Throughout a long career, Dutch master Piet Oudolf has created many show-stopping landscapes and is still developing lush perennial schemes around the world. His legacy is celebrated in a new book, with insightful essays by those who have worked with, and been inspired by, him, alongside a selection of his intricate planting plans.

Piet Oudolf at Work (Phaidon, £59.95) Use code PIET20 for 20 per cent off the book on Phaidon.com. Valid until 31st August 2023.

Piet Oudolf at Work

Cassian Schmidt
Director of Hermannshof garden, Germany

Piet’s planting plans and plant lists are not secret, unlike with most other designers; he publishes them both in books and online. Piet is surprisingly relaxed about the possibility that others might copy him, saying they are welcome to do so. But by the time any given design has been completed, Piet has long since moved on in his creative thoughts and visions, and never reuses exactly the same combination of plants. His real achievement is in elevating the work of designing with plants to a whole new level. He has brought perennials back into the consciousness of landscape architecture. Renowned garden designers are now being valued increasingly for their specialist knowledge, and are even being brought in on high-profile projects and accepted as equal partners among architects. Even galleries and museums have come to value plants as a design tool for their outdoor areas or even to include them directly in art projects, as at the Venice Biennale. This has all helped to elevate an Oudolf planting design to a work of art, one that can stand on its own, as opposed to serving as an accessory or mere decoration. Piet Oudolf has thus succeeded in emancipating planting design as an art form in its own right, bringing it out of its niche and on to the big stage.

Jonny Bruce
Gardener and writer

Piet’s contagious enthusiasm reflects his experience and the generosity he has received, and is a legacy as important as the plants themselves. Certainly, walking with Piet in his garden is never a passive experience: as he runs his hands through the grasses overhanging the paths, he directs your attention to some uniquely beautiful seedhead before raising his phone to capture it. “There are still so many plants to discover,” Piet says, with characteristic enthusiasm. It was always a pleasant surprise on taking Piet and his wife Anja a box of plants to hear the words, “I haven’t grown that before”, and to think that our conversations were finding their place alongside those of Henk Gerritsen, Roy Diblik, Rob Leopold and the countless other gardeners who have informed this rare garden. It is in this way that one can best understand Piet Oudolf, for as he says: “My relationship to plants is through people.”

Noel Kingsbury
Plantsman and garden writer.

The vast majority of people who know Piet’s work are familiar with it from arrays of massed perennials and grasses. To create these plantings, he sketches and draws his designs using plans that until now have been seen only by a minority of his admirers. So striking are these plans – done with coloured pencils, felt-tip pens and markers, and using a dense language of annotation, including dots, dashes, spirals and squiggles – they have become accepted as artworks in their own right. The plans are, in a way, representative of the creative process of an artist – a process that is next to impossible to explain, in part because the routes of the design method are many and may vary greatly from one project to another. Inevitably, given the transitory nature of gardens in general, and of perennial-based planting schemes in particular, these places will change over time, often dramatically. The plans at least will preserve their originator’s thoughts and intentions for posterity. Looking at Piet’s planting in the broad sweep of history, it can perhaps be best understood as representing a stylisation of nature, much as the highly influential landscape movement of 18th-century England created a highly structured representation of the natural world. Much as it went on to stimulate a very wide range of design styles, we can speculate that Oudolf planting will also have a major and continuing influence on the nature-inspired planting of the future.

Rosie Atkins
Former Gardens Illustrated editor, who commissioned Piet’s Best in Show garden (designed in collaboration with Arne Maynard) for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 2000.

Most garden designers work in multi-disciplinary practices, but Piet has always preferred to work alone in his studio, collaborating externally with teams of multi-skilled professionals. Like all gardeners, he believes to share is to multiply. “The public projects allow me to share my work with a large number of people, while the private gardens are, well, private,” he says. He likes to think that all his gardens are a promise for the future, and “like a good marriage,” he says, “I want my planting designs to work together as they age.” Piet has become the leading figure in a movement that promotes a more natural and resilient approach to urban landscape design. His understanding of how plants behave in different soils and climates makes his designs both distinctive and sustainable. As the gardening writer and historian Tim Richardson says, “Piet is an original thinker and a proselytiser for an attitude to planting rather than a ‘look’.” His work embraces and accepts the natural process of the life and death of plants and recognises how plants adapt to change, which is something we will all have to do if humankind is to preserve a peaceful and sustainable way of life in the future.

BUY THE BOOK
This edited extract is taken from the new book, Piet Oudolf at Work (Phaidon, £59.95). Written in close collaboration with Piet, this beautifully illustrated book offers a fresh insight into Piet’s creative practice, showcasing many of his well-known gardens – from New York’s acclaimed High Line to the newly planted Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany.

Use code PIET20 for 20 per cent off the book on Phaidon.com. Valid until 31st August 2023.

Rebecca Louise Law makes eye-catching, ethereal sculptures using cascades of fresh and drying cut flowers. It’s a technique she has invented herself, harnessing both her artistic and horticultural knowledge to create artworks with all the delicacy and breathtaking natural beauty of a wild-flower meadow.

Rebecca studied fine art at Newcastle University where she tried out various natural materials before accidentally discovering the potential of flowers. “My father is a gardener and I went home one weekend and took a load of his dahlias back to college to experiment with,” she explains. Rebecca used the dahlias to create an installation exploring the processes of preservation and decay, and realised that she had found her perfect material. After graduating she decided to continue making floral artworks but felt she needed some practical experience. “I had to understand what I was working with before I could work as an artist.” Consequently she spent four years as a florist before setting up on her own in 2008.

Rebecca’s big break came in 2011 when she won her first major commission, Hanging Garden, a dramatic installation made for the Floral Hall at the Royal Opera House in London. It was such a success that Rebecca, now in her thirties, hasn’t stopped since and in the past five years she has worked on installations for clients as far afield as Japan, Athens and New York. She also makes smaller sculptures encased in glass boxes and framed pieces using flowers recycled from her temporary installations. “We never throw anything away,” she laughs.

The sculptures are made by tying flowers to lengths of copper wire. These are then manipulated into shape and suspended from the ceiling, allowing the flowers to dry naturally. Part of Rebecca’s skill lies in knowing how individual flowers will age and she is constantly experimenting with different species. “It’s what I like best – learning the whole journey of a species from beginning to end,” she says.

One of Rebecca’s installations was at the Luton Hoo Estate in Bedfordshire. Although designed by ‘Capability’ Brown, Luton Hoo’s gardens fell into disrepair in the 1980s, but are now being restored by volunteers. “It’s somewhere that’s really lost and beautiful and an incredible space – it was like a blank canvas for me,” says Rebecca. She’s used dried flowers collected over the past four years to create an installation called The Dairy 2016, a fragile, ghostly drift of plant forms that gently float above an old marble dairy slab.

Rebecca takes her inspiration from nature. “I want to capture a tiny part of the awe you get when you are completely surrounded by the landscape,” she says. But as well as its grandeur, she’s also fascinated by the minutiae of nature and her sculptures are as much about the detail of individual flowers as their overall impact. And this is why she prefers her sculptures to remain in situ for as long as possible, although it may seem perverse to make permanent sculptures out of such an ephemeral material. “The longer the installation is there, the more fascinating it becomes – the colour slowly disappears but the actual structure of the flower remains,” she explains, adding, “Flowers can last forever – they are a really amazing material.”

A quick fridge search of most advocates of seasonal eating reveals a huge amount of either hypocrisy or ignorance. Do we really think you can grow broccoli in the UK in January or green beans in March, or have we just conveniently suspended our critical faculties? I include myself and many Riverford veg box customers in that category.

To blame my step-daughter’s resistance to cabbage for the cucumber and pepper in my fridge is not entirely fair; by March I am longing for the peas, beans, lettuce and occasional asparagus that we import from growers in Spain to keep those hypocrites happy. Although it must be said that our UK-only veg box is selling better than it ever has (though still less than 5 per cent) so perhaps there is some narrowing of the reality gap.

Thérèse Coffey’s suggestion that we should eat turnips says as much about the ignorance of our secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs minister as it does about the nation’s slatternly eating habits. A purple top Milan turnip sown in March, grown quickly and picked young in May or June is indeed a lovely vegetable; braised in butter, grated in a remoulade or in a navarin of lamb stew, but right now it would be imported from Spain or Italy, along with the contentious tomatoes.

The slow grown, traditional, winter turnip beloved by Blackadder‘s Baldric, is in season in March but you have to be very, very hungry to enjoy one; we stopped growing them at Riverford twenty years ago when I could no longer fend off the moans from even the most committed, green, locavore customers. I would guess I could carry the entire UK weekly sales of these sulphurous brutes to market on a bicycle and I doubt our rural affairs minister would recognise one if a voter, outraged by her ignorance, threw one at her.

So, is the solution to put up more glasshouses or polytunnels and grow tomatoes in the UK? Without heat, even under glass, tomatoes grown commercially in the UK are sown in February for planting out in April and picking from July to October in a good year. If they limp on into November, under falling sunlight, the flavour is very poor. With heat they can be planted in January for cropping from April to November but this consumes a prodigious amount of fuel.

