15:50 - 10 December 2010
If your friends and family have a love of gardens, gardening or nature then buying them something special for Christmas is a doddle. What’s more you can buy something that will last longer than a box of chocolates, something that could cost less than a bottle of wine but bring more pleasure and something that might get them hooked on the hobby even more.
Christmas shopping comes down to planning and budget. If you are on a tight budget, as many of us are these days, then the garden and greenhouse can provide a brilliant way to make your money go further and you can extend this to friends and family too.
A few packets of seed can cost just a few pounds and with the offer of your own expertise to coach new gardeners in the skills of gardening, your gift could make a huge difference to someone trying to make ends meet. It’s a perfect gift for a student or a young mum trying to eat or feed the family more healthily and you don’t need a garden to achieve great results if you choose your seed carefully. Most gardeners have heaps of old flower pots that could be cleaned and recycled and then all your recipient needs is a bag of good multi-purpose compost or some seed compost and some good advice.
For the more experienced gardener you can choose seed varieties that they might not have grown before or a favourite vegetable. One pack of runner bean seed will last most families a year or two, or if they grow all the seeds they’ll have a bumper crop to fill the freezer or share with friends. Marry some bean seeds with some bean poles (maybe harvested from your own hazel coppice) and some garden twine. Few would disagree that freshly picked summer beans are divine and your gift will last for months or even years.
Salad mixes are another great way to spread the word. One or two packets of mixed salad will generate several pots of cut and come again leaves and if sown in succession your recipient could have salad for several months even without a greenhouse or garden.
Plants make wonderful seasonal gifts, whether you choose the festive poinsettia or a productive fruit tree. If you are not sure what to buy then consider a garden gift voucher. Most garden centres accept HTA vouchers and your gift can then be used in the most appropriate way by your recipient.
Don’t forget the children. If they show even a glimmer of gardening interest then this needs nurturing quickly. You can buy kiddies garden gift sets, but why not treat them a bit more grown-up and buy them proper gardening gloves or special pint sized tools just like mum or dad. Again seeds make great gifts and will encourage them to grow, choose from the many children’s seeds available or make your own selection based on their colour preference and experience.
If gardening is just a passing interest then think laterally. People of all ages love to feed the birds and watch their amazing antics in the garden. If budget is tight you can buy a basic feeder, ready filled with bird food that can be hung in the garden. Once the birds have found it and started to visit your friend or relative will probably be hooked. If your budget is bigger then a birdbath, a bird table or even a birdhouse makes a great gift for a family to enjoy and it’s a wonderful way to get children out into the garden. The added benefit is that the visiting birds will also make a dent in the garden pest population, so it really is a brilliant and thoughtful present.
Don’t forget if you really want to splash out then a greenhouse is a fantastic festive gift. If the pounds don’t quite stretch that far then consider a patio greenhouse or a cold frame this year and the greenhouse is bound to follow.
