When Bunnings asked if I’d like to have four $100 Bunnings e-vouchers to give away to new GardenDrum Australian e-newsletter signups, my first thought was “oh yes please” and my second was “hmmm……now what would I buy with $100 in Bunnings?”

(To see how to be in the draw, go to the end of this post)

I love going anywhere that sells plants and gardening tools and equipment. It’s amazing how you can dream up all sorts of possibilities as you wander around the aisles, seeing new products and ideas.

So I thought I’d take myself off to my nearest Bunnings and do just that – wander the aisles and imagine 10 different ways I would spend a $100 gift voucher, either for myself or to buy Christmas gifts for family and friends. Pity I can’t win it!

This is my personal selection:

1. $94.00 Bosch ISIO Shrub Shear

One of the most useful garden tools I’ve bought in a while is a Bosch battery powered small shrub shear. I’ve quite a few small clipped lilly pillies and it makes keeping them nicely shaped a breeze. It’s lightweight and the battery lasts for ages. My daughter is just starting out with new hedging plants, so this is ideal.

2. $96.90 for a Tumbleweed Worm Farm [$67.00] plus Worm Affair 500 Live Worms [$29.90]

Why don’t I have a worm farm? I’m not sure, as so many people I know reckon they’re easy to set up and maintain and the worm ‘tea’ is garden magic. I’ve got a shaded spot around the side of the house that would make them a nice home.

3. $99.90 for five x folding Hoppa Kid’s chairs

My kids are grown up but a think littlies would love these Aussie animal chairs. With five of them you’ve got enough for your own and their friends, at picnics, camping or your own back deck.

4. $95 for 3 x pairs of Ironclad gloves

I first got some Ironclads as a giveaway years ago and they lasted for ages, even lifting chunks of very abrasive concrete around. With sizes from small to extra-large, there’s a size for everyone. I’m greedy – I’d like one each of the Yardworx, Cowboy and Landscaper.

5. $99.90 for 5 x salad greens bowls

Cut-and-come-again lettuces and greens last for ages through the summer. These plastic terracotta-look bowls filled with lush leaves would solve several of my gift dilemmas.

6. $105.00 for a $30 Alfresco Painted Pottery decorative pot and $65.00 Cascade palm

A smidge over budget but I couldn’t resist this cooly elegant combination of creamy-white pot and easy-care palm for a covered patio.

7. $90.00 for 2 x FSC Mimosa Somerset timber folding chairs

FSC, or Forest Stewardship Council certified timber means what you’re buying is from sustainable sources. This small folding chair is surprisingly comfortable, looks classy and is a handy extra chair when you’re entertaining.

8. $98.55 for 45 x potted colour [$2.19]

Bunnings always has a great range of small, cheap plants. Some are annuals like pretty petunias, marigolds and impatiens but many will last for several years like dahlia, pentas and gazania. A quick fix for any summer garden.

9. $95.88 for 6 x Tibouchina ‘Peace Baby’

I’ve been trialling this small white-flowering shrub tibouchina for about 6 months now and it’s fabulous. Pretty leaves and very long-flowering. Six of these would make a great small half metre hedge or a repeat accent plant in a mixed shrub border.

10. $103.98 for 2 Fiskars spades – a Fiskars Pointed Ergonomic garden spade [$44.98] plus a Fiskars Post hole shovel [$58.98]

I’ve got two Fiskars spades and I love them. The little one is very light and easy to use in tight spots and the long-handled one gives you plenty of purchase and levering power.

All you have to do to be in the draw to win the $100 Bunnings e-voucher is:

1. Sign up to GardenDrum’s weekly e-newsletter today – just put your email address in that box up in the top right corner and click ‘send’

AND

2. when you receive your weekly digest email, use the hyperlinks to click through to a GardenDrum blog post, news item, snippet or gallery