Consider that we are legally obliged to double glaze new homes when windows normally account for less than 10 per cent of the surface; yet a glass house will be heated to a similar temperature (20C) in January with 100 per cent of the surface single glazed. It is so bonkers that a tomato or pepper trucked 1500 miles from southern Spain or Italy will typically still have a carbon foot print ten times smaller than one grown under heated glass in the UK. Heating glass to produce out of season tomatoes in the UK is as bonkers as flying runner beans from Kenya. Riverford sells nothing from heated glass (nor anything that has been on an airplane). In a world that was serious about climate catastrophe both would be illegal.

So how do we eat the plant-based diet almost everyone is advising, while leaving a habitable planet for our children? No amount of advice from me or Thérèse Coffey is going to get us there unless it is enjoyable. Guilt or good intentions change little for 95 per cent of us. While 99.9 per cent of us will not revert to eating turnip, I am convinced that, for veg at least (fruit is more challenging), with the right nudges and policies we could eat an 80 per cent UK diet without suffering (or using heated glass).

There are so many wonderful, but neglected vegetables, if we could wean ourselves off tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and broccoli even for a few months. The radicchio / escarole family can provide great salads (for those not needing everything to be sweet) right through the winter as can corn salad, winter purslane and a host of oriental greens. Celeriac can replace celery, purple sprouting replace broccoli. Better storage could see UK grown onions, carrots and potatoes kept in good condition right through to the start of the new season.

Easing of planning control on polytunnels. Better provision of training and support for new entrants would all help boost supply. Personally I do not support flying in an underclass of labourers to support the poor employment practices of many of our large growers; far better that the industry restructured towards smaller businesses more reliant on local labour.

What we do import should never be flown; in terms of CO2 emissions per kg of veg, planes are over 30 times worse than ships; trains about double and trucks about 10 times. In an ideal world what we do import would come by ship from Morocco or southern Spain, which takes three or four days; only a little longer than by truck.

Though the recent tomato shortage was certainly exasperated by self-inflicted Brexit related trade barriers that make the UK a customer of last resort for growers in mainland Europe, the fundamental issue was unseasonably cold weather in Andalucía and Morocco. Every grower I speak to now mentions changing weather patterns as their major challenge; the closer you get to the equator the more acute it becomes.

Our crops and variety choices, planting dates, cultivation strategy and pest control practices have all evolved based on what has worked in the past; that accumulated wisdom, often built over generations, is rapidly being devalued by changing weather patterns; heatwaves, late frosts, torrential rain and gales. They add unpredictability and risk that growers are seldom built into a grower’s budget. We should expect more shortages and higher prices.

But really, is this worth the fuss? We are the lucky ones; no one died for lack of a tomato, we just have to be a bit less picky for a few weeks.

We spoke to Pia about her nature printing in 2015, here is the article from our archives.

Nature in Print

In a light studio in Hackney, graphic designer Pia Östlund is turning the wheel of a mangle rolling press. When the print bed has passed through the rollers, she lifts off six layers of blankets to reveal a piece of paper attached to a copper plate. Ever so gently, Pia peels the paper off the plate and turns it over. In her hands she holds a beautiful print of a giant oak leaf – a deep, verdant green that highlights the leaf’s veins and midrib, which are slightly raised. While it has taken Pia five minutes to produce this print, it has taken her five years to reach this point. What has just rolled off the press is a nature print – a highly detailed, life-size print of a plant made using a method that had become obsolete. That is, until Pia saw a book at the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Pia has worked freelance for the garden since 2001, creating signage and merchandising, often using the garden’s library of rare books for sourcing image material. One day, among rows of old herbals and engraved botanical works, she spied a hefty tome entitled The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland by Thomas Moore (curator at the garden from 1848 to 1887), with pages displaying life-like and life-size images of ferns in colour. “They were too detailed to be drawn by hand but they certainly weren’t photographs,” says Pia. “I could feel the raised texture of the plants but the colour was too intense to be an actual pressed and dried specimen.” Puzzled, Pia noticed two words in the left-hand corner of the page: ‘nature printing’. Having moved from Sweden to London to study graphic design at Central St Martins, Pia was familiar with printing techniques but she still couldn’t see how these had been executed.

With her curiosity piqued, she started researching. “I first thought I could Google ‘nature printing’ but there was nothing out there,” says Pia. She eventually discovered that, while nature printing began simply as a method of inking up a leaf and taking an impression on paper (widely used by physicians to make plant records in the 15th century), during the 19th century a new form of nature printing was developed as new technologies enabled the production of printing plates.

Through endless enquiries and searches, Pia finally found all the pieces to the puzzle. A dried plant specimen was pressed into a sheet of lead and this impression was then copied using electroforming (suspending the piece of lead in an acid bath and, using an electric current, growing a layer of copper on it) to produce a copper printing plate. Numerous prints of the plant could be made. But the craft died out by 1900 – it was too costly and lithography took its place.

Pia has since taught herself the process of making the plates and has recently produced her own in her Hackney studio, which means she can now print as many giant oak leaves as she wishes and put together editions. She has also gone to great lengths to perfect her technique; working out the correct paper and inks, the extent to which she applies and wipes off the inking on the plate – even the number of blankets on the press. “I can see that the prints I’m making have the same quality as they had then,” says Pia. “I love how the physicality of the plant is transferred into the plate and the print is more like an X-ray. I also love that you can send a plate through the press and find this curious image at the other end.”

You can find out more about Pia’s work and what she is doing now on her Instagram page.

It was over a glass of wine, on a scorching day at Helmingham Hall, that I realised I’d been caught out. “You wear Crocs, don’t you?” asked Carly Eck, the effortlessly chic fashion historian who was doing a talk the next day, as part of the Garden Museum Literary Festival. She’d been researching gardening clothes. Seemingly, my too-big, grey plastic shoes had crept into my Instagram stories more often than I’d realised.

At first, I didn’t want to let the Crocs in the house, knowing they were a slippery slope towards a sartorial nadir. A hand-me-down from my brother-in-law, they sat by the back door as I stubbornly put on ankle-length Hunters to go out in the garden. One fateful day I realised it was just easier to slip them on, and now the neighbours are treated to the sight of me in a variety of dressing gowns (a flamboyant Desmond & Dempsey number when it’s warm; towelling when it’s not) and Crocs doing my morning flowerbed rounds.

I’m not alone – in the nightwear, at least. As garden historian Advolly Richmond has pointed out in the Garden Museum’s online series on gardening clothes, avid gardeners are guilty of not bothering with getting properly dressed when there are seedlings to be inspected, or pots to water.

I’ve always loved learning what gardeners wear. To garden is to straddle creativity and labour; to do delicate, thoughtful work while wrestling with the elements or wading through anaerobic compost. It’s as much a physical act as it is an artistic one. Clothes must be practical, ideally so they don’t distract from the task in hand. But gardeners are often aesthetes, and often frugal. It’s interesting to see what happens when these things intersect.

Read our piece on what women have worn in the garden over the years

Monty Don famously despises jeans (‘they are absurd items of clothing,’ he wrote in 2005), but Derek Jarman ‘loved’ working in them, and other vintage workwear – we have hung a photograph of his overalls hanging on the line and blown out by the Dungeness wind, in the hallway. Vita Sackville-West married in gold silk brocade but you’re more likely to see photographs of her in a pleasingly androgynous combination of blazer, button-down, plus fours and knee-high boots. Katharine S White, who reviewed seed catalogues for The New Yorker in the 1960s and 70s, wore Ferragamos and tweed suits. In her book Unearthed, grower Claire Ratinon explains that it was her partner who introduced her to Flexothane dairy-farmer trousers, now an outdoor-wear staple. Ask most gardeners and layers, pockets and patched-up cashmere are likely to come up.

Traditionally, women have been worse off in the garden; having to keep up appearances for decades after gardening was finally considered an acceptable thing to do in the 19th century. In The Gentlewoman’s Book of Gardening, published in 1892, Edith L Chamberlain urged her readers to go for skirts that were not ‘skimpy’, to better enable stooping, as well as a boneless bodice and tight sleeves. Things are considerably better 230 years on, but it’s still far more difficult than it should be to find sensibly priced workwear for women.

When I gardened on a balcony I mostly limited my wardrobe to a puffa jacket and wore pyjamas more often than I care to admit. Graduating to a garden has required more substantial attire. I’m in Monty’s anti-denim camp – they get filthy too easily and take too long to dry – and have flirted with some Carrier Company cotton drill trousers, which look chic. The fact I’m always finding bits of twine in my pockets suggests I garden in other clothes besides. The epiphany, though, came a couple of summers ago when I had my grandfather’s overalls tailored to fit me with pockets in all the right places. Navy and well-worn in, they go over leggings, thermals and puffa jackets effortlessly, and lend just the right sense of occasion to proceedings. I am yet to find a replacement for the Crocs.

Read Alice’s column each month in Gardens Illustrated magazine. Subscribe here. 

Today we mark International Womens Day. A day we celebrate all women across the world. I recently visited my parents who retired back to India some 12 years ago. I hold the highest regard for my mother and she will always be my biggest inspiration in gardening. But whilst holidaying in India, another woman really inspired me.

