Stocking Stuffers for Gardeners in Canada
Stocking stuffers for gardeners in Canada can be small and still useful. The trick is to pick things a gardener runs out of, loses or wears out every year, or something that flowers in their house in January, when the garden outside is under snow.
Quick answer: small, practical gifts that get used every year: plant labels for seed trays, a rain gauge, seed storage envelopes or a box, snips, soft plant ties, garden gloves, and an amaryllis or paperwhite bulb for flowers in the middle of winter.
How this list works: these are kinds of things, not particular products, and we have not tested or ranked brands. Each one is here because it fits a job the Canadian season actually sets, and each links to the guide on this site that explains that job. The buttons open an Amazon.ca search so you can compare for yourself.
For seed starting
Canadian gardeners start many plants indoors in late winter, so these get used before anything goes outside.
Plant labels
What it is: Plastic or wooden markers to name seed trays and rows.
Why in Canada: Seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants look alike for weeks. Labels stop mix-ups at transplant time.
Goes with: Seed starting guide →
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Seed storage envelopes or box
What it is: Small envelopes or a box with dividers for keeping seed packets in order.
Why in Canada: Seeds kept cool and dry last longer, and an organized box makes it easy to plan what to start, and when.
Goes with: Seed-starting calculator →
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For the garden
Small tools that wear out or go missing every season.
Rain gauge
What it is: A clear tube that shows how much rain fell.
Why in Canada: It tells a gardener whether the week's rain was enough before they water, which matters in cities with summer watering limits.
Goes with: Watering rules by city →
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Garden snips
What it is: Small, sharp snips for herbs, flowers and soft stems.
Why in Canada: Handy for deadheading and harvesting herbs through a short summer.
Goes with: When to prune in Canada →
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Soft plant ties
What it is: Reusable padded ties for tying stems to stakes and cages.
Why in Canada: Tomatoes are tied to stakes in summer, and soft ties do not cut into the stems.
Goes with: Growing tomatoes in Canada →
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Garden gloves
What it is: Gloves for digging, weeding and pruning.
Why in Canada: Gloves wear through every season. For roses and raspberries, look for a thorn-resistant pair.
Goes with: When to prune roses →
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For flowers in January
A bulb that flowers indoors gives a gardener something growing while the garden is under snow.
Amaryllis bulb
What it is: A large bulb that sends up tall stems of big flowers about six to eight weeks after potting.
Why in Canada: It flowers indoors in midwinter and can be kept to flower again next year. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Goes with: Amaryllis care →
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Paperwhite bulbs
What it is: Small narcissus bulbs that flower indoors in a few weeks, in soil or in pebbles and water.
Why in Canada: An easy midwinter flower. Toxic to cats and dogs, so keep the bowl out of reach.
Goes with: Forcing bulbs indoors →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good small gift for a gardener?
Something they use up or lose every year: plant labels, soft plant ties, garden gloves or seed storage envelopes. A flowering bulb such as an amaryllis is another small gift that gives them something growing in winter.
Can I give a flower bulb as a Christmas gift in Canada?
Yes, an indoor bulb. An amaryllis or paperwhite bulb flowers indoors in winter. Garden bulbs like tulips need to be planted in fall before the ground freezes, so they are not a December gift.
Is an amaryllis bulb safe with pets?
No. The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to dogs and cats. If the person has pets, mention it, and suggest they pot the bulb and keep it out of reach.
What is a rain gauge for?
It shows how much rain fell, so a gardener knows whether to water. Plants generally need about 2.5 cm of water a week in summer, and a gauge tells them how much of that the rain already supplied.