Gear up for Father’s Day

Hannah Stephenson looks at the latest gadgets and gifts to give your green-fingered dad a helping hand

Whether he’s digging, pruning, weeding, watering or just sitting enjoying the garden, there are plenty of gifts out there for your green-fingered dad to keep him busy – once he’s finished putting his feet up for Father’s Day, of course.

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 him 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 your dad 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 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, while the two-speed selector lets you adjust to match each task. £219, excluding battery and charger. For stockists, visit egopowerplus.co.uk

Five Lose Dad In The Garden Centre book

This fun, thoughtful gift, written and illustrated in the classic Enid Blyton style and featuring the original characters, is personalised for your dad with his name and a message.

£14.99, www.gettingpersonal.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, plus it reduces the need to kneel on the ground. The pressure-treated timber can be painted to complement any garden colour scheme. £104.99, available nationwide from high street stores and garden centres. For stockists, visit www.forestgarden.co.uk

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

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 an altogether more classy piece of kit, made from oiled beechwood and Tampico fibre, a durable, porous fibre from the agave plant, and will help him scrub up after a day planting. £12.95, www. oxfordbrushcompany.com

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. Rustfree and with a rain drain.

£895, www.prezzybox.com

National Park stay

If your dad isn’t a gardening gadget fan or would rather just get away from it all for a few days instead, plump for a voucher to treat him to a luxurious night at a National Park location in the UK. There are more than 190 destinations to choose from, including the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and ranging from manor houses to country cabins.

£89.99, www.buyagift.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. This means it should last longer than many of its competitors and comes with a five-year guarantee. £35, for stockists visit www.hozelock. com