Dads who garden – greenupside

Finding the right Father’s Day gift for a Dad who gardens can sometimes be challenging. At a glance, it can seem like the special Plant-Dad in your life already has all the gardening supplies he could ever need. The truth, though, is that if you look closer, he probably doesn’t. Especially when it comes to self-care (or lack thereof) around the garden, I find that the Plant-Dads I know tend to be quite...stoic. “That’s alright, I don’t need a [insert item that would make Dad’s knees feel better...here].” “That’s okay, I don’t need a [insert item that would make Dad’s back hurt less...here].” “Nah, I don’t need a [insert basically any item that would make Dad’s life easier...here].” ...Sound familiar? If that doesn’t sound familiar, you’ve got a pretty rare Dad in your life. Either way though, Dad will surely benefit from the ideas on this list. So today, let’s talk about 11 Father’s Day Gardening Gifts that the special Dad(s) in your life will love. 11 Father’s Day Gifts For Gardeners: Potting BenchVegetable Washing StationRaised BedRaised Bed Double ToolKneeling PadTractor ScootCarry-All Garden StoolGarden Sign WheelbarrowTrellisPlant Labels Potting Bench If Dad doesn’t already have a potting bench, well, what are you waiting for? Potting benches come in many shapes, sizes, styles, and colors. As long as Dad has a good place to add soil and seeds to his pots and planters - he'll be a happy camper! Surely, Dad will be psyched to know you’re caring enough to pick one out for him. What’s more, you can actually build one yourself — or refurbish an old table or furniture piece. Have you ever tried to fill your planters and pots with soil while hunched over the ground — or, like me — while in the house and struggling not to make a gigantic, *dirty* mess? While it’s possible to garden without a good, sturdy potting bench, it’s certainly not very fun. In fact, it’s no fun at all. Surely, you wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy — never mind Dad. & that’s why Dad needs (and deserves) a new potting bench. Vegetable Washing Station Help Dad leave that old, tedious method for veggie-washing in the past! Recently, while journeying deep through the brilliant gardening ideas of Pinterest, I came across the most unbelievably clever DIY veggie wash station. It was not only unbelievably clever, but also incredibly useful. The DIY wash station was composed of just a wooden frame, a mesh screen, and some screws and staples to hold it all together. Genius. Basically, imagine a table or potting bench — but instead of a solid tabletop, picture a mesh screen stapled to a wooden frame. A mesh screen like this one is perfect for a DIY vegetable washing station! Yup, that’s it. As I searched further through the internet for information on this new, exciting concept, I came across a photo of an upcycled screen door situated atop a simple wooden table frame (void of a countertop). I’m not sure whether or not the creator of this makeshift wash station even screwed in or secured the screen door to the table frame — but you certainly could with a properly sized table frame and screen door! I happen to be obsessed with this idea. Such a practical gardening gift for Dad. Raised Bed Aside from the fact that raised beds help soil drain better, decrease the chance of rabbits or woodchucks getting to your crops, and extend the growing season by keeping soil warmer — there’s a key benefit to using a raised bed. One word: Ergonomics. To elaborate, plants living higher off the ground means less hunching and crouching for Dad. Dad, Dad’s back, and Dad’s knees will all be grateful for your caringness. There are various different options and materials you have to choose from when picking out a raised bed. From metal or wood to recycled plastic, Dad will certainly benefit from a raised bed to keep his soil warmer, his back straighter, and his knees off the cold, hard ground. One of my favorite raised beds is an elevated raised bed made from cedarwood. This type of raised bed has legs, which keep plants high off the ground, closer to the sun, and at about hip level — making it easy for Dad to tend to his crops while standing in a comfortable position! A cedar raised bed will make an excellent addition to Dad's garden! If Dad already has a raised bed, don’t hesitate to get him another. Dad can never have too many spots to plant his vegetables! Raised Bed Double Tool These tools are so convenient. If Dad doesn’t have one — please get him one! A raised bed double-tool — or as some call it: a raised bed cultivator — has a medium-length ergonomic handle, a three-prong cultivator on one side, and a small garden hoe on the other. A raised bed double-tool is one of the most useful tools you can get for someone who loves to garden! This makes the tool extremely convenient for use as an all-in-one gardening tool when tending to raised beds. So