You know the feeling. You need to buy an affordable gift for a gardener, but you’re not sure where to start. I put together a list of 20 gardening gift ideas under $50.
Some of these items are practical for everyday use, while others are fun items that can be used for decoration. Either way, there should be something for everyone, so check them out!
The Complete Guide To Growing Potatoes
A complete reference and an ultimate guide that teaches you everything you need to know about potato selection, planting, care, harvest, and storage.
20 Best Gardening Gift Ideas under $50
You can find of each of these gifts for under $50. I’ll provide links to some examples.
The main purpose of this list is to offer you some ideas & inspiration for gifts, even if you choose to spend more or make your own gifts from scratch.
To make it easier to look through the list, I separated the gifts into these 6 categories:
- Seed Starting
- Garden Tools & Equipment (Gardening Gear)
- Education & Knowledge
- Food Preservation
- Indoor Gifts
- Garden Decorations
Let’s start at the beginning, with seeds and everything you need to help them grow.
Seed Starting
New and seasoned gardeners alike may want to start some seeds indoors before the outdoor growing season starts. These gifts will help them to get an early start and stay ahead of the cold weather, especially in places where the growing season is short.
1. Seeds
Seeds are the most vital part of a garden. With no seeds, there will be no plants, no matter how rich the soil or how hard you work.
Vegetable seeds are a great choice for a beginner gardener who wants to start growing his own food. Some garden vegetable favorites include:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Onions
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Peas
- Green Beans
Many of the seed packets at Johnny’s Selected Seeds are under $5 each, so you could put together a package of 10 vegetables for under $50. (Just remember to account for shipping charges!)
You can also give the gift of flower seeds to make a beautiful and inviting yard. Some flower favorites include:
- Pansies
- Tulips
- Sunflowers
- Lilies
- Violets
- Orchids
You can find seeds online or at a local retailer. Seeds vary in how long they last (that is, how long until most of the seeds will fail to germinate).
However, most seeds will remain viable for at least a year. For more information, check out my article on how long seeds last.
I don’t know any gardeners who would be disappointed with a gift of seeds, so this one is a no-brainer!
2. Seed Trays
A seed tray is pretty simple, and it’s just what it sounds like. It is a tray that holds soil or potting mix, which you then use for planting seeds for germination.
You can use it as a beginner or advanced gardener, but larger seed trays are probably only useful for a bigger garden (more than a couple dozen plants of the same type).
Seed trays make it much easier for a gardener to start seeds indoors. Instead of using a mix of different-sized scavenged containers (I am guilty of this!), you can just use a single seed tray to hold dozens of seeds.
For example, here is a seed tray from the Greenhouse Megastore website.
If you prefer, you can find seed trays that have individual cells for each seed. This keeps plant roots from getting tangled together, making it easy to transplant them later.
A seed tray with separate cells also prevents the spread of disease between plants. As long as you clean it out between uses, a seed tray can be reused for many years.
You can find an example of seed trays with separate cells at the Greenhouse Megastore.
If your gardener is truly green, he might want biodegradable seed trays, which are also available.
A combination of a seed tray and seeds can make a great combo gift for a beginning gardener.
If you aren’t sure what kind of seed tray to buy, you can’t go wrong with a standard 1020 seed tray. You can learn more about 1020 seed trays in my article here.
3. Humidity Dome
A humidity dome is a plastic cover used on top of a seed tray to hold moisture in the air and soil. A humidity dome will make indoor seed starting more successful for a gardener.
When choosing a humidity dome, find one that fits the seed tray it will be used with. For example, this humidity dome from the Greenhouse Megastore fits a standard 1020 seed tray.
Some seed trays (including the one above) come with vents. You can open the vents to cool down the air inside if it gets too hot, without letting all of the heat escape.
You can learn more about humidity domes in my article here.
4. Grow Lights
When starting seeds indoors, a lack of sunlight can present a problem, especially in a basement. However, a grow light can solve the problem for you.
A grow light replaces energy from the sun and helps young seedlings to grow indoors when there is still a danger of frost outside. Some grow lights can also keep your plants warmer if necessary.
You can find energy efficient models, such as LED grow lights.
You can also find grow lights that come with a timer. This makes it easy to turn the lights on and off at the right times to save energy and give plants just enough light.
This is a great gift for a gardener in a cold northern climate. A grow light makes it easier to start seeds indoors to extend the growing season.
For example, this 2 foot grow light from Home Depot has 2 LED bulbs (19-Watt). You can link up as many as 8 of these lights together for a larger indoor growing setup!
Garden Tools & Equipment (Gardening Gear)
Some of this equipment is vital for gardening. Others make gardening a much easier and more pleasant hobby.
