10 Last Minute Christmas Gifts for A Gardener

In these final days of the holiday season, you may have a gardener in your life you still have to shop for. Help is on the way! Today we’ll cover ten last minute Christmas gifts for a gardener. Many of these you can find in local shops or even box stores if your online shopping window has closed. If you have a farm supply store or co-op nearby, a well-stocked local hardware store or even chain stores like Tractor Supply, Home Depot, and Lowes – you can likely find many things on this list in your own town. Whether your budget is $20 or $200, you’ll find something on this list for that beloved gardener in your life. Let’s dig in (pun 100% intended)! 

1. Garden Consult Gift Card

Perhaps one of the most helpful and customizable gifts you could give would be a gift card for a 1-hour garden consultation session. If someone you know wants to up their gardening game this spring, but they’re not sure how to make the best use of their time, money, and space, a simple 1-hour consult is a powerful first step. During that hour, we walk around their yard (in person or virtually), discuss their problems, goals and priorities, and end with a written summary of how best to move forward. Come spring they’ll be able to hit the ground running with confidence and a plan. Until the end of 2025, I’m offering $50 off a 1-hour consultation (virtual or in-person). Contact Taking Root Garden Design today to purchase this unique gift for that special gardener in your life! 

 

2. Pruners and Holster 

A sharp, reliable pair of pruners is always one of my top tool recommendations for any gardener. I prefer the classic red handled bypass pruners by Felco (red handles are harder to lose in a pile of leaves- ask me how I know!). While they do come with a high price tag, they will last decades if cleaned, greased, and sharpened regularly. Most of my gardening pants have a pocket specifically for pruners, but if they don’t, I can also use a holster on my belt. I like this double pocket holster since it has a spot for my pruners and then a pair of my favorite garden snips. I discussed these pruners and more of my favorite tools here if you need more ideas.  

3. Rubber Tub Trug and Gloves 

Anytime I’m out in my garden, I like to have a rubber tug trug right next to me to put stuff in. A five-gallon bucket works great but this tub trug is a bit larger while still easy to carry. I use it to collect weeds and excess soil, transport small hand tools, and even move mulch into tight corners of a bed.   

Alongside my tub trug, I always have a sturdy pair of gloves. When I’m doing light duty work, I prefer rubber coated breathable gloves. They work well even in wet weather but still allow enough dexterity for fine weeding and planting. If I’m doing a lot of pruning, working around prickers or working with stone, I prefer leather gloves like these. They still allow for easy movement while preventing splinters and pinched fingers.   

4. Seeds 

For a gardener who likes to start their own seeds, a handful of high-quality seed packets is a great gift. You could even pair a few packs of seeds with a nice pair of gloves, an herb plant or a gardening book and have a delightful gift ready to go in no time. My favorite seed companies are Baker Creek Seeds, Renee’s Garden, and Johnny’s Seeds. You can likely find these or other reputable options at a local store.  

5. Give the Gift of Learning – Gardening Books 

Winter is a great time to settle with a warm drink and a stack of inspiring gardening books. Whether the gardener in your life wants to ramp up their technical gardening skills, better understand pest and disease management, or simply wants a beautiful book to give them ideas for spring, the options are endless. For a curated list of my top gardening books, check out this list to get you started. I often see a decent selection of gardening books at my local bookshops, farm co-op, or I’ve even scored great books at my local thrift stores.  

6. Gardening Overalls 

When I garden, I prefer to work in pants over shorts for a little more protection. I’ve worn classic Carhart pants for years now and they fit the bill. More recently, I’ve discovered Dovetail clothing which is workwear made specifically for women. While a bit pricey, their clothes do seem to last and stand up to a lot of wear and tear. I love their heavy-duty gardening overalls, especially because of the reinforced knees and lots of pockets. They even have a pocket with a hole for dispensing twine. Love that!  I’ve seen Dovetail and Carhartt clothes sold at Tractor Supply and my local farm store for years now.  

7. Sun Hat 

A wide brimmed, sun hat is key for keeping cool and protected from the hot summer sun. I tend to alternate between a classic ball cap and a larger straw sun hat. If you do choose to give a sun hat as a gift, be sure to choose one like this with a chin strap to hold it in place. I’ve seen this sold at many local garden centers and farm stores in my town.  

8. Japanese Weeding Sickle 

Whether we like it or not, weeding is a part of garden care and maintenance. To make this job easier, consider gifting a Japanese weeding sickle. I came upon this small but mighty tool several years ago and have never looked back. Its pointy tip can dig out a long tap root and the sharp edge can undercut large areas of shallow-rooted weeds, making quick work of any job. At times I’ll need to grab my weed knife for a super stubborn weed but mostly I just use this.   

9. Raised Bed Kit 

This spring, I bought a few packs of these metal raised beds for my new garden area. They were very easy to assemble (my ten-year-old son took on this task) and have held up well so far. A great price, these 4’ x 8’ metal beds are a nice size to get started with. Local hardware stores often carry few different versions of raised beds as well as Amazon. 

10. Gift a Pass to a Local Botanical Garden 

Take a look at your local attractions and see if there’s any nearby botanical gardens or historic properties with gardens. In Middle Tn I’ve visited Cheekwood, a 55-acre historic estate in Nashville with extensive gardens and seasonal displays. Carnton Plantation also has historically accurate civil-war era gardens that were inspiring to visit this fall. Do a brief search online for any gardens or estates in your area and look into the option of a gift certificate. You may be surprised at what’s located in your own area! 

The of a time in the garden is a gift that keeps on giving for many seasons to come. Instead of giving in to the stress of last-minute gift giving, pick one of the readily available, meaningful and useful items to gift the gardener in your life. They will appreciate the thought behind it and the many hours of garden delight it will enable. Happy shopping and gardening!