BEST GARDEN GIFTS OF 2022

These donut-shaped briquettes contain the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), which makes them a safe and effective way to kill  mosquito larvae, as well as black flies and fungus  gnats. The floating rings offer 30 days of protection when added to ponds, birdbaths, rainbarrels and wherever else rainwater accumulates outdoors, and  “will not harm people, pets and other animals, aquatic life, or other  insects, including honeybees,” according to the CDC. 

This 2022 Cultivate horticulture show Retailers’ Choice Award winner is a battery-operated, hand-held shovel and auger kit that includes a case, 12-volt battery and charger. The heavy-duty steel and aluminum  digging tool directs soil away from the user and makes easy work of  planting flowers, bulbs and shrubs (it can also be used to install  posts or dig a trench). 

There's no better way to encourage little green thumbs than with tools and supplies that are just their size. This set includes a trowel, shovel, hand rake, garden sheers, watering can, kneeling pad, six nursery pots, six watering drains, seven garden markers, a pair of M/L gardening gloves, a gardening hat, apron, storage tote, two garden marker sticker sheets and a bonus sticker set and supply list. 

The memoir of a Black woman who moved her family into a predominantly white neighborhood and planted a native plants among the manicured, cookie-cutter yards on her new  block. The diversity in her garden is a metaphor for the diversity her family brought to the block, and the hours she spends nurturing the garden -- and her daughter – define motherly love. A personal, relaxed and engaging writing style gives readers the sense they’re reading a soul-bearing letter from a dear friend who explains what she knows about compost, birds, and sunflowers as she takes us along on a journey to build her hard clay soil and her place in the world. -- from my Newsday review, 5/7/23

This self-watering grow system uses low-wattage LED lighting and high-tech soil capsules to grow flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables. Grow edibles indoors year-round, or use the optional seedless "Grow Anything" capsules to start your own seeds, like I do, before transplanting outdoors. My model is the Smart Garden 9. Use the link below and promo code JESSICA10 to save 10%.

I've had my Swiss-made, F6 model pruners for 15 years, and they're still going strong. Because all the critical parts (blades, handle grips and springs) are replaceable, I consider these lifetime investments. A range of models offers a variety of sizes, left-handed and right-handed options, and ergonomic rotating handles. They have super-sharp blades that make clean cuts that promote fast healing, and their nonslip, comfortable handles are red, so they won't get lost in a pile of clippings.

Gone are the days of balancing a wheelbarrow on one wheel only to have it get stuck in the grass and tip over. Several models are available, including my GCG4, which is as steady as they come. It has a comfortable handle, a strong bed, and 10" pneumatic tires that make it super easy to steer and change direction - even when going backward. Its quick-release dumping system allows for easy unloading of mulch, soil or whatever you're lugging, and it has a four-cubic-foot, 600-pound capacity.

These are truly the highest-quality windchimes I've ever owned. Created by a Grammy-award-winning musician and made in upstate New York, each instrument is musically tuned to replicate specific tunes. One, for instance, is reminiscent of Amazing Grace; another plays the harmonized pitches of Pachelbel's Canon. You haven't likely heard anything like it.

I've been wearing my German-made, red Birki clogs since 2007, and I suspect I'll wear them for the rest of my life. The proprietary Birkenstock cork footbed, lined with a moisture-wicking fabric, is replaceable, though I haven't had to swap mine out yet. And I can rinse them off with a garden hose when they get muddy before placing them by the back door until next time. 

When you need a closed work shoe, you can't go wrong with the Outscape from Muck. Made of  flexible neoprene with a comfortable memory-foam footbed and breathable mesh lining, they're 100% waterproof. Available in several color choices (mine are olive, as shown) in low and high-top models.

I received my first EarthBOX as a gift circa 2007 and bought a second a year later; I've been using them ever since, usually to grow extra tomatoes, but you can grow almost anything in them. They're self-watering (from the bottom, which helps prevent disease), self-feeding and can be easily wheeled around to chase the sun if your garden gets shady during the day.

This Mobile Tool Storage Caddy keeps everything I need handy and in one place and can be easily rolled around the garden. The included fabric liner holds and organizes hand tools around a 5-gallon bucket (which itself stores long-handled tools), and there's an additional bin I like to use for harvests or pulled weeds. 

This well-priced food dehydrator is a solid choice with five stackable drying trays, an adjustable digital thermostat, 48-hour timer, auto shutoff and clear lid that allows you to check on its progress. 

I bought this model this year to replace an earlier version that stopped working recently. It's sleeker, with a smaller footprint than the original, and makes easy work of creating air-tight sealed bags and pouches of food and backyard produce I store in the freezer. 

