As Father's Day approaches, Hannah Stephenson looks at some gifts to give your green-fingered dad
WHETHER he's digging, pruning, weeding, watering or just sitting enjoying the garden, there are plenty of gifts out there for your green-fingered father.
Here are some of the best:
:: Tough Touch Gold Leaf gardening gloves
Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, these super-comfortable, super-durable leather gauntlet-style gloves will let you handle brambles, roses and other thorny plants without getting pricked. Made of gold grain leather, which has been treated to offer water-resistance, with a strong, soft cuff to protect the arms, they come in bright yellow, so you won't lose them either (£26.99, for stockists visit www.goldleaf-gloves.com).
:: EGO Power Cordless hedge trimmer
This latest addition from EGO is quiet, smooth and really easy to use, slicing happily through hedging thanks to its dual knife edge laser-cut diamond ground blades. The 56-volt battery gives you around 50 minutes run-time and can be fully charged from nothing in just half an hour. The rotating rear handle allows you to adjust the trimmer for comfort, whilst the two-speed selector lets you adjust to match each task (RRP £219 excluding battery and charger. For stockists, visit egopowerplus.co.uk).
:: Caledonian trough
If your dad has limited space, this wooden trough is great for creating extra growing areas to get vegetables or herbs going. The pressure-treated timber can be painted to compliment any garden colour scheme (£104.99, available nationwide from high street stores and garden centres. For stockists visit www.forestgarden.co.uk).
:: Five Lose Dad In The Garden Centre book
This fun, personalised gift, written and illustrated in the classic Enid Blyton style and featuring the original characters, is personalised for dad with his name and a message (£14.99, www.gettingpersonal.co.uk).
:: Dragon fireball
Want to warm him up when the nights turn cold? This fiery feature will keep him outside long after the sun has gone down. Load it up with logs for an evening with friends. Rust-free and with a rain drain (£895, www.Prezzybox.com).
:: National Park stay
For dads who want to get away from it all, plump for a voucher to treat him to a luxurious night at a National Park location in the UK, from the Forest of Dean to Snowdonia, pictured, (£89.99, www.buyagift.com).
:: Novelty wooden sign
Whatever type of gardener he is, you will find a wooden hanging sign to suit him. Each is made of hardwood painted with external paint. Most signs are printed on one side, but some are double-sided (£6 for one, £11 for two, £15.50 for three or £5 if you buy four or more, www.giftsandgardens.com).
:: Gardener's nail brush
This is more than just a bog-standard nailbrush to remove soil and other debris from under your nails. It's altogether more classy, made from oiled beechwood & Tampico fibre, a durable, porous fibre from the agave plant, and will show him how much you love him (£12.95, www.oxfordbrushcompany.com).
:: Hozelock Ultramax multi spray
This sturdy new addition from Hozelock, which has seven spray patterns, should prove invaluable during watering season. The solid zinc alloy body of each Ultramax spray gun is designed to withstand really rugged environments and has been tested in extreme conditions, should last longer than many of its competitors and comes with a five-year guarantee (RRP £35, for stockists visit www.hozelock.com).
:: Stainless steel claw cultivator
For dads who like to get weeding and loosening soil for ground preparation, this new claw from Wilkinson Sword, made from rust-resistant polished stainless steel, is just the job. With a weatherproofed ash handle, it's also ideal for aerating heavy soil (£9.99, for stockists visit www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk).
:: Exfoliating shower gel
You might have thought that pampering after a hard day's gardening was only directed towards the ladies, but men can also scrub up well with this new range of exfoliating shower gel for all. In three fragrances, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir and Geranium & Walnut, it should leave his skin delicately cleansed and scented (£30, www.jomalone.co.uk).
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