A lightweight hose will lighten the load

I don’t know many gardeners who enjoy lugging heavy rubber hoses around their garden. But there is a solution. Many garden centers now offer lightweight, collapsible hoses that curl up when the water is shut off. They’re easy to carry and easy to store. Your favorite gardener could likely use a spare watering can, too.

Wind chimes will add sound

Give the gift of sound in the garden with a set of wind chimes. With each breeze, chimes provide tinkling bell-like tones. Look for long-lasting, heavy duty chimes that have strings that won’t break and chimes that won’t rust after the first season.

Gift the makings for a compost pile

A gardener can never have too much compost (organic matter that adds nutrients to soil and helps hold moisture). Compost can be purchased in bags, but it’s easy to convert leaves, discarded plant material and grass clippings into rich compost at home — and for free! Avoid adding weeds and plants that have been treated with herbicides. I also caution against using kitchen scraps that will attract vermin unless the composter has a lid. Compost bins, tumblers, and buckets make great gifts because they help to keep the debris in place while it decomposes. While you’re at it, include a microorganisms starter kit.

You can’t garden without a hand trowel

These small tools are great for planting, cultivating and weeding. Look for a lightweight trowel with a strong stainless steel blade and a smooth wooden handle. Some trowels have “toothed” edges, which helps remove deep-rooted weeds.

Hand pruners 101

There are three basic types of hand pruners: bypass, anvil and ratchet. Bypass pruners have two curved blades that act like scissors and produce a clean cut. Anvil pruners have a single straight cutting blade that presses against a flat edge. Ratchet pruners are basically anvil pruners but the cutting action is done in stages.They are particularly useful for cutting small branches. Some garden centers offer smaller pruners for gardeners with smaller hands.

Sow seeds with a planting dibble

A dibble is a pointed hand tool that’s used for making small holes in the ground, pots or trays for sowing seeds. They’re made from wood or metal and you can find them at garden centers and online. Click for the dibble planting guide at My Frugal Home.

Use gardening gloves to protect hands

Weeding, pruning, and digging all take a toll on a gardener’s hands. Give a pair or two of durable gloves and add a jar of hand lotion and your gardener will be good to grow.