Christmas Presents
1st December 2005

"Any ideas of what you would like for Christmas?” “Not a clue, there is nothing that I need.” We have all asked the question and given the answer. We tend to buy what we need when it is needed so at Christmas there is a struggle to find something that will be appreciated.
I have come up with a few ideas for practical presents that may be worth considering.

They are suitable for amateur and dedicated gardener alike and at the same time I am throwing out a hint.Wheelbarrows don’t seem to last as long as they used to. Granted they are lighter but less robust. A new one with go-fast stripes may be just what is needed.

On the other hand a good pair of secateurs will last forever and one pair is sufficient for most needs so buy him/her a folding pruning saw.

They are incredibly useful for cutting the thick branches that the secateurs can’t manage and will be in constant demand in the garden.
Purchase a trug and fill it with small items. (So much more useful than hanging up a sock)! Include tree ties and pads, plant labels, a ball of garden twine, sharpening stone and some hormone rooting powder.
Knee pads are so much easier to use than a kneeling stool. Once you strap them on you can kneel at anytime without having to transport a kneeling frame around the garden.

For the gardener who has everything then go bulky and wrap up a bale of barley straw. Essential for keeping a pond clear of algae it has many other uses such as frost protection for plants and mulching strawberry fruit to keep them clean. Adding a layer to the top of the compost heap will keep the heat in. Wrapping it for placing under the Christmas tree could prove difficult.

Then there are all the other bulky but essential garden products. Landscape fabric, horticultural fleece and bubble wrap are very expensive by the square metre in a store or garden centre. Buy them by the roll at a fraction of the price in builders’supply stores .A few bales of peat, a bag or two of horticultural compost, cutting or potting compost would make me very happy.

They may not be “up market” or exciting but these presents will be appreciated and will be put to good use.

See also:
Christmas present ideas (2007)

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