I stayed at a remote farm-stay in the Aravali Hills of Udaipur, in the state of Rajasthan. Krishna Ranch is owned and run by an amazing couple, Francine Rothuis and Dinesh Jain. The day to day runnings of the gardens, fields, livestock and the kitchen hub is diligently overseen by a slim statured and very jolly, incredibly strong woman, Narani Gameti. Neither her loving husband Udaylal nor any of the staff dare to cross her as she assigns tasks for outdoor and kitchen duties. I soon found out why. The strength in the voice that bellows from this woman is not to be challenged. Even the farm animals are seen to oblige.

During our many conversations, I discovered she regrets not being educated further, as she was married at a young age. What she feels she lacks in academic fulfilment, I believe she makes up for in her long tenure at this farm, with her hands-on gardening and husbandry knowledge. During my stay she taught me about numerous ways of companion planting. She was surprised I hadn’t heard about some of them. She also shared how certain green manures play a key role in organic soil management. Also how they’ve practiced crop rotation for generations to help minimise pest and disease. But most importantly, she looked me straight in the eye and said “we must ALL save seeds”. She said it was the biggest and most vital key to not only a great garden success but for human existence too. How true are her words! These were just a snippet of the topics we spoke about.

I was a self taught gardener too. In order to further my gardening knowledge I attended horticultural college. Narani, on the other hand, learnt on the job and with her hands on approach, was simply reciting her knowledge as the norm from days gone by. For such a simple woman, as she calls herself, she holds a wealth of knowledge. As my mother always says: never judge a person by their status in life or appearance. In this world, there are so many women like Narani who just need an opportunity to be heard.

The one thing I took away from this stay is that my noble horticultural heroes like Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville-West and Princess Augusta may hold great horticultural titles and paved the way for women in the western world. But I truly believe women around the world like Narani who also hold a wealth of knowledge and should also be recognised and celebrated too.

Many of my family peers still wonder why I went into gardening. In Indian society, horticulture is still not seen as a profession to pursue, unless of course its got to do with becoming a botanist or scientist or if there is some kind of computer engineering involved! For many it is still regarded as just a weekend pastime hobby. I broke away from this norm. I let my heart steer my ambition path, not family chatter.

My horticulture and garden media journey began as a second career. Gardening was a passion I wanted to follow from a young age. As I mentioned, in the Indian society, it’s a taboo to ‘get your hands dirty’. Together with my husband’s support and our children’s encouragement. I took the leap and went back to school. Horticultural college opened my eyes to greater possibilities. Opportunities and positions don’t just fall at anyone’s feet. You have to go out there to get them. And on many occasions its even harder as a woman. But we females are a strong breed of humans. It was up to me to reach out. My allotment gave me the freedom to express myself. I shared my journey on social media platforms. Found my voice and shared my gardening thoughts. I was soon heard.

Now I write for several established magazines and work as a presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World too. Soon after I completed my Horticultural Diploma I got the opportunity to work as a professional gardener in one of London’s prestigious gardens, Inner Temple Garden. Nothing in life is easy. A lot of hard work goes behind what is sometimes only seen as amazing snippets of our lives. To be honest, I never thought an author lived inside me. With the publisher by my side, that vision was realised too and we published my first book Rekha’s Kitchen Garden. This is not the end. My garden and kitchen journey continues.

Ambition shouldn’t be just a thought. It is motivation for greater good. I say to each and every woman, you have done great inspiring work that needs to be heard. Share your story with us today on International Women’s Day and inspire the future women of the world with your work and words.

Read our piece on inspiring female garden designers from history

With Mother’s Day just around the corner on 19 March, it’s time to get the all-important gift sorted. There are plenty of presents out there for green-fingered mums; the choice can seem overwhelming. Whether your mum will spend her Sunday out in the garden, or wrapped up on the sofa with a cup of tea, here you will find some of the best Mother’s Day garden gifts that are sure to make this year feel extra special.

Mother’s Day Garden Gifts for 2023

Grow your own seed box

Seed sowing season is officially underway by the arrival of Mother’s Day, and this set from Garden Pack is the ultimate kit to get your mum growing. Containing a hundred packets of seeds along with detailed growing instructions, this set could transform any garden into a plant-filled haven. Sixty-five packets are vegetable seeds too, so if your mum is hoping to fill pots and beds with produce this year, then this pack will help her be well on her way. The wooden storage box makes this gift especially practical, as it can be easily stored. It even comes with a pair of gardening gloves.

Niwaki secateurs

• Buy now from Amazon (£185.00), Niwaki (£169.00).
• Buy the set now from Amazon (£493.90), Niwaki (£449.00)

These Niwaki secateurs are the real deal. Made out of carbon steel and hand forged in Yamagata, they are the pinnacle of luxury gardening tools. The 210mm Japanese pruners are useful for heavy and demanding pruning jobs.

If you want to splash out this Mother’s Day, you can also buy these secateurs as part of Niwaki’s Tokusen set (see below). The perfect present, the set contains all three of their Tokusen range wrapped in cotton and in a neat gift box – ideal for easy wrapping.  The 165mm Pruners are smaller and better for light garden pruning, dead heading and cut flowers. The final addition to the set, the Barracuda Secateurs are longer and more slender than their counterparts. These are perfect for day-to-day garden work. If your mum is planning to spend her day tidying up the garden, these tools will make it a breeze.

Garden speaker

Time spent in the garden can be very mindful, but sometimes hours of weeding need to be accompanied by a bit of music or a good podcast. Whereas most bluetooth speakers might be vulnerable to damage in damp grass or get lost amongst garden off-cuts, this speaker from Kitsound is freestanding. With a stake to hold the speaker in place in the ground, it can be easily placed anywhere in the garden. It is water and dust resistant and has up to eight hours of play time; plenty to get all those garden jobs done while listening to an audiobook.

Garden design book

• Buy now from RHS Shop (£30.00)

If your mum is planning a big garden overhaul this year, the RHS Encyclopaedia of Garden Design would be the ideal present. With tips on how to plan, build and plant an outdoor space, this book is filled with inspiration. The guide will teach you the fundamentals of garden design, help you to find your own style and show you how to bring these ideas to life. The book contains tips on building and planting up ponds and perennials as well as assessing garden drainage and laying patios. Showcasing a portfolio of garden styles, including Japanese, modernist, urban, family and cottage gardens, the book has ideas to suit all tastes.

A bouquet of flowers

The classic Mother’s Day gift, and one that will always be a winner, is a bouquet of flowers. If you’re planning on having a relaxing day in with your mum, a bunch of flowers will definitely brighten up the house. Bloom and Wild have a beautiful selection of flowers, including some Mother’s Day exclusives.

If one bunch of flowers isn’t enough, how about a flower subscription. There are some brilliant companies out there that can keep your mum’s house full of flowers for weeks to come.

Cherry blossom cushion

• Buy now from RHS Shop (£30.00).

The RHS have released a new cherry blossom collection using a print held at the Lindley Library. Kondo Yuho’s 1888 ‘Double Cherry Blossom’ print has been adapted by designers into an exclusive range of homewares, soft furnishings and accessories for the RHS. The cushions from this new collection would make an excellent Mother’s Day gift. The bold, ruffled cherry blossom design screams of spring and would be a welcome burst of colour to any outdoor sofa.

Herringbone throw

• Buy now from National Trust Shop (£42.00).

If a couple of cushions weren’t quite enough to make a Mother’s Day on the sofa more comfortable, why not add a woollen throw to go with them. This Herringbone Throw from the National Trust would be absolutely perfect. Made from one hundred percent wool, the blanket has a soft and cosy texture. It can be bought in several colours, but we think the petrol blue would go well in any room.

Indoor watering can

Houseplants are the perfect addition to any home, but they can often come with a lot of plastic care equipment that needs hiding away. Burgon and Ball have a range of houseplant accessories that you’ll want to keep on display, like this charcoal grey watering can. Moulded in steel for a smooth finish, this watering can is durable and will stand the test of time. The wood handle is made from FSC beech wood and allows precise control over watering, while the slender spout is perfect for delivering water only to the spot where it is needed. We think that this would make a perfect gift for any houseplant-loving parent on Mothering Sunday.

Gardens Illustrated magazine subscription

A subscription to Gardens Illustrated would make an excellent Mother’s Day present. Each issue is filled with planting ideas, beautiful gardens and expert advice all accompanied by stunning photography.

Year-round garden visits

• Buy an RHS membership
• Buy a National Trust membership

For a gift that will keep on giving all year, why not buy your mum a membership that will allow her to visit hundreds of beautiful gardens and parks through all the seasons.

An RHS membership grants access to all five RHS gardens, as well as over two hundred partner gardens. Members also receive a monthly magazine and personalised gardening advice. Another great membership to gift is for The National Trust. This will provide access to hundreds of stately homes and gardens, as well free parking at National Trust beauty spots all over the country.

Looking for more inspiration? Find fantastic present ideas for younger family members in our round-up of the best gardening gifts for kids.

Walter Crane (1845-1915) portrays an immaculately dressed and elegant female kneeling before a statue of the Bard on the frontispiece of Flowers From Shakespeare’s Garden (1906) epitomising for many the quintessential image of the Edwardian lady in the garden. However, her wide-brimmed straw hat, feather boa and long pink dress tell only a partial story. Some women gardeners (as opposed to women in the garden) had already begun by this time to adopt an altogether different attire.