again, if Dad doesn’t have one of these Bad Larries — get him one. If you like this idea, but were hoping to get something a bit more thoughtful, why not get one with a personalized engraving of Dad’s name. An alternative to adding Dad’s name is to add something else that’s short and sweet, such as “Love you Dad.” Simple, yet incredibly thoughtful. Kneeling Pad You already know how I feel about ergonomics. If you want to help Dad take care of his poor, aging knees, then this one’s a no-brainer. Let’s face it. Most Dad’s aren’t going to buy something like this for themselves. Generally speaking, they simply don’t prioritize self-care the way they deserve to. I feel like the Dads I know spend a lot of their time taking care of everyone else (their kids, their fur-babies, their plant-children, etc). Just because Dad hasn’t prioritized getting a thick-cushioned, comfy kneeling pad — doesn’t mean he doesn’t need one, or that he wouldn’t use it. Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kneeling_pad_01.JPG Trust me, he needs one. & he’ll use it when he realizes how much you care about the health of his knees. With a thoughtful gift like this one, it’ll be impossible for it to go unnoticed that you care deeply about the well-being of your Dad. He’ll be certain to appreciate you for it. Tractor Scoot This is a suitable gift for aging Dads because it provides some much-needed relief for the body — particularly the knees and lower back. Tending to a bed of vegetables or flowers is much easier from a comfortably adjusted seated position. As people (and especially as gardeners), we go through multiple daily acts of living that slowly cause wear and tear on our bodies. We should always be looking for healthier, more ergonomic ways to perform our work and hobbies (particularly gardening). A Tractor Scoot provides gardeners with the just the right solution to some of their most significant postural challenges. Crouching is not only uncomfortable, but also terrible for the back. Dad deserves better - and you can give him better! There are various different tractor scoots that you can choose from. My favorite is the Deluxe Tractor Scoot from Gardeners.com. This tractor scoot has an adjustable seat, the ability to lock in place for added support, and the ability to be easily steered around sharp corners and over rough terrain. It also has space underneath to carry around all Dad’s tools and personal belongings! Carry-All Garden Stool If the Deluxe Tractor Scoot is a bit more money than you’re looking to spend (or if it’s just not simple enough for the simple Dad in your life), no worries! You can look into getting Dad a Carry-All Garden Stool. I love the look of this one from Anthropologie. These things are awesome — and about half the price of a tractor scoot. While they aren’t on wheels and can’t be steered around, they are lightweight and easy for Dad to pick up and carry up, down, and across his garden. It’s nice for Dad to have a comfortable stool to sit on while he gardens, and it’s also convenient that Dad will have plenty of space and compartments to store his gardening tools, seed packs, drinking water, cell phone, etc. Carry-All Garden Stools remind me of the canvas gardening totes I mentioned in this article about Mother’s Day Gifts For Gardeners. I don’t know about the Dads in your life, but the ones in mine probably prefer not to carry around a tote bag (even though they’re totally missing out). A cross between a canvas tote and a stool to sit on, though? Sign my Dad up. & your Dad, too. Garden Sign This very well could be one of the most thoughtful gifts you ever get for your Dad. If you’re a Green Upsider (a frequent reader of the Green Upside Blog), then you’ve likely seen us mention custom garden signs in some of our previous posts. It's because here at Green Upside, we believe garden signs make some of the most fantastic gifts for gardeners of all ages. We love that garden signs come in so many different shapes, sizes, materials, and price-ranges. So you truly can find the perfect sign for you (or your loved one) — all while staying within your financial means. The most budget-friendly garden sign you can give to Dad, of course, is a homemade sign you hand-craft yourself with love. If you don’t feel that’s quite in the cards for you, there are tons of lovely garden and patio signs online, especially on Etsy! Here’s a beautiful and personalized garden sign from one of our favorite Etsy shops, PersonifyGift: Dad will love this garden sign from the PersonifyGift shop on Etsy. The owner of this shop frequently has sales going on that are hard to resist — and even after a sale has ended, you can score 10% off on most items for Mom when you use the code LoveIt! Some other excellent garden signs I’ve seen consist of dry puns and witty Dad humor. Once upon a time, the following exchange happened between my Dad & I... Me: “Dad, the