Unique Holiday Gifts for the Gardeners in Your Life

by Ray Novitske, Fairfax Master Gardener
Selecting gifts for gardeners who seem to already have everything they need can be difficult during the holiday season. That is why every year we try to assemble some unique gift ideas that the gardeners on your shopping list may not already have.

Portable Neck Fan
No gardener really enjoys gardening on a hot humid summer day. A rechargeable personal fan to wear around your neck may make the work a little more comfortable. These lightweight wearable cooling devices can be found in several online outlets, and with their reasonable pricing, can bring warm smiles to make outdoor summer work enjoyable.
Amazon
$25.19

Transplants Repotting Mat
Transplanting seedlings on your kitchen counter because the potting shed is full can be a messy task. This foldable mat with upturned sides keeps the wet, the dirt and the mess in one place. It can easily be emptied with no spillage in your work area. Easy to clean, these polyethylene mats come in a variety of colors and sizes.
Amazon
$7.99

Thirsty Worm Moisture Meter
Place the thirsty worm in your potted plant soil and pull it out to check the dampness. If the worm’s lower portion is darker, your soil is damp and you don’t need to water your plant. If it is all one color, get the watering can out. These worms are made from a water-absorbing material and take the guesswork out of watering needs for your container garden.
Etsey
$12.00 each

Solar Light Lanterns
Place these stylish lanterns in the sun to charge up during the day. Let them beam through a metal shade at night, lighting the ground or table with a celestial pattern of sun, moon and stars. Seven inches high, these waterproof and dustproof globes should last and function as a decorating idea for patios, decks, tables and gardens for years.
Etsey
$50.09 pair

Pop-Up Bird Net
This folding net is large enough to cover a portion of your garden or berry bush to keep marauding birds from eating your prized edibles without using toxic chemicals. Used for simple seedlings, vegetables or berry bushes, this 6-foot by 3-foot barrier folds from either side to make harvesting easy. It folds flat for storage when not needed.
Gardeners Supply Company
$49.99

All-In-One Garden Tool & Knife Sharpener
With several garden tools and cutting devices, you may need several sharpeners. But this all-in-one tool has sharpeners to handle your lawn mower blade, hedge shears, scissors, hand pruner and knives. With its tungsten sharpening elements, lightweight construction is built to last.
Amazon
$35.99

Bee Water Stations
Bee water cups are great for keeping pollinators and wildlife hydrated in your garden. They make lovely decorations for flower beds and plant pots, adding height and structure to your garden. Made from iron and steel, simply push the stake into the ground to provide a drink for your insects.
Etsey
$36.79 for set of 3