Probably the most precious gift for gardeners is more time, winter sunshine and healthy, flexible bodies. For some of us, those gifts are literally beyond our reach, but we can find items that make gardening more efficient, time-saving and body protecting.

I’m a pretty practical person, and in this column I won’t stray from being practical in garden-gifting either.

Although most readers have access to the Internet and can order a multitude of items there, I prefer supporting local merchants and buying locally if it meets our needs. Recently, I visited several stores seeking potential gift recommendations at reasonable prices. Stores are listed at the end of this column and I’m sure you have your own favorites, too.

Our local winter selection of interesting containers, garden art objects and such seems quite limited, so we’ll stay on a more-practical bent.

Fellow Master Gardener Doug Bergstrom recommended some garden books in last Monday’s column, so I’ll stick with other ideas.

Hand pruners probably get more use than any other tool in my yard.

Go for the best quality you can afford. To my mind, spending a few more dollars on a top-quality pruner is well worth it, as it lasts a lifetime, stays sharper and should feel comfortable. Felco and Corona are more expensive, but will last practically forever and have replacement parts.

Consider the size of the user’s hand when looking at pruners and whether a left- or right-handed model would work. I’m a lefty, but have always used right-handed tools, since that’s all that was available in earlier years. Keep in mind, if your best guess isn’t quite right, the recipient may exchange it.

I prefer bypass pruners rather than the anvil type. Bypass has a curved blade and makes clean cuts, while anvil is straight and slightly crushes stems. The latter cuts a larger branch, but why not go for the extra leverage of a long-handled lopper for that job?

Lopping shears also provide a longer reach in addition to the leverage advantage. Many local stores have quite an impressive selection of loppers, varying in handle length, bypass or anvil blade and weight.

Pruning saws are an important item for grooming larger shrubs or trees. There is quite a range of saws, depending on the need. A compact folding model or one that has its own scabbard is important so you won’t get nicked by those sharp teeth.

Trowels and weeders are useful for the gardener and relatively inexpensive. Consider trowel size, ruggedness and handle grip when looking over the selection. Weeders are small but mighty for prying out unwanted plants. They should be sturdy with a comfortable handle.

An indispensable tool in my garden work is a hori hori knife. It’s a hefty, wide-bladed knife with serrations on one side and it’s useful for digging, weeding, scraping and sawing little roots. Locally, I’ve seen several similar types, some narrower and with aluminum blades and they do seem solidly built. Most come with a sheath that can be attached to your belt. Mine has a 6.5-inch blade nearly 2 inches wide mounted on a strong handle, making it a great all-purpose tool.

Good-quality garden gloves are another appreciated gift. I prefer the colorful nitrile gloves because they’re so flexible and breathable. Many stores have a good selection as well as Master Gardeners, who sell them as a fundraising source. Leather gloves and other insulated types provide cold weather protection for the hardy outdoor enthusiast.

An indoor/outdoor thermometer, rain gauge, bird feeder or a pair of garden clogs are other ideas worth considering for the gardener.

All in all, it’s time to get serious about gift-giving. Go check our local sources and you might be surprised at how pleased you’ll be — and how pleased your recipients will be.

Local stores and sources to check:

In Wenatchee: Stan’s Merry Mart, 733 S. Wenatchee Ave; Wilbur Ellis, 1280 S. Wenatchee Ave.; and WSU Chelan Extension Master Gardener office, 400 Washington St.

In East Wenatchee: Grant Road Ace Hardware, 220 Grant Road; Big R Stores, 260 Highline Drive; and Bi-Mart, 780 Grant Road.