Books are a great tool, i've systematically gone through amazon and bought every rhs encyclopedia they do for around 3 quid each! Mostly brand new but pre-owned
I garden for a living so put my garden tools through hell most of the time.
The tool I couldn't be without and I always spend the most on is secateurs. I can make do with rubbish hand forks and trowels. I can work with bent tines on my garden fork. I can dig gently with a cheap spade but I cannot prune with a crappy pair of secateurs!
They are fairly small which makes them so easy for us ladiees to use but so tough. Their shape is really comfortable too. I have had them since around July/August time and as yet have not had to tighten anything which I always seemed to be doing with my Felco's. Only drawback...the colour...why green?! I have lost them so many times already.
if you do decide to buy secateurs then this is the best stocking filler to give her too...as yet not needed for secateurs but always using it...
I think Mrs Norton already has secateurs but a spare pair is always handy. I like Spear and Jackson spades and forks because they're small and sturdy and not too expensive, but I'm quite fussy about how something feels in my hand so that's something to consider before buying...or keep the receipts...
A nice set of items that can be used such as string, labels, scissors and trowels etc make a nice gift, and perhaps a few packs of seed that are easy - like sweet peas, or salad crops if she'd like to grow edibles. You can do all these things as little stocking fillers - individually wrapped of course - you're not getting off that lightly!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have six pairs of secateurs, the other week I coudnt find any and bought a pair from Amazon, nice soft grip and roll handle.
So any amount of secs are handy, I always ask the family for them for Christmas.
Another good thing is a workmans belt with separate comparments for bits and pieces, you could put allsorts in there, mind you, when I tried mine on it slipped to the ground so check the size if you were thinking of that.
I wouldnt like something from a scrapyard for my Christmas present and I think whether mrs N is a beginner or not, you could try to buy her the best that you can afford.
A tip, if you buy trowels or forks with wood handles, wrap some red insulaion tape around, she will see them easier when she puts them down, or is it just me thats forever loosing things.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
A friend of mine recently bought me a set of 3 wolf garten hand tools but I didnt realise immediately (even though it's written on the side) and I'd been using one of them as a scoop for the bird food...she's not a gardener and I just assumed she'd picked them up at Wilko's or B&M or someplace... The trowel is excellent though.
I like the stocking filler idea too - I can never have too many labels, fuzzy ties, scissors and snips. Oh and soft, machine washable gloves in female hand size.
Gardening DVDs are a nice present, at this time of year days are short in the garden and it is nice to come in and watch a good old gardening series on DVD.
I guess a roller would be hard to get under the tree, It took 4 people to get it in the truck using ramps,
I like the Wolf system for occasional tools as you can buy assorted heads such as hoes, cultivatorsthem abou to suit the task in hand. Makes storage easy too. I have a board in the garage with screws pegged in to hold the heads and hang the handles from hooks next to it so everything is easy to find. Extra heads can be added according to budget and need.
For digging spades and forks always go for stainless steel.
Then add seed trays, a cloche or two, trugs of various shapes and sizes to hold tools and plants, labels, a good marker, a decent hosepipe, preferable on a retractable reel, a good watering can or three, gloves for different jobs.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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Books are a great tool, i've systematically gone through amazon and bought every rhs encyclopedia they do for around 3 quid each! Mostly brand new but pre-owned
LOVE THE CAT TOOTLES
Hi Norton
I garden for a living so put my garden tools through hell most of the time.
The tool I couldn't be without and I always spend the most on is secateurs. I can make do with rubbish hand forks and trowels. I can work with bent tines on my garden fork. I can dig gently with a cheap spade but I cannot prune with a crappy pair of secateurs!
Up until now I too would have said Felco but this year I was bought a pair, as a gift and they are now my favourites. http://www.burgonandball.com/shop/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=47
They are fairly small which makes them so easy for us ladiees to use but so tough. Their shape is really comfortable too. I have had them since around July/August time and as yet have not had to tighten anything which I always seemed to be doing with my Felco's. Only drawback...the colour...why green?! I have lost them so many times already.
if you do decide to buy secateurs then this is the best stocking filler to give her too...as yet not needed for secateurs but always using it...
http://www.click4promos.com/screwdrivers.htm
Bought mine at my local carparts shop for just £1.50
I think Mrs Norton already has secateurs but a spare pair is always handy. I like Spear and Jackson spades and forks because they're small and sturdy and not too expensive, but I'm quite fussy about how something feels in my hand so that's something to consider before buying...or keep the receipts...
A nice set of items that can be used such as string, labels, scissors and trowels etc make a nice gift, and perhaps a few packs of seed that are easy - like sweet peas, or salad crops if she'd like to grow edibles. You can do all these things as little stocking fillers - individually wrapped of course - you're not getting off that lightly!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This might give you some ideas.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningequipment/11271381/Christmas-presents-top-tools-to-give-to-gardeners.html
I have six pairs of secateurs, the other week I coudnt find any and bought a pair from Amazon, nice soft grip and roll handle.
So any amount of secs are handy, I always ask the family for them for Christmas.
Another good thing is a workmans belt with separate comparments for bits and pieces, you could put allsorts in there, mind you, when I tried mine on it slipped to the ground so check the size if you were thinking of that.
I wouldnt like something from a scrapyard for my Christmas present and I think whether mrs N is a beginner or not, you could try to buy her the best that you can afford.
A tip, if you buy trowels or forks with wood handles, wrap some red insulaion tape around, she will see them easier when she puts them down, or is it just me thats forever loosing things.
A friend of mine recently bought me a set of 3 wolf garten hand tools but I didnt realise immediately (even though it's written on the side) and I'd been using one of them as a scoop for the bird food...she's not a gardener and I just assumed she'd picked them up at Wilko's or B&M or someplace...
The trowel is excellent though.
I like the stocking filler idea too - I can never have too many labels, fuzzy ties, scissors and snips. Oh and soft, machine washable gloves in female hand size.
Gardening DVDs are a nice present, at this time of year days are short in the garden and it is nice to come in and watch a good old gardening series on DVD.
I guess a roller would be hard to get under the tree,
It took 4 people to get it in the truck using ramps,
I like the Wolf system for occasional tools as you can buy assorted heads such as hoes, cultivatorsthem abou to suit the task in hand. Makes storage easy too. I have a board in the garage with screws pegged in to hold the heads and hang the handles from hooks next to it so everything is easy to find. Extra heads can be added according to budget and need.
For digging spades and forks always go for stainless steel.
Then add seed trays, a cloche or two, trugs of various shapes and sizes to hold tools and plants, labels, a good marker, a decent hosepipe, preferable on a retractable reel, a good watering can or three, gloves for different jobs.
Its always felco because that is whats been mentioned, no other reason.
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