We’re all guilty of it. In the mad Christmas rush grabbing anything in the 3 for 2 gift offer regardless of suitability. If you’re giving gifts to keen gardeners, however, there are some great products available which might actually be of some use!
Secateurs, gloves, dibbers and nice terracotta pots are fool proof; you just can’t have too many! But sometimes its nice to receive a really good quality item which you might not normally buy for yourself. Burgon and Ball, based in Sheffield, make high quality stainless steel hand tools including some unusual items, such as asparagus knives, potato harvesting scoops and topiary shears. Also in their range is an excellent kneeler with memory foam technology.
Packets of seed are excellent for posting, lightweight and virtually unbreakable!Wild flowers, vegetables, herbs and seeds for kids are always popular. Bird feeders, bird baths, nesting boxes and bird stations all make lovely gifts which give so much pleasure, or why not make up a bird food hamper by filling a basket or pot with a variety of bird seed, nuts and fat balls.
Plants of course are always welcome but after last year’s severe weather it may be wise to steer clear of those beautiful but slightly tender evergreens such as Camellias and Hellebores which are best planted in Spring. Fortunately there are lots of other bone hardy plants to choose from which make great gifts, including fruit trees which will be remembered years after other gifts have been discarded. The ultra dwarf “Terrace” fruits are suitable for even the smallest garden and include semi-exotic types such as peaches, nectarines, apricots and the brand new dwarf plum “Gold Dust”.For something a little different how about a quince, or a fig or an olive?
Magnolias, Witchhazels and Rhododendrons look exciting at this type of year with their flower buds clearly visible, or how about a young bay tree which can be decorated with ribbons and baubles? And for the gardener who has everything you could try Grevillea “Red Salento”, described as a flowering Christmas tree. It is in fact an Australasian shrub which grows in the classic shape of a Christmas tree but with red parrot bill flowers in Winter, and hardy to -8 degrees C.