The 20 Best Gifts for Gardeners, According to People Who Really Love Gardening

Sun protection is essential for gardeners, but wide-brimmed hats offer even more protection from the skin’s damaging rays. Gracie Paulson, founder of Grace Rose Farm, also turns to hats in inclement weather because they “stay firmly on your head in wind and rain, so you can garden with confidence.” This one is made from a breathable, lightweight material that happens to have an SPF of 50+. Choose from 13 colors, including this bright pink that’s as cheerful as the garden itself.

Speaking of which, our beauty editor tested all the top brands—Neutrogena, Sun Bum, you name it—and this one came out on top. It’s gentle enough to be used on the face. And body, plus your gardener won’t leave you feeling (or looking) greasy.

A reliable pair of garden shears belongs in every gardener’s toolbox. Blogger and gardener Penny Weeks uses these hand garden shears from Corona: “I like them so much that I have several of them; some in the house for making bouquets and others in the garden for harvesting vegetables and flowers.” They come in three different sizes – the smallest are best for cutting flowers, while the larger ones are better for branches and larger jobs.

Imagine a world where you could weed your entire garden without having to bend down. Well, this ingenious stand-alone tool makes it possible. “I’m a small woman – about 5’2″ tall and 120-130 lbs – and with this tool I can remove even the most stubborn weeds without hurting my back,” wrote one happy gardener, adding that it’s “truly a workhorse of a tool.”

Erin Schanen, gardener and blogger behind The Impatient Gardener, claims, “This is one of those tools you didn’t know you needed until you have it.” It’s just the right size—”smaller than a spade but bigger than a trowel”—for dividing perennials, digging up bulbs, and drilling holes.

Perhaps the hardest-working gardening tool of all? Your hands. Made with organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax, shea butter, and cocoa butter, this natural balm softens and soothes tired hands. “I work in the garden almost every day, so my hands (especially the knuckles) can get dry and cracked. I’ve tried other lotions for gardening hands, but this is the only product that has worked,” raved one five-star fan.

Garden tools wear out quickly, so it’s important to take good care of them. Schanen swears by this kit to sharpen her garden shears, hedge trimmers and loppers. Designed for heavy-duty garden tools, it includes a “semi-magical” scouring stone to remove rust and tree sap, and camellia oil, which is “an excellent lubricant.”

This colorful glass ball is not only an eye-catcher, it also serves a purpose. The indentations in it collect water and provide pollinators with a place to stop and drink before heading to the flowers.

The benefit of having a vegetable garden? Fewer trips to the grocery store and more produce from the garden on the table. Still, Randi from Freckled Californian recommends keeping a solid salad spinner on hand. “I use it to quickly and thoroughly dry my homegrown lettuce, herbs and cut vegetables before cooking,” she tells us. “It works much better than blotting with paper towels!”

Even in the summer heat, the garden keeps growing—and that means gardeners can’t stop tending to it. When temperatures soar, they’ll appreciate this bladeless fan around their neck. “It helps by blowing air into my face. Plus, those pesky mosquitoes can’t get to my face and bother me,” wrote one satisfied shopper. Our Senior Deals Writer Carrie McCabe is also a fan and said it saved her during a sweltering heatwave. Here’s her review.

Herb gardens aren’t just for chefs. “The best thing about having a garden is that you can just go out and pick fresh mint or chamomile flowers and make your own tea,” Randi adds. A tea strainer is essential for enjoying the fruits of the garden – and this one has an extra-fine strainer that prevents even the smallest bits from slipping through.

These slippers have a durable sole and waterproof upper, so you can walk around the garden in them with confidence. Hundreds of reviewers say they’re a godsend in wet, muddy gardens – including one who raved that they’re “easy to clean” and “much more comfortable than Crocs.”

Thorns, branches and brush get in the way of work. Instead of getting a scratch here and there, they can wear these moisture-wicking UPF 50 sleeves to protect their arms from the inevitable. “I suffered so terribly when I was working on my pumpkin plants in my garden. The sleeves are easy to put on and the band on the upper arm that keeps the sleeve in place is perfect,” raved one five-star reviewer.

These water and rust-resistant shears are as pretty as they are practical. Lindy Bridgman of Small Town Garden Life picks up this pair of barebones because “they do a great job of tidying up the garden.” They’re slimmer than most, so much so that one reviewer commented that they’re “perfect for getting to flowers or herbs where you need to cut with precision.”

Rain makes a garden grow, but too much of a good thing is, well, bad. This copper meter is a beautiful, if scientific, way to measure rainfall in inches. Available as a tabletop model, a mounted option, and a garden stake—FWIW, I’m unbiased toward the latter.

“Every gardener needs a beautiful basket to collect their garden harvest,” Weeks says. This brushed copper beauty is her go-to. “I use mine all year round for harvesting garden produce and foraging.”

This garden stool-turned-toolbag (or vice versa) has hundreds of five-star fans, and it’s easy to see why. It’s basically a portable workstation (with 21 pockets, I might add!) that folds out into a chair so you don’t have to break your back while you work.

Flowers tell a story, but not everyone can understand it. This illustrated encyclopedia will guide your gardener through the meanings behind common flowers like jasmine, marigolds and roses, so they can understand the message their garden is communicating. And Make more conscious bouquets for your loved ones.

There’s more here than meets the eye. Fill the shallow fountain with water and sand and watch as countless beautiful butterflies fly by to munch on the leftover crystal mixture.

One Amazon shopper put it best: “This belt is perfect for those of us who garden every day.” There’s a large zippered pocket for storing a phone or AirPods case, as well as five compartments for pruners, scissors, gloves, and other things you need to keep within reach.