5. Kneeler (Knee Saver)
If your gardener has bad knees, a kneeler is a very thoughtful gift to give. A padded kneeler reduces pressure on a gardener’s knees when working in the soil to dig, plant seeds, or pull weeds.
A big garden might require hours of kneeling, so a comfortable kneeler is a good choice for a gardener who has reached a certain age and needs a little knee relief.
You can find this padded kneeler and bench at Gardener’s Supply Company. You can also flip it over to turn it into a padded bench.
6. Garden Organizer (or Tool Belt, Pouch, or Apron)
A garden organizer keeps small garden tools and equipment in one place. Smaller tools such as pruning shears and trowels are easy to misplace, and an organizer helps to keep track of things.
You can also keep seed packets in some of the pouches so you don’t misplace them. You could also include some seed packets in the garden organizer as part of the gift!
Organized gardeners will love this gift to keep things in their proper place. Forgetful gardeners will also love it, because they won’t spend so much time wandering around looking for lost tools!
This bag from Duluth Trading Company can be used to hold gardening tools.
7. Tool Kit
A small tool kit is helpful for beginner gardeners who want to get started. It might also be nice for a seasoned gardener to receive some replacement tools (or some extra ones if they tend to lose things!)
I would include a few different tools in a tool kit, including:
- Pruning shears – these are always useful to a gardener. Even if a gardener already has shears, it is great to have an extra one, just in case the other gets broken or misplaced.
- Trowel – this is an essential tool for a gardener. You can use a trowel to dig a small hole for a transplant or for removing weeds.
- Gloves – it is easy to get blisters and dirt on your hands when working with pruning shears, trowels, and larger tools like shovels or rakes. Gloves keep your hands clean and help to prevent blisters. They can also help you to avoid scratches from briars or a rash from poison ivy.
You could also include a cleaning kit and a small bottle of oil or WD-40 to help keep the tools rust-free and in good working order.
You can buy these (and other) tools separately and put together a custom tool kit if you like. You can also buy a prepared kit, such this kit from Garrett Wade that includes two trowels, a set of pruning shears, and a cultivator (“claw”).
8. Grow Bags
Grow bags are a cool gift for gardeners because they are so versatile. You can reuse a grow bag for years if it is well-made and well-cared for.
You can use a grow bag indoors for smaller vegetable plants. You can also use them outdoors, and even plant them right in the ground if you want.
If your gardener has never used grow bags, give one as a gift and have him give it a shot! For more information, check out my article on why to use grow bags.
You can also use grow bags to hold other gifts, acting as a “stocking” for your other gifts!
There is a huge variety of grow bags available from many different retailers. They come in all shapes, sizes, and materials.
For example, this jumbo potato grow bag from Gardener’s Supply Company will give a gardener a good start when growing potatoes. It also makes for an easy harvest at the end of the season.
9. Pots and Containers
Pots and containers are a great gift if your gardener likes to grow things indoors. They are also a great gift if there are frost-sensitive plants that need to come indoors on the colder nights.
You can buy lots of plastic pots at a very reasonable price. However, if you want to get fancy, you can buy a larger decorative pot for displaying a dwarf fruit tree or other plant.
For example, you can buy ceramic made-to-order planters like this one on Etsy. Many sellers will accept custom orders if you ask!
You can find out more about clay vs. plastic pots in my article here.
10. Row Covers
Row covers serve many purposes in a garden. They keep plants warmer on a cold night, which can make all the difference when frost threatens.
Row covers also protect plants from insect pests. The best part about row covers is that they still allow sunlight to get through so that plants can continue to grow.
You can buy a long piece of row cover, like this 50-foot length from Gardener’s Supply Company. You can then cover an entire row with the sheet, or cut it into pieces for individual plants.
This is a great gift for gardeners who have trouble with pests or with cold in an area with a short growing season.
11. Cloches
A cloche is a cover used to protect a plant from cold and frost. Most cloches are made of plastic, but you can find some made of wire or even glass.
You can learn more about cloches and how to use them in my article here.
You can also opt for a wire version of a cloche that is more useful for keeping animal pests at bay. Of course, you can always use a blanket, towel, or row cover to wrap a wire cloche and keep the plant inside warm.
12. Raised Garden Bed
A raised garden bed is usually made of wood, and it raises the soil above the surrounding ground to improve drainage.
A raised garden bed is a great way for a gardener to get started with an alternative to conventional gardening.
Some raised garden beds require assembly, and some are ready to use on arrival. If you don’t know where to start looking, consider the raised garden beds on this page.
Education & Knowledge
New gardeners will need some guidance to get started with the hobby. However, even old pros can learn something from a good book on gardening.
More experienced gardeners probably have an interest in a specialized topic. For example:
- how to grow exotic plants
- how to prune grape vines
- how to graft fruit trees
- growing without soil (hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics)
13. Books and eBooks
There are lots of gardening books online or at bookstores. In fact, it’s overwhelming to consider them all!
