Make your own Christmas gardening gifts

Give the gift of greenery with a personal touch this Christmas with these easy, low budget diy plant projects from West Hampstead’s premier balcony gardener, Isabelle Palmer

Christmas window box

What you’ll need: three dwarf chamaecyparis; heather; window box; compost; slate chippings and/or pebbles; fake snow; baubles, lights and Christmas toys for decoration

1. Place some of the slate chippings/pebbles at the base of your empty window box to cover any holes and allow for drainage

2. Fill two thirds of the window box with the compost. Plant the three dwarf Chamaecyparis in a row, leaving a small gap in between each for the heather

3. Plant the heather in the soil, then add the rest of the compost to the top of the window box to secure. Add the slate chippings to the top for decoration

4. Decorate the tree with the fake snow and baubles. For a really magical effect that makes a great table display, add pine cones and tea lights. You could even add a toy reindeer, elf or whatever else bests suits the person it’s for. You’ll have an instant festive woodland.

Christmas wreath

A wreath makes a lovely festive gift. I like to add herbs to my wreath displays - lavender, sage, thyme and rosemary are good options as they are all sturdy. Tip: soak the foam before to soften it. It makes it easier to stick the herb stalks into it.

Gifts in glass jars

Plant a succulent inside an old jam jar, then label it with the person’s name using a coloured ribbon. These also make great table pieces for Christmas dinner.

Isabelle’s book, The Balcony Gardener, is available on Amazon or from thebalconygardener.com