I have a 15-year-old, old-fashioned, hand-crank Fagor Food Mill that comes out of storage about three times a year: Tomato season, apple season and mashed potato season (Thanksgiving, etc.) The brand is no longer available, but the simplicity of the device means newer models are likely just as good or better. A few things to look for: Stainless steel construction, easy assembly and disassembly for cleaning and storing, a variety of disks to process different textures and a comfy handle. This OXO Good Grips model checks all the boxes.

There are other, way more expensive sous vide machines on the market, but the Anova Nano serves me well. I use it to cook perfectly tender steak and reheat meats without drying them out. I've even experimented with eggs and desserts. It connects to my smartphone, too, and the free app provides recipes and instructions that demystify the process. And it's so small it stores easily in a kitchen drawer. Use it with the FoodSaver Vacuum (above) for leak-proof cooking.

OK, I admit this is a splurge, but I use it several times a day, and it's so fast, easy, reliable -- and beautiful in my kitchen!

If you drink tea, brew homegrown herbs or love pour-over coffee as I do, you can't do better than the Fellows Stagg kettle. It allows you to set the perfect temperature (up to 212 degrees) and achieves that temperature in mere minutes. With a gooseneck spout for pour-over perfection (bloom your coffee!), an LED temperature display and a stopwatch built in, it's truly one of my favorite things!

Freeze and store homegrown herb infusions in this covered silicone herb cube tray, then pop out individual servings and store them in a zipper-top plastic bag in the freezer for use in soups, stews and other dishes year-round. I love these!

What can I say about this adorable and clever t-shirt that the picture doesn't already say? My father would have loved one of these. My guess is yours will, too.

If you love growing tomatoes as I do, you understand exactly what I mean when I refer to the intoxicating scent of the plant. I can't get enough of it. With a 60-hour burn time, clean soy-based burn and plantable box, this is a gift that will continue to delight straight through to spring and summer.

Fruit flies are a part of life, and the ugly sticky traps and kitschy plastic solutions we turn to just add insult to injury. But this adorable and -- dare I say -- classy trap is something you'll be proud to set on your countertop. And no one will know its intended purpose. (Add a few drops of dish soap and vinegar to the reservoir or purchase the fruit fly lure, sold separately).

My herb scissors have saved me hours over the years mincing chives alone! Just one slice with these multi-bladed snips does the work of five. And an herb stripper makes easy work of removing rosemary, parsley and other herbs from their stems. This two-piece set includes both, plus a protective sheath and cleaning tool for the snips.

Birds will love this American-made, 9-inch birdseed wreath because it's made of nutrient-rich safflower seeds, peanuts, tree nuts, white millet and black oil sunflower seeds. You'll love it because it's an attractive addition to the garden -- and you'll have lots of feathered visitors to watch every day. Just hang it in a protected area and enjoy the show as hungry birds gather around. (Search "birdseed wreath" from the homepage).

Every time I leave my house, I notice something that needs trimming or fixing on my way to the front gate. Most times, I run back inside for my pruners. But with this high-quality titanium and brass pocket tool in my purse, I can snip a stray stem, lift a weed or deadhead an annual without skipping a beat. It even includes a screwdriver and bottle opener.

I've had success growing potatoes in these sturdy fabric pots with innovative "windows" on their sides. The velcro is tight, so there's no worry about it popping open, but when I want to check on my potatoes, I don't have to dig up a mound and risk stressing the plant. I just roll up the "window" and poke around, then dump out the soil when they're ready. The fabric allows air to circulate around roots, water to drain and plants from becoming pot-bound. 

This lightweight brick is made of coco coir that turns into a potting mix when water is added. I can store several in a small space, which ensures I always have some on hand. And there's no lugging heavy bags home from the nursery (or dirtying my car or clothes in the process).

Arguably the best bargain in the gardening world, the Atlas NT370s are my go-to gloves. They fit like a second skin, enabling me to feel what I'm touching, but they are sturdy enough to protect from scratches without tearing or puncturing. The nitrile coating gives them a good grip, keeps my hands clean and dry, and protects against prickles (but don't use them when handling roses; they aren't thick enough to resist thorns). They even come in handy in the kitchen for opening jars. And they're machine-washable. A pack of 6 is your best deal.

These recycled -- and recyclable -- wine glasses made of BPA-free plastic can be hand washed and reused or tossed after a picnic or beach outing. Either way, they'll make any plant lover smile.

This card game is as fun as it is pretty. You get 20 transparent plant cards, 80 resource cards, four players mats, 60 money notes and instructions for creating and caring for your own make-believe urban jungle. For 2-4 players, ages 8 and up.

This 500-piece jigsaw puzzle, designed by artist Tom Gauld, was published in the famed magazine on February 4, 2019. The finished puzzle is 24"x18" and suitable for framing. For ages 10 and up.