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Dog skin and kid gloves had long been worn by Victorian lady gardeners to protect their ‘fingers used to delicate employment’ as they wielded their scaled-down garden spades, forks and trowels. The writer and gardener Jane Loudon (1807-1858) then introduced her gardening gauntlet as a suitable protection for tackling the more robust jobs around the plot.

Meanwhile her fellow writer, Louisa Johnson, advised women gardeners to don “a garden apron, composed of stout Holland, with ample pockets to contain her pruning knife, a small hammer, a ball of string, and a few nails and snippings of cloth.”

Daisy, Countess of Warwick (1861-1938) opened her Lady Warwick Hostel in 1898 – here a more demure look was deemed suitable for its all-female horticultural students. The intriguing and highly original Countess of Warwick was a former mistress to the Prince of Wales turned philanthropic socialist (it is she who fellow socialist sympathiser Crane was to depict so elegantly in Flowers From Shakespeare’s Garden).

Naturally she ensured her students were dressed in a way entirely appropriate to the period. They wore long Edwardian skirts (the hems of which the students often bound with leather – making it easier to clean off mud) along with neat white blouses with a collar and tie. Such restrictive outfits must have made for hot work in the Stove or Melon house! Graceful straw hats added an air of elegance as well as keeping the sun from tanning their fair skin.

The Lady Warwick Hostel, which became Studley Agricultural College for Women in 1910, was only one of the many educational establishments beginning to offer young women horticultural training at this time. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew took women trainees from 1896. The Director, Sir William Thistleton-Dyer, deemed that in appearance at least, his new female recruits should resemble their male colleagues as closely as possible.

Thus they wore a masculine-style ensemble of shirt and tie under a heavy brown tweed suit consisting of jacket, waistcoat (complete with watch chain) and a peaked cap. The lower part of the body was clad in the now infamous knickerbockers, which prompted the magazine Fun to pen these lines in 1900:

The verse concluded with the refrain ‘Who wants to see blooms now you’ve bloomers at Kew.’ Thistleton-Dyer quickly ordered his students to wear long mackintoshes on their way to work to hide their more contentious items of clothing.

Viscountess Wolseley (1872-1933) was altogether more considerate of both her student’s sensibilities and their comfort when devising an appropriate uniform for her College for Lady Gardeners at Glynde in Sussex. In keeping with the military ethos of the school she founded c1902, Frances Wolseley dressed her young women in a smart uniform of white shirt, khaki-coloured coat and, rather daringly, a mid-calf length skirt. The warm tweed versions were replaced by lightweight linen in the summer months.

When working in the garden the long skirt was abandoned for a more practical shorter one, worn over breeches with boots and gaiters. The rather drab khaki colour was less inclined to show the pale powdery mud of the chalky South Downs soil, than would a more sombre navy or brown.

The students wore a tie in the school colours of red, white and blue, repeated on the twisted cord around their soft felt hats. In her 1908 book Gardening for Women she writes: ‘Although a sun-bonnet is very picturesque, it is hot and close, for it keeps off the air as well as the sun. The old-fashioned plan of putting cabbage leaves in the crown of the hat should not be despised, should the heat be felt very much.’

In matters of dress, Wolseley seems always to have had her students’ comfort in mind, rather than any romantic effect a somewhat softer appearance might have created when glimpsed among the sweet peas and roses!

The Glynde students fared far better than their counterparts at Waterperry Horticultural School, Oxfordshire. Beatrix Havergal (1901-80) founded the school with Avice Saunders (1869-1970) in 1927. Their hapless students would appear dressed in breeches, knee-high thick socks, an overall and an unfeminine jacket, all in a less than flattering shade of green. Havagal was certainly no fashion victim herself. Judging from her rather masculine appearance evident in photographs, she was not the kind of woman one would find wearing chic flapper frocks – in or out of the garden.

At the time of the First World War, the fact that women need no longer appear in corseted grandeur when gardening was even being promoted as one of the advantages of a horticultural career. A report entitled ‘The Work of Educated Women in Horticulture and Agriculture’ which appeared in The Journal of the Board of Agriculture in 1915 rather curiously stated the following concerning women engaged in outdoor work: ‘they get many of the necessities of life thrown in which in another class on the same income would be regarded as luxuries, such as fresh air, fresh eggs, butter, vegetables and milk and possibly a pony to drive, and they can wear old clothes.’ One certainly pities the members of the class who regarded fresh air and old clothes as ‘luxuries’.

The Great War saw the formation of the Women’s Land Army (WLA). With so many male agricultural workers fighting at the front, the sterling work of the WLA was needed to ensure that enough food was produced. Re-formed again during the Second World War, the WLA handbook then expressed concern not just with food production but also with matters of dress and propriety: ‘You are doing a man’s work so you are dressed rather like a man: but remember that just because you wear a smock and breeches you should take care to behave like an English girl who expects chivalry and respect from everyone she meets.’ A WLA girl could neither wear jewellery nor be seen to put her hands in her pockets.

Vita Sackville-West (1892 -1962) who wrote her propagandist The Women’s Land Army in 1944, seems happy to have adopted a WLA-style uniform of military jodhpurs and boots when gardening at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent. Although her rather aristocratic additions of silk blouse and pearls would certainly have been frowned upon by the authorities.

What then do women wear in the garden today? Well, like high street fashion, it seems that more or less anything goes as long as it is comfortable and practical. Gloves and shoes have always been vital equipment for gardeners, whether male or female. The modish gardener can now have warm, dry, comfortable feet that look good too as stylish French rubber ankle boots (rather endearing named after a spring flower) have replaced the boring black welly.

Gloves can be plain, poker-dot or, like my present pair, patterned with ladybirds. The garden apron is as useful for today’s gardener as it was for Louisa Johnson and Gertrude Jekyll. Choose from heavy duty cotton, suede, tweed or – for luxury and longevity – leather.

The once-ubiquitous waxed jacket is seen less today than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. High-performance, easy-to-wear synthetic fabrics, originally developed for intrepid scalers of mountain tops, can now be seen keeping gardeners warm and dry, while retaining maximum manoeuvrability: a far cry from the heavy tweeds of the ladies at Kew.

So from fine kid gloves and elegant straw hats, to stout aprons, bloomers, sharply cut jodhpurs and chic rubber boots, what women have worn in the garden during the last 150 years has reflected far more than mere changes in fashion. What might often have appeared as little more than modish frippery, actually expressed exactly what type of activity the appropriately dressed lady gardener intended to undertake: be that cutting flowers or digging trenches. Whereas the attire of male and female gardeners today is more or less interchangeable, as indeed, are their activities.

Finding that perfect gift for the gardener in your life can be hard work. Unless they’re a complete gardening novice, your gardening friend or loved one probably has quite a lot of the tools, clothes and seeds that they need. But shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, when it comes to finding the perfect gardening gifts we’ve done a significant amount of the work for you.

We’ve put together the below list of unusual, innovative, unique gifts for gardeners who have everything. But there should be gardening gift ideas to suit every level of garden knowledge, from people who you want to encourage into gardening, to those who are starting their journey, to those who are experts.

Behind the scenes at our gardening gift guide shoot

Our list is also a round up of gifts for garden lovers – they don’t have to be into digging and mulching, they can just love the outdoors, appreciate an excellent planting plan and be enthused by the wonders of botany.

These gardening gifts are a real mixture of things we’ve spotted from our favourite brands, but also gifts that surprised us and charmed us too. Some are for entertaining in the garden, some are for the nitty gritty garden tasks, some just have a gardening theme. We’re certain you’ll find the gifts you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for garden furniture, we’ve rounded up the best.

Jump to:

• Best gardening gifts for flower lovers
• Gardening gifts for indoor gardeners
• Best gardening gifts for young gardeners and families
• Gardening gifts for fruit and vegetable gardeners
• Best garden clothing gifts
• Gardening tool gifts
• Gardening days out and subscription gifts
• Unusual gardening gifts
• Botanical gardening gifts
• Garden lifestyle gifts
• Picnic, garden party and decorating gifts

You may also like

• Garden gifts for kids: Christmas presents
• Last minute Christmas gifts: gardening memberships and subscriptions
• Best flower subscription services
• Best hand cream for gardeners

Gardening gift ideas

Best gardening gifts for flower lovers

Fresh flower subscription

• Buy now from Bloom & Wild (from £19.58)

A flower subscription makes a wonderful gift and the regular deliveries bring joy again and again as the months go on. So, it’s a great choice if you know someone who loves to have a steady supply of fresh blooms in their home.

Bloom & Wild is one of the UK’s most popular flower subscription providers, delivering fresh bouquets in fully recyclable, letterbox-friendly packaging. Delivery prices vary between £19.58 and £26.66 per month, and you can choose a three-, six- or 12-month subscription, or an ongoing monthly order.

To browse alternative packages, check out our list of the UK’s top flower subscription services. Or, if your intended recipient is more of a plant-lover, why not take a look at our favourite plant delivery boxes?

• Buy now from Bloom & Wild (from £19.58)

Seed Tin

This seed tin is sure to help out a messy gardener who is in need of some organisation. 