dog stole a pear that I picked from your tree.” Dad: “Did he only take one?” Me: “Yes…” Dad: “Then it wasn’t a pair.” ...Classic. There’s nothing like a good Dad Joke — especially when it’s garden humor. If the special Dad in your life says funny — or dare I say — *Punny* things quite frequently, why not start making a list of his most quotable Dad Jokes and put some on garden signs that will provoke laughs for years to come? If you’d rather surprise Dad with a humorous quote he’s never heard before, you can find tons of funny garden signs on Etsy. I’ve seen ones that say “Trespassers Will Be Composted”, “No Trespooping”, and “Frog Parking Only, All Others Will Be Toad.” Clever, right? Get creative with it and Dad will be sure to love it! Wheelbarrow This idea is for anyone whose Dad is pushing around an old, rusty wheelbarrow that takes all his might to steer… *Raises hand* Don’t worry. That’s my Dad, too. ...It’s time to get Dad a new wheelbarrow. Having a good wheelbarrow truly makes a world of difference for gardeners! Why not look for a sharp-looking, black or grey steel wheelbarrow that’s shiny, new and durable? Maybe with some attractive wooden handles? Or perhaps a high-quality, polycarbonate wheelbarrow with hardwood handles and tires that can withstand rolling over even the sharpest rocks and roughest terrain? At the end of the day, what matters isn’t which wheelbarrow you choose — but that you choose one that’s at least one step above the one he has now (you know, the one that’s falling apart). Trellis If Dad has a vegetable garden — then odds are, he needs more of these. One of the sturdiest, most practical garden trellises I’ve seen online is this Oak A-Frame Trellis from the yardnbarn Etsy shop. You can even choose between a 6-foot or 4-foot A-Frame! This A Frame Trellis from yardnbarn will make a fabulous addition to Dad's garden! Doesn’t it seem like some of the most delicious vegetables also happen to be ones that climb the highest? (Tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, etc.) Well, plants that climb require something to climb on — and trellises are perfect for that. If you’re up for a challenge and you love DIY projects, you might enjoy this article about unique & unusual garden trellis ideas. You can learn how to build your own trellis using upcycled materials that you might have otherwise thrown away (like old window frames and rusty bike tires!) Plant Labels Sometimes, it’s hard for gardeners to remember what they planted where. I know that when it comes to my Dad, he grows everything you could even imagine. From various types of lettuce and cabbage, grapes, kiwis, and heirloom tomatoes — to an array of berries, snake gourds, cucamelons and rhubarb! It’s difficult to keep track of which herb or spinach variety he planted where. & it's easy to forget the names of the heirlooms that are new to his garden. The solution? Plant labels. & stylish-looking ones, to boot. It’s up to you whether you want to make quick, easy DIY plant labels or purchase some that are a bit more sophisticated. Once you get an idea of which plant label style is best for Dad, you’ll be helping him on his way to remembering where Everything is planted – all while beautifying his garden! Some easy and attractive DIY plant markers you can make at home require only simple materials. Some outdoor weather-friendly paint? – Easy. – Check. Some smooth, rounded rocks from outside? – Simple (& free)! – Check. Or you might want to swap out the rocks for some tongue-depressor-style popsicle sticks or old, mismatched silverware pieces. – Just as easy! –Check! You can dip old silverware pieces in black chalkboard paint and decorate them with white chalk paint! Just make sure your paint supplies can withstand outdoor weather! Of course, there are endless possibilities to what you can find on Etsy when shopping for cool and unique plant labels. Remember, though. It's just as cool to make them yourself! (Possibly even cooler.) If you're interested in learning more about how to make your own plant labels, check out this article about creating and reading botanical labels! You might also like this article all about botanical gardens and why they're important. Conclusion Now you have 11 thoughtful and unique Father's Day gift ideas for the plant-loving Dads in your life! I hope you enjoyed this article. If you did, please share it with someone who might also find this information useful. You can check out gift ideas for Master gardeners here or gifts for beginner gardeners here. You might also be interested in reading this article about gardening gifts for Mother's Day or this article about gifts for older gardeners. You can also check out some of Green Upside's most popular articles here. Thanks for reading this guest post by LMadGz! I wish you and the special guys in your life nothing but happy planting and bountiful harvests! Happy gift-giving!