Wendy's Wanderings
December 12, 2018
Gifts for the Gardener
It is the gift-giving season and if I could give gifts to all my gardening friends it would be for agreeable weather, fertile soil, and plenty of time to work in the garden and landscape. When folks find out you garden they love to give gardening gifts, but do they give garden gifts you love? Here are some of my favorite suggestions for useful tools for the gardener, and if you don’t find these under the tree maybe you will take yourself shopping with a gift card.
The folding pruning saw is a great addition to your tool shed, because loppers are not meant to cut branches 4 inches in diameter. For branches and trunks that are too big for loppers a folding saw will make short work of a pruning job. Folding saws are super sharp and conveniently fold up for safe carrying and storage.
If you don’t have high-quality bypass pruners that can be cleaned and sharpened, you are missing out on a gardening joy. Good quality pruners are expertly crafted and weighted for a wonderful pruning experience. When you spend the money on the best tools they can last a lifetime.
Hori-hori is the Japanese name for a serrated planting knife. Most hori-horis are about 12 inches long and have a comfortable wooden or plastic handle. They are used to scuffle weed, plant small material, cut string, and anything else you might need a large knife for in the garden.
Bypass pruners can do most of the pruning in the yard, but for the perennial or annual garden you really need a pair of lightweight deadheading snips. These look like small pointy scissors and are perfect for deadheading flowers, cutting off seed heads, snipping tomatoes, and harvesting other vegetables.
Weeding glasses are like reading glasses for the garden. They are sunglasses in varying magnification strengths that make weeding easy. You will be able quickly identify weeds and pull them all while looking very fashionable in the garden. These also work for tying knots and identifying insects, too.
Every gardener needs a new pair of gloves. My favorite are the nitrile-grip coated gloves that breath. These are perfect for Florida because they don’t get too hot and are washable. Look for gloves that are thick enough to handle roses and light enough that your hands don’t sweat.
You’ll need a nice new fabric waist apron to put all your tools in. I like the ones that have my favorite big store name on the front. They are washable, lightweight, and can carry more than you think. Keep your cell phone and a little snack next to your pruners so you can stay out in the garden as long as possible.
Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and a happy gardening 2019.
-- Wendy Wilber