The team here at Gardens Illustrated love the simple yet fun design of this seed tin from Suttons. There are internal compartments to help create a neat system so seeds are easy to find. It is made with powder-coated steel and we think it would look super perched on any window sill or greenhouse ledge. The handles also make it easy to carry when on the move. 

It is also available in dark grey and cream if you fancy selecting a different colour. 

Don’t miss our list of favourite seed boxes to buy. 

Gardening gifts for indoor gardeners

Plantsmith Houseplant gift set

• Buy now from Waitrose (£29.99)

Most of us have built up a healthy house plant obsession in recent years, and succulents, which were absolutely in vogue before 2020 hit, are still high on the houseplant list for many people. Even if your loved one is a seasoned gardener, we’d wager they probably don’t have something as stylish as this  house plant care set, which will help keep your plants looking and feeling healthy.

The set is designed to offer everything you need to keep your house plants alive, with all the essential nutrients they might need.  It’s a lovely and thoughtful gift from for the gardener who has everything.

• Buy now from Waitrose (£29.99)

Jute Rope Flowerpot

The perfect way to add a touch of style to large house plants in plastic pots, this jute pot is both flexible and sturdy. 

We love the rustic appearance of this handmade item and feel it would look gorgeous in a bright, sunny porch or even a corridor to help create a relaxing feel to the space. 

When it’s not filled with beautiful plants, it can be used as a storage basket – perhaps for vegetables or plant ties, twine and your bits and pieces –  so this is a handy gift any gardener could make use of. The handles mean it can be easily carried and moved from room to room. 

It is 28cm in width and height and best fits a 25cm flower pot. 

If you want a good list of eco plant pots, don’t miss our round up. 

Take a look at more great pot cover ideas here.

Indoor Herb Growing Kit

One of the best gifts for gardeners, especially those who don’t actually have much space outside. This zesty herb kit from Plant Theory comes with everything you need in order to grow your own herbs. The seeds and compost are organic and vegan and the kit is 100 per cent plastic free.

There are five classic cooking herbs in the kit, basil, chives, oregano, parsley and thyme, alongside biodegradable bamboo pots, wooden plant labels, vegan, peat free compost, a pencil, tweezer, jute bag and instructions. A whole series of gardening gifts in one, and even those gardeners who have everything will likely put these to good use.

Haws Copper Indoor and Seedling Watering Can

• Buy now from Harrod Horticultural (£55)

As attractive as it is useful, the Haws copper watering can would make a great gift for those who take great pride in caring for their beloved indoor plants. 

It is particularly suited for greenhouse use too, so it is a solid option for a friend who has lots of greenhouse seedlings to look after. The watering can can be polished to retain the sleek finish or if left alone, it will eventually turn green, giving it a more rustic look.  

It is 16cm in height and 36cm in length and can hold 1 litre of water.  

Check out our selection of the best watering cans for gardeners.

Terrarium Bottle and Extending Tool Set

Terrariums may be all the rage, but there’s a reason for that: they’re beautiful and easy to maintain too. If you know someone who’d be great at experimenting with growing their own this 5 litre glass bottle terrarium is an excellent place to start.

There’s a telescopic shovel and rake for you to help adjust your curated ecosystem, but note: this gardening gift doesn’t come with the soil, pebbles or plants themselves. Those will need to be sourced separately. For tips on how to plant a terrarium, head to our guide.

Gold mister plant set

• Buy now from John Lewis (£37)

A stylish and functional mister made from stainless steel and complete with an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to look after your plants. The mister holds 300 ml of water and is 15 cm high. This bundle comes with a nifty plant and pot that will make the entire set look very fetching on your windowsill.

Find more cleverly designed gear in our guide to the best ergonomic garden tools you can buy online.

• Buy now from John Lewis (£37)

Best gardening gifts for young gardeners and families

Bee Brick

If you’re stumped for gardening gift ideas, this Bee Brick would make a fail-safe choice. Designed by Green and Blue in Cornwall, the Bee Brick is an innovative concrete block, created to support the declining bee population. The concrete brick can be left as a freestanding bee home in the garden or it can be built into a wall for an integrated look.

The bee bricks contain cavities for solitary bees to lay their eggs in safety; their offspring emerge the following spring and the cycle begins again. It’s an eco-friendly gift that would be perfect for a sustainable gardener or a bee-lover.

The bee brick comes with high praise too; it won the Soil Association’s 2014 Innovation Award, sponsored by the Duchy Future Farming Programme.

Looking for bee hives? We’d recommend these.

Tree Vision: Know Your Trees in 30 Cards by Tony Kirkham and Holly Exley

If you’re looking for gifts for young gardeners or just gardeners wanting to know more about trees, look no further. Both a gardening gift and an educational gift, the card game format will help players learn about a tree’s leaves, seeds, flowers and more in an accessible and fun way. Ash, beech, birch, cedar, hornbeam, juniper, lime, maple, oak, pine, spruce, sycamore, yew are just a few examples of trees that players will soon be able to recognise in a flash!

Each card is beautifully illustrated by Holly Exley and the text is written by Tony Kirkham, former Head of Arboretum, Gardens and Horticulture Services at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, so you can rest assured that you’ll be learning from an expert.

Here’s our guide on how to identify oaks.

The Botanist’s Sticker Anthology

Gardening is one of the most mindful activities you can do, but over the winter we have to find other activities to keep us busy. If you’re looking for a gift for a busy gardener, a young gardener, or just an arty, nature lover, this sticker anthology should tick your box. Mindful and pleasing on the eye, this sticker anthology is packed full of vintage, intricate botanical drawings; including flowers, ferns, exotic plants and fungi.

Perfect for scrapbook lovers, or gardeners in need of some plant escapism during the colder months, this is a gardening gift that brings nearly as much joy and mindfulness from the act of gardening itself.

Find more outdoor-inspired presents in our edit of the best gardening gifts for kids.

Beeswax Wrap DIY Kits

These DIY Beeswax wraps are a great, eco-friendly alternative to plastic wraps for food that will keep your produce fresh in a natural way.

A great feature of these wraps is that they are reusable. This would make a fantastic gift for an eco-conscious friend who is actively trying to reduce their plastic consumption.

The kit contains a set of detailed instructions, three organic cotton fabric squares, two pieces of baking paper, three beeswax blend bars – made with pine resin and organic jojoba oil – and a fairtrade canvas tea towel. To make the wraps, you’ll need an iron.

Looking to make them literally from scratch? Here’s our guide on how to make beeswax wraps. 

A Bee Grow Bar

• Buy now from Waterstones (£12.99)

No, this isn’t something to help your grow bees, instead it’s the gardening gift for people who care about wildlife but aren’t expert gardeners. Grow Bars makes planting extra easy and curates a series of seeds around themes. This one is catered for making bees happy – and who doesn’t like doing that?

All you do is put the bar in a container, keep it watered and place in a sunny position and eventually the seeds should start to germinate. Once they’ve grown up a bit, you can plant them around the garden. Easy.

The seeds include hyssop, verbena and lavender. A perfect gift for garden lovers and an unusual gardening gift too.

We also love these seed bombs. 

Gardening gifts for fruit and vegetable gardeners

Garden Bag

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£15)

For those who prefer not to use a traditional garden trug to carry their garden goods, this altogether more rugged canvas bag is a perfect alternative. 

Whatever needs to be carried from the garden into the house – vegetables, fruit, bulbs or even a leftover coffee cup –  this handy khaki bag is sure to help. It would also make a nifty storage bag that could live in a shed or a greenhouse. 

The khaki bag is made with waterproof canvas and has a capacity of 15 litres. 

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£15)

You can help your loved ones have a more comfortable time in the garden with this delightful kneeler from Burgon and Ball’s RHS Flora & Fauna collection.  

Spending hours at a time weeding and planting can be tough on knees, so this kneeling pad – which is made with memory foam technology – would be a perfect gift for those looking for a bit of extra support. 

It also prevents gardeners from ruining their favourite jeans so it’s a pretty useful item to have.  

Thanks to the cut-out handle, the pad is easy to carry and after a long day’s work, it can hang up in the shed for easy storage.  

You’ll find more garden kneeler recommendations in our list of the best garden kneelers.

Rob Smith Heritage Veg Selection

Begone plastic novelty gifts, here’s a gardening gift that connects your loved one directly with the earth. The perfect gardening gift for either a person new to gardening or a pro, this veg collection offers a host of seeds for planting in the coming year, something lovely and very, very tasty, to look forward to.

This gardening gift includes bean seeds, cucumber seeds, pea seeds and squash seeds, the heritage veg harks back to more traditional garden growing times: don’t expect any of these newfangled cucamelons. As such, the selection is bound to excite the gardener or garden lover in your life and what’s more, they aren’t difficult to grow either.

Here’s more on where to buy seeds online.

Apple Tree

Give the gardening gift of a lifetime this season, with this apple bramleys seedling – the ultimate English cooking apple. This particular version Is on dwarf rootstock, which means it’s the perfect gardening gift for smaller gardens.

Autumn and winter are the perfect seasons to plant a tree, something that we should all be doing much, much more of in order to support the wildlife and local eco system. These apples can be harvested from October, and ideally you’d grow this tree near another apple tree, as it isn’t a self pollinator.