My advice is to start at your gardener’s level of expertise.
For example: a beginner will not need information about pruning established trees. However, a gardener with a fruit tree orchard might love a book on pruning fruit trees.
Then, think about the specific interests of your gardener.
For example, think about a specific plant or tree that they like to grow. You could also buy a book about a new plant they are curious about.
There is no shortage of gardening books to give as gifts. The hard part is choosing just one!
The Complete Guide To Growing Potatoes
A complete reference and an ultimate guide that teaches you everything you need to know about potato selection, planting, care, harvest, and storage.
14. Courses
There are lots of very basic online courses for beginner gardeners. These courses are good for someone who is overwhelmed or intimidated when trying to get started.
There are also courses on specific topics, such as:
- Building a PVC Drip Irrigation System for Your Garden
- Attracting Monarch Butterflies to Your Garden
- Growing a No-Dig Garden
These courses sometimes go on sale on sites like Udemy.com.
Identify a course (or a few if the price is right!) that stands out to you, and see if your gardener is interested in the topic before buying.
Food Preservation
At the end of the growing season, some gardeners can harvest enough to put food on the table and also share with others.
If the harvest is really good, a gardener will want to preserve some of the bounty, which is where these gifts will come in handy.
15. Canning Equipment (Jars, Lids, and Bands)
Canning lets you preserve garden fruits or vegetables without freezing them. Before canning, you need to process and cook the produce, sometimes adding sugar, pectin (for jellies), or salt and spices (for pickles).
A gardener who is just getting started might not have any of this gear yet. Established gardeners always seem to be looking for more, since they grow food so successfully.
You can find canning equipment online, at garden centers, and at hobby or craft stores. You can find a 12-pack of quart canning jars (including bands and lids) at Ace Hardware.
You can find a mix of pickling spices at Gardener’s Supply Company.
You can buy Sure-Jell pectin for making jam and jelly at Tractor Supply Company.
16. Herb Drying Rack
Whether you grow herbs indoors or outdoors, a drying rack is essential for storing herbs for the long term.
If your gardener grows herbs in the kitchen, this gift might find a place of honor right next to the pots that hold the parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme plants!
Here is a hanging metal herb drying rack on Etsy.
Indoor Gifts
These gifts are ideal for gardeners who want something to take care of during the winter months when they cannot grow outside.
17. Houseplants
You can find small potted plants for $5 to $10, and some medium sized ones for under $20. You can combine a few of these for under $50 to create a small windowsill garden.
Some of my favorites are:
- Philodendron
- Snake Plant
- Aloe Vera
- Jade
You can buy houseplants at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other garden centers.
18. Dwarf Citrus Tree
A dwarf citrus tree can survive indoors, even in colder climates. A dwarf tree is also small enough to fit inside most houses or apartments.
The best part is that you can eventually get edible fruit from these trees! You can buy a dwarf lemon tree from FastGrowingTrees.
Garden Decorations
Finally, we have garden decorations, which make a garden both inviting and beautiful for the gardener and visitors alike.
19. Trellis
A trellis can be used for pure decoration in a garden. It can also be used to support tomatoes, cucumbers, and other climbing vine plants.
You can attach a standard lattice trellis on the side of a house. You can also set up a freestanding trellis in the garden.
For example, this teepee trellis from Gardener’s Supply Company is made of steel, so it will stand up to the weight of fruiting plants.
20. Wind Chimes
You can put wind chimes anywhere in the garden, as long as they have a place to hang from.
They create a pleasant sound to go along with a cooling breeze in summer heat.
You can find some nice wind chimes for less than $50 if you look around.
For example, here is an alloy tube wind chime from Etsy.
The Complete Guide To Growing Potatoes
A complete reference and an ultimate guide that teaches you everything you need to know about potato selection, planting, care, harvest, and storage.
Conclusion
Now you have some ideas for gardening gifts that won’t break the bank. Maybe you got some inspiration for some totally unique gifts you can make yourself.
If you have a more experienced gardener on your list, then check out my article on gifts for older gardeners or LMadGz post on gifts for master gardeners.
If you need a gift for a beginner gardener, check out this article on gardening gifts for first-time gardeners.
If you’re choosing a gift for a special woman in your life, you might like this article on gardening gifts for Mother’s Day.
If you’re choosing a gift for a special guy in your life, you’ll likely enjoy this post on gardening gifts for Father’s day.
You might also be interested in my article on gardening gifts for under $10.
This article will give you some ideas for wedding gifts for gardeners.
I hope you found this article helpful. If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.
If you want to read some of my most popular posts, check out the “Best of GreenUpSide” page here. Enjoy!
~Jonathon