Gifts for gardeners they’ll use all year
Good tools and clever kit that UK gardeners will use from the first spring sowing to the autumn tidy-up.
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Gardeners are easy to please if you choose things they’ll use every week of the growing season. Good-quality hand tools, clever growing kit and small comforts for long days outside are all safe bets, and gifts that help them get seeds started early always go down well.
If you’re not sure how keen they are, the cheaper ideas here suit anyone with a patch of garden or a few pots.
Photos are illustrative. We may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. How we pick · How this works.
Quality bypass secateurs
££ Mid-range
The tool gardeners use more than any other. Good ones cut cleanly, stay sharp and can be serviced for years.
Our pick
9.4/10
Kimura 8-inch Pro Bypass Secateurs
££ £15–£40
Japanese SK5 steel blades that slice through stems up to 25mm cleanly, which keeps plants healthier than a crushing cut.
- Japanese SK5 steel
- Cuts up to 25mm
- Lightweight aluminium handles
- Squeeze-to-release lock
What owners say: Extremely sharp and comfortable. Owners say they go through thick stems like a knife through butter.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price See our top 5 secateurs →A garden kneeler seat
£ Budget
Kneel on the padded side, flip it to sit. The handles help with getting up, which knees will thank you for.
Our pick
9.0/10
Crystals 2-in-1 Garden Kneeler and Seat
£ Under £15
Flip it one way to kneel, the other to sit. Knees and backs will thank you by the end of the weekend.
- Kneeler and seat in one
- Padded EVA foam
- Handles to help you up
- Detachable tool bag
- Folds flat
What owners say: Sturdy and easy to set up, and a real help for anyone with a bad back or knees.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsThornproof gardening gloves
££ Mid-range
For roses, brambles and pruning. Most gardeners’ gloves are worn through; a tough new pair is always welcome.
Our pick
9.3/10
SLARMOR Long Leather Gardening Gauntlets
£19.99 RRP
Elbow-length cowhide that laughs at roses, brambles and nettles. The only gloves to reach for when pruning.
- Cowhide leather
- Elbow-length cuffs
- Thorn and nettle proof
- Men’s and women’s sizes
What owners say: They really do stop thorns, brambles and holly, and they last for years.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price See our top 5 gardening gloves →A hori hori knife
££ Mid-range
A Japanese digging knife for weeding, planting bulbs and dividing plants. Gardeners who try one tend to use it for everything.
Our pick
9.2/10
Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Hori Hori
££ £15–£40
From Spear & Jackson, making tools in Sheffield since 1760. The Japanese-style hori hori digs, weeds, cuts and measures planting depth.
- Stainless steel blade
- Straight and serrated edges
- Depth markings
- Holster included
What owners say: Well made and sturdy, and brilliant for digging out stubborn weeds.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA seed storage tin
££ Mid-range
Keeps seed packets sorted by month or type. Satisfying for organised gardeners, life-changing for messy ones.
Our pick
9.1/10
Orionstar Metal Seed Storage Tin
£29.99 RRP
A vintage-green tin with four compartments that finally tames the shoebox of seed packets.
- Metal, vintage green
- 4 compartments
- Carry handles
- Fits standard seed packets
What owners say: A fabulous organiser with plenty of room, and built to last for years.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA wooden bird nest box
£ Budget
Put up in winter, it’s ready for nesting birds in spring. A gift that keeps giving.
Our pick
9.1/10
Supa Multi-Purpose Wooden Nest Box
£12.99 RRP
The front panel comes off, so it works as a classic hole box for tits or open-fronted for robins.
- Wooden
- Removable front panel
- Suits tits, robins and sparrows
- Easy to mount
What owners say: Well made for the price, looks good and is easy to put up.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA heated propagator
££ Mid-range
Gets seeds germinating early on a windowsill, so they’re ready to plant out in spring. Perfect for tomatoes, chillies and peppers.
Our pick
8.9/10
EarlyGrow Medium Heated Propagator
££ £15–£40
Gets seeds going weeks earlier on a windowsill, with gentle base heat and adjustable vents. Made in the UK by EarlyGrow.
- Heated base (16–21°C)
- Shatter-resistant lid
- Adjustable vents
- 38 × 24 × 20cm
- Made in the UK
What owners say: Brilliant and easy to use, with great germination, especially for tomatoes.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA flexible garden trug
££ Mid-range
For weeds, clippings, compost and harvests. Cheap, tough and constantly useful.
Our pick
9.0/10
Tuff Spot 40L Flexi Tubs (set of 3)
£19.80 RRP
Three tough 40-litre tubs for weeds, compost and clippings that bend, squash and never crack.
- 3 × 40 litre
- Flexible and shatter-proof
- Strong handles
- Assorted colours
What owners say: Excellent value and endlessly useful, from weeding to carrying soil.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA soil thermometer
£ Budget
Tells them when the soil’s warm enough to sow outside, instead of guessing from the calendar.
Our pick
8.6/10
Thermometer World Compost and Soil Thermometer (295mm)
£ Under £15
A long steel probe and a clear dial that shows when the soil is warm enough to sow, or the compost heap is cooking nicely.
- 295mm steel probe
- 50mm dial
- Marked temperature zones
- For soil or compost
What owners say: Clear, easy to read and accurate, and essential for serious composting.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsGarden clogs or short wellies
£ Budget
Slip on and off at the back door for quick jobs, so there’s no muddy boot-lacing every time.
Our pick
9.0/10
Town & Country Super Soft Garden Clogs
£12.50 RRP
Light, cushioned and easy to slip on at the back door for a quick trip to the greenhouse.
- Lightweight EVA
- Soft cushioned insole
- Slip-resistant sole
- Men’s and women’s sizes
What owners say: Comfortable, great quality for the price and handy to slip on for quick garden jobs.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsAn RHS gardening book
££ Mid-range
The Royal Horticultural Society’s books are trusted, UK-focused and packed with practical detail.
Our pick
9.6/10
RHS Complete Gardener’s Manual
£30 RRP
From the Royal Horticultural Society, a proper reference covering planning, sowing, planting and growing, for beginners and experts alike.
- Hardback
- Covers the whole garden
- Lots of photos
- Good for beginners and experts
What owners say: Really informative and easy to navigate, with lots of great photos.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsA gardener’s hand cream
£ Budget
A small treat for hands that have been in soil all year. Nice as a stocking filler alongside a bigger gift.
Our pick
9.4/10
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream
£8.49 RRP
A concentrated cream made for dry, cracked hands. Gardeners and builders swear by it.
- Highly concentrated
- For dry, cracked skin
- Glycerin barrier
- 80ml tube
What owners say: Works almost instantly on cracked hands and soaks in quickly.
Available at Amazon – check today’s price or compare other optionsBuying for a gardener
- Look at what tools they use most and what state they’re in. A worn favourite is a good clue.
- Grow-your-own gardeners love anything that gets seeds started early.
- If they have a small garden or balcony, avoid big kit and go for hand tools and pots.
Not quite right? Tell us who it’s for and we’ll pick from all our lists.
Try the gift finderBudget guide: £ roughly under £15 · ££ roughly £15–£40 · £££ over £40. Prices vary between retailers and over time.
