Christmas Presents
12 December 2007

It is difficult to think what to give “the person who has everything” but a bigger problem for me is what to buy for “the gardener who has been gardening for years”.

One easy easy way out is to give a garden centre token but it still seems like handing over money.

An annual subscription to a gardening magazine is fine but it may be too late to have the first issue in time for Christmas.

Avoid gimmicks. We all have a shed full of them. If there is a piece of equipment that has broken or is nearly “done” then a replacement will be gratefully received. Tools tend to be personal and each gardener has his or her own preference. I have two hoes and the paint is still on the blades. Bob Flowerdew has 4-5 and they have been sharpened so often that there is little blade remaining.

If you are buying tools buy the best and that usually means not the cheapest. Cheap tools won’t stand the test of time. They become rusted or break ending up under the bench along with last year’s disasters.

There is a fine crop of good gardening books that have been published in time for Xmas. Some are practical while others cover the history of gardening.

One present that is always acceptable is something to ease sore backs. It doesn’t have to be fragrant so long as the product actually works. A good soak after a day in the garden is magic.

Still thinking of a gardener’s back a kneeling pad that is light and easily carried will be welcome to gardeners of a certain age, especially if it is waterproof on the underside.

Bear in mind that while you have the problem of what to buy you are probably causing someone a similar headache. Do everyone a favour and let it be known what you would like, really, really like this Christmas.

See also:
Christmas present ideas (2005)

Back to John's index page