give the gift of shopping. A gift certificate from a special nursery or the garden center will surely be welcome, too.

Debbie Menchek

Clemson Master Gardener

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Gifts for Gardeners Christmas 2015."