We’d class this as one of the of garden gifts which is good for the gardener in your life, but also nature, birds and bees too. Plus you could also be on the receiving end of some very tasty apple pie. This apple tree needs to be planted in a sunny border in well drained soil. For more on how to plant a tree, head to our guide.

Sussex Garden Trug

This handcrafted trug is perfect for those of your gardening friends who enjoy spending an afternoon picking delicious fruit and vegetables. 

It is made with naturally rot-resistant birch aircraft ply wood in a gorgeous colour and is durable enough to guarantee long lifespan and years of good looks. 

It measures 53cm long, by 28cm wide so it’s ideal for longer produce such as leeks and asparagus… Or anything that want to look great in your new garden trug.

Ceramic Plant Labels Set of five

For gardeners who are well into their herb growing, these little labels are a thoughtful and handy present. 

These ceramic plant labels allow herb growers to organise their produce so they know exactly what they have planted and where. 

There are five sticks in the pack and you can either get them pre marked or ask for your own. 

Looking for more plant labels? We love these. 

And take a look at our favourite seed suppliers.

Gardening days out and subscription gifts

Gardens Illustrated Magazine Subscription

• Buy now from Gardens Illustrated and Save 50% on a subscription

An absolutely necessary gift for the intrepid gardener, a year’s subscription to Gardens Illustrated will be absolutely worth you while. Yes, we’re biased, but we are confident that gardener in your life will love the mixture of beautiful photography, inspiring gardens, practical advice and plant expertise. Make sure they never miss a copy by getting it delivered direct to their door each month.

What’s more there’s always a fabulous offer or two available and you can save up to 50% on a subscription in our Christmas offer.

National Trust Membership

• Buy now from National Trust (adult membership £76.80)

2020 was, to put it mildly, a tumultuous year. But one of the key things many people took away from the last few month was a greater appreciation of nature, open spaces, trees and greenery. What better way to continue the connection than by investing in a membership for the National Trust, which does vital nature management work up and down the country and conserves historic, fascinating buildings and gardens for the country.

The charity, as with many charities, suffered during lockdown, having to content with decreased visitor numbers, so supporting the organisation goes some way to helping with that.

Become an RHS Member

• Buy now from RHS (from £71)

The vital work the Royal Horticultural Society does throughout the UK is a huge part of the country’s world-beating reputation in horticulture and gardens. There are four RHS gardens, soon to be a fifth, alongside 218 RHS partner gardens, all of which have something unique and exciting to offer.As the world continues to change and understanding about nature, wildlife, the earth and growing becomes vital to all of us, the RHS stands as a place for experimentation, research and education.

If you buy a gift membership before the 24th December, you will receive a £15 voucher to spend at RHS Garden Centres.

Looking for more garden subscriptions? 

Best garden clothing gifts

 

Canvas Garden Apron, Khaki

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£28)

 

 

If your friend spends most of their time in the garden, often with damp soil on their jeans and hand wipe marks on their top, this khaki canvas apron from Garden Trading is the perfect gift for them.

Designed to ensure that their clothes will stay clean underneath, ready for a full day of gardening, the apron is a practical piece of kit. The waist strap is long enough to tie at the front of the apron for an even better and closer fit. In addition to this, there is a handy front pocket for keeping gardening tools close to hand. 

Our list of the best garden aprons will also provide you with more potential options.

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£28)

Birkenstock Schuhe Super-Birki Clog

Available in a range of colours and sizes, the versatile Super-Birki can be worn by anyone and everyone. Made from dirt-resistant polyurethane, with a fabric footbed lining and non-slip sole, these are both practical and durable. The super-resilient shoe can actually be washed at up to 60C.

Plus, the removable, cork-latex footbed can be removed and popped in the washing machine. A practical addition to keep by your door or in your allotment or greenhouse for sliding on and off.

Take a look at the best boot scrapers for clean hallways and wellies!

For more garden footwear recommendations see our list of the best gardening shoes.

Evercreatures Raspnavy Tall Wellies

A top pair of wellies are an essential piece of garden gear. 

The unembellished yet attractive design makes these boots from Evercreatures easy to wear with a range of different items, whether it’s a mucky pair of overalls or a nice pair of jeans. As well as running along the bottom of the boot, the red raspberry stripe can be found at the back too. 

For a very reasonable price, these reliable wellington boots are a practical gift that your outdoor loving friend is likely to make great use of. 

Here’s our list of the best wellies to buy.

Burgon & Ball Tweed Gardening Gloves, Medium Grey

Great for protecting every gardener’s most valuable tools, these stylish gloves will not only keep busy hands safe when working in the garden but also warm during the colder months. The gloves have an adjustable strap allowing for maximum comfort and are recommended for people with medium-sized hands. The strap itself is a rip-tape fastener so the wearer will be able to tighten or loosen the gloves with ease.

They feature some padded protection with a soft felt liner in the palms and fingers which won’t stiffen when the gloves are dried. There is also a breathable mesh that will ensure that fingers are kept cool with improved mobility.

For more stylish handwear visit our list of the best gardening gloves.

Boot Socks

These stylish Merino wool boot socks from HJ Hall are the perfect gift when paired with walking boots for countryside strolls and dog walks for any nature lover.

With 135 years in the industry you know that you’re in good hands (or socks!) with HJ Hall’s products. Merino wool is known for its ability to help regulate body temperature making these fashionable socks an appealing choice that should keep your feet comfortable, warm and dry. The socks also come with a six month guarantee.

Belstaff jacket

Made for adventurers, Belstaff products are designed to stand the test of time. Although they were originally intended for use with motorsports when the brand launched in 1924, they’ve since found fans across the world. Che Guevara, Amelia Earhart and David Beckham have all owned Belstaff jackets. And Steve McQueen wore one in The Great Escape. 

The Trialmaster has been around since 1948 and is Belstaff’s ‘definitive’ jacket. With its waxed navy cotton, checked twill lining and brushed corduroy linings at the collar, cuffs and hem, it’s a smart choice. 

Don’t miss our round up of the best garden jackets for women and the best jackets for men.

Statement Donegal Jumper, oatmeal

• Buy now from John Lewis (£112)

An 100 per cent wool jacket will keep you warm when you’re working in the cold outside and make you feel 100 per cent better about yourself. This chic, traditional style jumper is like a lovely, warm cup of cocoa and you’ll love it every time you put it on. We’d recommend for days in or for working in the garden too.

• Buy now from John Lewis (£112)

Rab down jacket

Warm yet lightweight, down jackets are becoming more and more popular, and a Rab version is a great choice if you’re looking for a slightly higher-end option. Founded by climber Rab Carrington, who started out making technical sleeping bags designed to withstand the icy conditions on mountains, the brand specialises in cold-weather gear.

This lightweight Rab jacket is the one to buy for easy storage as it comes with a convenient stuff sack, which you can clip to a larger bag. It’s filled with recycled, hydrophobic down and has three pockets and a stiffened peak on the hood. 

For more great men’s gardening jackets take a look here.

Gardening tool gifts

Fallen Fruits copper plated trowel

• Buy now from Farrar and Tanner (£14)

A garden trowel that’s brilliantly stylish as well as being very high quality. This copper plated trowel includes a leather loop for storage and measurements on the blade to make sure you’re planting at the right depth. You can use it for removing weeds as well as planting and if you want, you can get it engraved with your loved one’s name to make it an extra special present.

The perfect gift for a gardener that’s also lovely to look at.

Here is our round up of the best trowels for the garden. 

Copper plated dibber

• Buy now from Farrar and Tanner (£14) or The Worm that Turned (£16.95)

A dibber is a must for any dedicated gardener. Essentially a little stick that you push into the ground to make a hole, a dibber is perfect for planting seeds, seedlings and also small bulbs. This smart, copper-plated version has a lovely look to it and a handy leather strap from which to hang it. It also goes very well with the copper plated trowel, seen above.

• Buy now from Farrar and Tanner (£14) or The Worm that Turned (£16.95)

Copper plated row marker

• Buy now from Farrar and Tannar (£16) or The Worm that Turned (£18.95)

Complete the set with this lovely copper plated row marker. If you’re planning any kind of garden, be it vegetable or flower patch, knowing you’re planting in a straight line can be very helpful. That’s where this row marker comes in. Use natural twine to mark out the space between planting on your seed beds so you’re giving your plants enough space and everything grows in the right spot.

• Buy now from Farrar and Tannar (£16) or The Worm that Turned (£18.95)

Niwaki 4′ Tripod Ladder

• Buy now from Niwaki (from £259.00),  Harrod Horticultural (£309.99)

Tripod ladders are a garden essential, allowing you to get up close and personal with your subject for pruning, sculpting, crop picking and more. The third – front – leg negates the need to prop the ladder against anything so you can place them anywhere without requiring something firm (and bruiseable) to lean against. Niwaki have been bringing their Japanese gardening know-how to bear globally since 1997 – the tripod ladder being their first product to market, so they’re truly kings in this court!

Available in nine sizes from 4 feet to 15 feet high, there’s something for every purpose, being built-to-last from tough and sturdy (yet light and portable) aluminium.

