Niwaki Hori Hori Japanese Trowel

The Hori Hori is the kind of gift that tends to delight a keen gardener, because it does the job of a trowel, a weeder, a bulb planter and a border knife in a single tool. The standard Niwaki model has a concave carbon-steel blade marked with depth measurements for planting, a serrated edge for cutting through roots and opening compost bags, and comes with a canvas sheath so it can be worn on a belt. Indicative pricing starts around £32 from Niwaki and UK stockists, with sheath included. It sits just below the Felco because it is a more specialised, design-led object rather than a universal buy-it-for-life tool — but for sheer versatility and desirability it is the best all-round gift here, and the trade-off against the secateurs is simply that it cuts earth and roots rather than pruning woody stems. Against a cheap trowel, you gain durability, a far sharper edge and genuine multi-use; you give up the reassurance of a hand guard, and the carbon-steel blade needs a wipe-down and occasional oiling to stay rust-free.