Gift buying is both a joy and a pain. When you get it right and you see someone´s face light up when they unwrap your present it feels fantastic. But, the problem is that getting to that point can often be quite difficult. Nothing is guaranteed to make your brain go completely blank faster than trying to come up with a gift idea for a friend or family member.
Fortunately, if the person you are buying for loves gardening, the task of coming up with a gift idea becomes a whole lot easier. As you will see there are endless presents you could buy for them.
Gift trees
Perhaps one of the best of these is a gift tree. As you can see here, there is plenty of choice. It does not matter whether the person you are buying for has a tiny patio or a sprawling garden, you can find a tree for them.
Over the centuries, cross-breeding has produced thousands of new varieties. Many of which are perfect for the urban gardener.
Generally speaking, when buying trees it is best to stick to the smaller ones. These are more likely to be well-received. Fruit trees make especially good gifts. They are relatively compact, do not need too much care, look stunning in the spring and can keep on producing beautiful fruit for decades.
Other plants
If the person you are buying for already has a couple of trees, it is probably wise not to buy them more. Most urban gardens are not big enough to cope with more than one or two trees.
However, most have enough space left-over for shrubs and flowers, so they can make great gifts. If you are buying in the spring, buying a tray of bedding plants is an excellent idea. Or, you could buy a hanging basket kit.
If you want your gift to be enjoyed for longer a bush is ideal. Rose bushes make very nice presents. Hedging plants are also nice, they are extremely versatile plants. For example, a young laurel bush can be planted in an isolated spot and turned into a focal plant. Or, it can be left in the pot and gradually crafted into a beautiful topiary sculpture. Plus, you can use the leaves of some varieties for cooking.
Garden tools and equipment
Good quality garden tools are not cheap. So, for a keen gardener who is working within a tight budget, Fiskars carries great gardening tools that make particularly welcome presents.
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Even basic items like pots, fertilizer, and compost can be well received. They do not sound particularly glamorous, but they will certainly be appreciated.
Gift vouchers
If you are at all unsure about what to buy, gift cards are probably the best option. Most local nurseries sell them and a lot of online retailers are starting to do so, as well. However, you do need to be a bit careful when buying gift cards. These days, some of them have very short use by dates or start to lose their face value as soon as you buy them. You can read more about these issues and how to avoid them by reading this consumer report.