Here’s our round up of the best garden ladders.

Niwaki Tool Roll

Niwaki tools are some of the best in the business and we’d recommend this as a gardening gift for the gardener who has everything. It’s a handy tool roll, with five lined pockets for all your essential tools. Made from weatherproof canvas, you could fit anything in it from pruners to cutlery for picnics. The linings are for the sharp items, so you won’t cut through to your clothes and it wraps easily and neatly round the waist for ease of transportation. A perfect gardening gift.

Garden scissors

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£22) and Ebay (£24)

These stainless steel gardening scissors look beautiful and are perfectly sized for simple jobs. Use them to cut flowers, prune, snip off dead stalks: have them near when you’re in the garden at all times.

These snips take their inspiration from Japanese bonsai scissors, which have precise cuts. These come in stainless steel and have a polished brass finish and come in a handwoven bamboo bag. They could be the perfect quirky garden gift for your loved one.

Here are a few more ideas for great pruners. 

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£22) and Ebay (£24)

Niwaki Rattan Kiridashi Knife

• Buy now from Niwaki (£79)

This is a hand forged blue carbon steel blade, that has a handle hand wrapped in wisteria rattan. Niwaki are the best in the business when it comes to specialist garden tools, and their designs are a pleasure to use.

This is a comfortable knife, that comes complete with a leather pocket sheath. It’s the sort of knife you can use for the kitchen, garden, craft jobs and more. It is an incredibly sharp knife, but also, because of the nature of the way it is forged and the material it is made from, quite brittle. So not for use on heavy handed jobs.

Don’t miss our round up of the best pocket knives for the garden. 

Shuro brush

• Buy now from Amazon (£9.60) and and Niwaki (£9)

This small but very very fetching hand broom is a perfect addition to a carefully thought through cleaning cupboard. The brush is made from palm fibres of Trachycarpus fortunei and bound together with copper wire. It’s the perfect tool for delicate jobs such as sweeping up around a bonsai or in corners of terraces and patios.

• Buy now from Amazon (£9.60) and and Niwaki (£9)

Unusual gardening gifts

Sprout Pencils

If you’re looking for an unusual gardening gift that they won’t expect, these plantable graphite pencils from Sprout are a great gift idea.

Once the pencils are worn and too short to use, you plant them upside down in soil and wait for them to grow. The pencils can grow into luscious flowers, fragrant herbs and even fresh vegetables.

They are made from sustainable and certified wood and are 100 per cent natural and non-toxic. This packet of eight pencils features a range of seeds, with each pencil indicating what plant it will grow. A brilliant and unusual gift for the gardener who has everything.

The Urban Forager: Find and Cook Wild Food in the City by Wross Lawrence

Another cool title from Hoxton Mini Press who publish great little books packed with class and style. The Urban Forager tackles the intriguing and enlightening subject of city foraging. If you know any urban gardeners who love nothing more than a day on the veg patch, this would make the perfect garden gift for them. Writer Wross Lawrence, a professional forager, supplies 32 vegetarian recipes, all using ingredients sourced from the city streets and green spaces. Cherry blossom shortbread or nettle ravioli anyone?

With more and more people turning to vegetarian and vegan diets due to the worries surrounding climate change, this is a timely book that would interest many an eco-savvy gardener, or help to reconnect an urban dweller to nature. Don’t forget our list of the best gardening books for more great reads.

For a practical gift, take a look at the best boot scrapers.

Emma Bridgewater Ladybird Mug

If you know of someone in need of a new favourite garden mug, this cute option from Emma Bridgewater could be a winner.

 It is made from earthenware so it’s suitable for everyday use and it is also dishwasher safe. Holding half a pint, it’s a great option for when you want a big cuppa to take outside. 

The sweet and delicate ladybird paintings make this mug a top choice when having a spot of tea and cake in the sunshine. 

Looking for more mug inspiration? Don’t miss our garden cup round up. 

Great Trees of London Map by Blue Crow Media

We are slowly understanding more and more about the wonders of trees; Judi Dench’s documentary My Passion for Trees and Richard Powers’s book The Overstory are just two recent examples which have contributed to society’s rediscovered fascination for them. If you know a tree-lover, this specialist tree map would make a fab gift choice for them. It focuses on 50 trees throughout our nation’s capital, from magnificent English oaks to delicate cherry trees.

Each tree has a description from Paul Wood, the founder of the Urban Tree Festival and Tree Talk. The map is printed on recycled paper and comes with a protective band, helpful for when you are carrying it out and about.

Don’t miss our round up of the best books about gardening. 

An Opinionated Guide to London Green Spaces by Harry Ades and Marco Kesseler

Did you know that half of the area of London is made up of green spaces? With a staggering 3,000 parks, London is one of the greenest cities on the planet. In this beautifully photographed book, Harry Ades breaks down the city’s top 50 hot spots when it comes to natural, green areas. Urban parks, canals, woodlands and stately gardens are just a few examples of what London has to offer.

This aesthetically pleasing and informative book would make a fab gift for style-savvy urban gardeners or for those wanting to discover more about city gardens and beneficial public green spaces.

The Almanac: a Seasonal Guide to 2023

Now in its fifth edition Lia Leendertz’ annual Almanac is a must-have for anyone who spends their time out in the open working through the seasons.  We’d absolutely recommend Lia Leendertz’ Almanac, which compiles all sorts of interesting lore and tales of the natural world, as well as the moon’s phases, tide timetables, sun rises, seasonal recipes and gardening tips. A perfect Christmas gift for the thoughtful, discerning, smart gardener.

Behind the scenes at our gardening gift guide shoot

Kikkerland Shovel Bottle Opener

Perhaps a gift for the gardener in your life who likes to round off a hard day’s work outside with a refreshing drink. A subtly themed and beautifully designed item which could also be classed as an essential tool.

With a copper plated finish, this is 17.4 cm in length and is part of John Lewis’ smart copper’ series. A great novelty gift for a gardener.

Gardener’s leather journal

This beautiful brown leather covered journal is the perfect garden journal for the gardener in your life. Protected from the weather and muddy feet and paws by its lovely brown cover, inside are 60 pages of plain white craft paper that can be used as you might wish. Sketches? Weather recording? Planting plans? This journal offers everything you might need from a garden journal.

It’s the perfect garden gift for those sorts of gardeners who like to think and plan and will be a cherished item for years to come. Who doesn’t enjoy looking back over their journals at what they had been up to in the past?

There is chestnut and walnut browns available in the series, plus there’s a journal size which is w15cm x h19cm and a sketchbook size, which is w19.5cm x h23cm.

Want more garden journals? Here is our list. 

Botanical gardening gifts

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

We tasted this gin as part of our quest to discover the best gin with botanicals (the results of which you can see here). It’s called Monkey 47 because there are a whopping 47 botanicals listed, including lingonberries, locally sourced near the distillery in the Black Forest.

It has a gorgeous nose and a bottle that we love – think apothecary aesthetic and there’s a great story behind the company, which was originally started by British RAF officer Montgomery Collins who was posted to Germany after the second world war and stayed for good.

Seedlip Drinks

Seedlip has been busy in the garden developing a new range of non-alcoholic spirits inspired by botanicals. The spirit garden option is infused with the taste of hand picked peas and homegrown hay and will likely transport you to the countryside at first sip. Other flavours include citrus grove, spice and the drinks are sugar and sweeteners free, calorie free, without allergens, artificial colours or flavours.

These could be a tasty, refreshing gift for a thirsty gardener who wants a drink but doesn’t want to be distracted from the job in hand. Perfect for serving while entertaining in the garden.

Looking for more botanical drinks? Here’s our list of the best botanical gins. 

Epicurean Herb Melamine Picnic Rectangular Serving Platter

• Buy now from Wayfair (£14.99)

This serving platter does a grand job of holding tasty treats for hardworking gardeners in need of a break.

You’ll find dill, parsley and thyme printed on this rectangular tray so it’s another item on our list for the herb growers in your life. It is made with shatter-resistant melamine so it’s appropriate for outdoor use and it’s also dishwasher safe. 

Whether it’s for a picnic or a party platter, this is a gardening gift that is sure to be used. 

Garden lifestyle gifts

Kilburn and Scott Wool throw

To prevent an outdoor party from being cut short, it’s always a good idea to have a cosy blanket close by. 

This woven throw from John Lewis is a beautiful addition and although it can’t be put in the washing machine, its natural fibres will make it a robust addition to your picnic plans.  Whatever the deco, this pink number would look fabulous in any garden. 

Drape it over an outdoor sofa or day bed for extra cosiness or take it inside to add a fun splash of mustard and brighten up a room. 

Here are lots more blankets we love. 

Lion wall mounted feature

• Buy now from Cox and Cox (£97.50)

This neo-classical eye-catcher is a great addition to anyone’s garden, whether it be big or small. A water feature is always a must, with the sound and motion of the fountain guaranteed to set of beautiful corners of your space and make them feel bigger and calmer. We love this lion-design, which harks to grandeur but can be presented with chic style and subtlety. There’s also LED lights atop the lion’s head so this is a perfect feature for night or day.

