Hoe! Hoe! Hoe! Gifts for gardeners
Choose tools, gadgets, and technology for gardeners based on their interests
By Kari Ranten, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener
Kari Ranten
The holidays provide a great opportunity to give your favorite gardener something to serve as a helping hand to support their hobby.
While the ideas ranging from old school to high tech are endless, think about what the gardener in your life enjoys most and hone in on the tools of the trade that will help them in their growing endeavor. Do they want to start seeds indoors? Are they interested in propagating plants? Do they want to learn about pruning? Are they left-handed? What about tools for maintaining the garden? How about garments for the garden? Do they like to use technology?
To assist in your search for the perfect gift, here are a few ideas for tools, gadgets, and technology that can be procured at a local garden center or nursery, hardware store, or online.
The gardener interested in starting seeds or propagating plants ahead of the spring season can always use a few supplies:
- A log book or calendar can be a handy way to plan for the coming season and then record when and where planting took place, what seeds or starts were used, and track the progress and success to aid in growing seasons to come.
- Seeds, of course. Winter is a fun time to explore seed options and look forward to the possibilities presented by the coming growing season. To provide your gardener with options to peruse and dream over, order up a few seed catalogs from purveyors specializing in the Northwest growing environment.
- An air-tight seed saving system to help organize seeds by type, planting season, color, location, and other functions is another handy gift idea. Throw in some plant markers or tags to identify what’s sprouting and, ultimately, transplanted to the garden.
- A seed starting operation will benefit from a few basics, including trays for planting, proper seed-starting soil, and, of course, seeds. Several companies offer kits with everything a gardener needs to use soil blocking or other seed starting techniques, including some with self-watering options.
- For the seed starting trays, include humidity domes with space to keep the seedlings warm and moist and allow them to grow a bit after sprouting. A succession of small pot sizes will also support the plant growth progression.
- Depending on the space available – from a corner shelf in the garage to a full-on greenhouse setup - heat mats and lights come in all sizes with timers and programming options. Again, some companies offer small-scale seed starting kits, including LED lights, suitable for a shelf or tabletop in the house.
- A fan, such as a small battery-operated or electrical device, is helpful for air circulation for starting seeds and cuttings.
- For those who want to propagate plants from cuttings, such as geraniums, fuchsias, houseplants, and more, include the items for seed starting, plus some small, sharp clippers for trimming stems for planting.
- A soil thermometer and/or moisture meter can be handy too.
What will be helpful for pruning?
- To trim back grasses or cut small tree or shrub limbs, lightweight handsaws, and hand-held battery-operated chainsaws are available in a variety of models. Be sure to evaluate whether the blade is suitable for the intended use and the size of the limbs that will require trimming.
- On a smaller scale, a nice set of small, straight-blade, hand-held pruners make a great stocking stuffer. The more sets of pruners a gardener has, the merrier!
- If your favorite gardener is left-handed, manufacturers offer pruners and other hand tools tailored to their needs.
What’s most helpful to maintain the established garden? There are a variety of ways to look at garden maintenance, which can be aided by the right tools.
- An overwhelming choice among Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners for a must-have garden tool is a hori hori knife. This tool can be handy for weeding, planting bulbs, dividing perennials, cutting roots, and more. Be sure to include a sheath for safe transport in the garden and storage.
- For weeding, a stirrup hoe aids in the task, separating roots and leaves with a scrubbing action, allowing the gardener to remain standing for the job.
- For dividing, moving, or removing plants, the “Root Slayer” gets high marks from Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners and others. The tool is a V-shaped shovel with serrated edges that helps cut through roots and soil.
- A garden cart or wagon always comes in handy for moving plants, pots, soil, or delivering garden debris to the compost pile.
- Watering is an important job for the gardener, and a variety of tools:
- Watering cans in the appropriate sizes for doing the job manually. The gardener should have at least one with a long, extended spout to reach into small spaces and make sure everything gets moisture.
- Hoses in the required length to reach plants that will routinely need watering are helpful, along with the proper attachment or wand to reach pots, hanging plants, and beds.
- If a gardener is interested in an automated watering system, do some research into potential DIY options or consider hiring a professional to install a system.
- Combination garden kneeler and stools have become popular to improve accessibility and comfort when weeding and planting.
What are the best garden garments?
- Garden gloves are always welcome, and preferred materials can vary by the season. From waterproof models for fall and winter to lighter-weight options for summer, a gardener can always use another pair.
- It may seem cliché, however, overalls are a popular choice for the busy, bending-over, hard-working gardener. Bib overalls offer comfort, flexibility, and breathability along with a plentiful number of pockets for tools, tough, soil-resistant fabrics in plain colors and fun patterns, and reinforcement at the knees.
- For overalls or shirts that go with them, many gardening garments offer UPF sun protection, which is a nice feature to prevent sunburn.
- An apron with pockets for lighter duty gardening chores is also useful.
- On the sun-protection front, a wide-brimmed hat for the garden is a must, to keep the rays off the neck and face.
- If you don’t have your gardener’s size, remember that a gift card is a one-size-fits-all solution.
For the gardener who enjoys technology:
- A wide variety of small weather stations for the home are available for those who want to know about rainfall, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and temperatures in their garden that include a real-time wireless feed to deliver data to your phone and indoor console.
- Monitors for the greenhouse can provide information on temperature, humidity, and more. Similar systems are available for watering systems.
- Compact countertop seed starting and herb growing units can bring the gardening to the kitchen all year round.
- Apps for the phone include a wide range of options from alerting gardeners to an impending frost, reminders to water, and a fertilizer calculator.
As you can see, there is no shortage of gift ideas to support your favorite gardener. Happy holidays!
Resources for more information:
Compagnucci, S. (2025) This $28 Garden Tool Cut My Weeding Time in Half. The New York Times Wirecutter.
Kumar, G. (2016) Propagating Shrubs, Vines, and Trees from Stem Cuttings. Oregon State University Extension. PNW 152.
Kumar, G., Larsen, F. and Shekel, K. (2009) Propagating Plants from Seed. Oregon State University Extension. PNW 1i70.
Murgel, J. (2025) Simple Plant Propagation: How to divide plants and conquer hearts. Colorado State University Extension.
Rennie, A. (2023) The Best Pruning Saws to Keep Your Trees and Shrubbery Neat and Tidy. Popular Mechanics.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kari Ranten is a retired journalist and health care communicator who became a certified Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener in 2024.
Questions about home gardening or becoming a master gardener may be directed to Skagit County WSU Extension Office, 11768 Westar Lane, Suite A, Burlington, WA 98233; by phone: 360-428-4270; or via the Skagit County WSU Extension website.
Washington State University Extension helps people develop leadership skills and use research-based knowledge to improve economic status and quality of life. Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, US Department of Agriculture, and Skagit County. Extension programs and policies are available to all without discrimination. To request disability accommodations contact us at least ten days in advance.
Excellent food for thought! My most consistently used tool is a battery operated leaf blower. After weeding or planting it’s always so nice to tidy up. I can send the leaves back into the garden where they will do more good. Clean up the patio & spa, remove dried dirt from plant roots & tubers and cool down my fluffy dog 🐕 in the summer. I’ve lost hand strength and a few fingers from arthritis so automated and lightweight tools keep me active!