• Buy now from Cox and Cox (£97.50)

Gardener Man Illustration

• Buy now from Etsy (£18)

A beautiful and unique illustration, hand drawn digitally using an iPad Pro by artist Emily Lou Holmes, her print ‘Gardener Man’ is a wonderful piece of art that will make a brilliant gift for a gardener who already has everything.

The illustration print is available in sizes A2 and A3, but also as a greeting card and can be gift wrapped if desired.

It is part of a series of illustrations by the artist where she found inspiration from British gardeners and lovers of the outdoors. We think that it’s a lovely piece or art that would make a brilliant gift for any passionate gardener. There is also a female version of the print called ‘Gardener Woman’ available to shop on Etsy.

• Buy now from Etsy (£18)

Barrington Fire Pit

The Barrington Fire Pit from Garden Trading is formed in raw metal and is available in two sizes. Intended for use with logs only, the Barrington’s exterior is curved, creating an attractive and contemporary design. Similar to other fire pits left exposed to the elements, this model will naturally age and become rusted over time.

Dome Gozney oven and stand

• Buy now from Gozney (Dome oven £17,99 and stand £289)

A beautifully designed professional grade outdoor wood-fired oven, the Dome works for beginners for open air cooking and for professional chefs. You can roast, stem or bake with this oven and although wood fuel is recommended for taste, there is the option of a built in gas burner. It comes complete with a digital thermometer, excellent heat retention and a weather resistant outdoor shield that will protect it from whatever mother nature throws at it.

• Buy now from Gozney (Dome oven £17,99 and stand £289)

Trancoso beach bat set

• Buy now from Frescobol Carioca (£245)

One of the things we love best about this bat set – perfect for beach or garden games – is that for every bat sold, a tree will be planted. This bat is made from five pieces of sustainably sourced Brazilian wood offcuts and heat stamped. It is coated in natural waterproof and sand-resistant resin and comes with balls to boot. This is a bat set that will last you a lifetime and beyond.

• Buy now from Frescobol Carioca (£245)

Lexon Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

A wireless Bluetooth speaker may not seem like an obvious choice when it comes to gifts for gardeners, but these handy gadgets are a joy for those working outside for long periods, wanting to listen to music or a podcast hands free and without the faff of earphones or headphones.

When the weather is warmer, they’re also a great accessory for garden parties and entertaining in the garden. This particular Bluetooth speaker has a battery life of three hours, and takes only an hour to charge. Simply stream your music, podcast, audiobook or radio station via your smartphone or tablet.

Find more fun tech in our guide to the best smart garden products and the best garden gadgets for a quick upgrade.

Check out our handy gift guide for outdoor entertaining too.

St Ives Harbour Outdoor Pendant Light

An outdoor light is a much needed item when your garden dinner party continues late into the night. 

This pendant is weatherproof but can also be used inside. There is a 2.5m cable which can be adjusted so you can hang the light at the height of your choice, making it suitable for a variety of spaces. It could be used as a reading light over a comfortable chair, or it could hang over a table for al-fresco entertainment. 

It is worth noting that the light needs to be wired in and it is recommended that you use the help of a qualified electrician.

Here’s our list of the best outdoor lights.

Picnic, garden party and decorating gifts

Corkcicle X Rifle Paper Co Canteen

Flasks are an essential item for gardeners; they keep us cool and hydrated in the summer and warm in the winter. This water bottle is a great gift for gardeners as it does two jobs in one: it keeps cold drinks cold for up to 25 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours. 

Better yet, it has been beautifully designed by American stationery company Rifle Paper Co., known for its striking floral designs, and Corkcicle, a clever brand creating innovative barware and sustainable drinking vessels.

A practical and pretty gift, this would be a welcome addition to a gardener’s essential kit.

Each stainless steel bottle takes up to 16 oz. 

Looking for more picnic ideas?

Matchbox Seat Pads

• Buy now from Graham & Green (£35)

Garden seating doesn’t have to be dull. And thanks to these bright, retro-inspired cushions, you can really liven up dark or outdated garden furniture. If you know a gardener who loves to entertain, these would be an ideal gift for them.

Taking inspiration from retro matchboxes, these handmade cushions come in a range of quirky designs including lovebirds, parrots and cockerels – a great gift for gardeners and for nature lovers alike. The pads can be used both indoor and out too, making them a great transitional item.

Each seat pad measures 5cm in height, 40cm in width and 40cm in depth.

And take a look at our favourite selection of garden seating here.

Eucalyptus & Laurel Wreath

• Buy now from Lights4Fun (£39.99)

Bring the outdoors in with this stunning fabric work of art from decoration experts Lights4Fun. The soft fabric leaves are amazingly life-like, giving the appearance of freshly picked Eucalyptus and Laurel, while the delicate linen bow adds a stylish decorative finish. Give your guests a festive welcome by hanging the wreath on your door, or it could be hung on your wall, or even lain flat on the dinner table as a striking centrepiece.

This botanical wreath would also make a wonderful garden-themed gift which loved ones can bring out year after year, without having to worry about any unhappy, crispy leaves!

The wreath measures 50cm in diameter.

And learn how to make your own garden wreath here.

Kikkerland Ivy String Lights

A great addition to brighten up any outdoor or indoor area, these remote controlled ivy-inspired string lights by Kikkerland will add a gorgeous level of comforting light to any room or outdoors area at home. Guaranteed to make rooms feel cosier in the evenings and less up-keep than real ivy!

The lights are 10 feet long and features eight different animation settings that you’re able to toggle between using the remote control provided. Batteries are also included for the remote control when you buy the string lights and all is required is a USB port to plug the lights into.

Don’t miss our picks of the best string lights for gardens. 

Don’t miss our Christmas hub page for gift and decoration ideas.

“If we increase our carbon levels in the soil by 0.4 per cent we substantially reduce greenhouse gases,” says Henrietta Courtauld. One way of doing this is by making excellent compost. In this optimum environment, microbes work with plants to sequester carbon underground, with the aid of air and water.

Pulling more carbon out of the air and into the ground can be as simple as improving a plant’s rate of photosynthesis. A healthy plant is supported around its roots by vast communities of microbes and fungi, which feed the plant with minerals in exchange for a photosynthesis by-product, carbon sugars. It pays to optimise this natural coexistence; the more efficiently the micro-organisms are working, the more carbon will be taken out of the atmosphere and sequestered into the ground.

Adding homemade compost or sowing green manures over exposed ground helps the soil to retain carbon. Weeds also protect soil and add diversity, both above and below ground. Monocultures encourage pathogens: even with a lawn, soil health will be improved by spreading compost over it and allowing for clover and daisies. Mowing less frequently and allowing grass to grow longer will encourage deeper root systems, supporting richer microbial life while aiding water retention.

How to improve soil health

How to create good compost and soil health

• Add water to each layer of carbon (such as straw, cardboard) and nitrogen (garden or kitchen waste).
• Include 10 per cent clay and a biodynamic preparation (they use 507 Valerian Prep) or 10 per cent existing compost, as an activator. Turn the pile, then again over several days when a thermometre is thrust into the heap and reads between 59F and 65F.
• Cover with a breathable membrane. Compost is ready in six-eight weeks.

You may also like

• The Land Gardeners Arts and Crafts garden around Wardington Manor
• What is soil and how can gardeners improve it?
• How to reduce plastic garden waste

How to encourage soil microbes

What are soil microbes?

Microbes are never far from The Land Gardeners’ thoughts. “The soil acts as the stomach of a plant,” says Henrietta. “The roots go down into the soil and release sugar for the microbes. They in turn take minerals from the soil and exchange them, in a plant-available form.” In other words, microbially rich soil produces plants of amazing vitality. “We need to look after the creatures underneath the ground as much as those above,” says Bridget. “We are almost farming those microbes.”

Tips for happy soil microbes

Avoid digging

Aeration and hydration are important in keeping the microbes (as well as all the other symbiotic organisms, including fungi about which we know surprisingly little) happy, so digging, except in extreme cases of compaction, is avoided.

Use a broad fork instead

They use a broad fork which lifts the soil. “Normally we layer compost on the soil, which we might have broad-forked, just to aerate it,” says Bridget. “We’re not turning the soil. We plant the width of the broad fork, with small paths in between for walking on.”

Cover the ground with green manures

When a crop is harvested, green manures cover the ground. Henrietta: “We are covering the soil all the time. We dig the green manure in before it flowers but sometimes we leave it because it’s too irresistible – and bees love it.”

In processing their own green waste and digging deeper into the physics of compost, it has become clear that soil health should be vital to the planet’s health. “We don’t need more carbon in the atmosphere but we really need it in the soil,” says Henrietta. “Years of ploughing have released it upwards.” Carbon is naturally taken out of the air through photosynthesis but compost-making can add hugely to a ‘carbon sink’ effect through careful preparation on a domestic or grand scale. The Land Gardeners call their own version, manufactured with the aid of a neighbouring farm, Climate Compost.

Soil is a business for The Land Gardeners. In the same way, the garden at Wardington is a business, which is why they are reluctant to disappoint garden groups looking for perfection. Weeds are allowed to increase biodiversity above the ground and among the micro-organisms below the ground.  As Bridget says, quoting environmental economist Dieter Helm: “Where there’s mess, there’s life.”