(ARA) - It's a dilemma many of us are faced with every year — what to buy mom for Mother's Day. She's done so much for us throughout the years, so what can we possibly give that will show her just how much we appreciate her?

A look at Mother's Day spending trends shows some of the traditional and service-experience gifts, such as flowers, candy, dinner, or even a trip to the spa are still very popular. But, for some families, these ideas have been overused or appear too generic.  As a result, more people are now looking to give mom a gift that truly reflects who she is, that allows her to get closer to her hobbies and interests.  Some people also prefer to give a gift that can be used long after the holiday has come and gone.

One hobby that can be enjoyed nearly year-long and that continues to grow in popularity among women is gardening. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 57 percent of U.S. women participated in some form of gardening in the past 12 months.

If you have a gardening-enthusiast mom, you're in luck. There are plenty of new, affordable gardening gifts you can give mom that will enhance her experience outside. The following are just a few that can make her gardening easier and more enjoyable:

With container gardening now one of the most popular forms of gardening, a beautiful planter is always appreciated.  Whether mom has a small or large yard, or lives in a cold or warm weather climate, container gardening offers her a great way to enjoy the benefits of gardening without requiring much space.  For the mother who prefers container gardening, there's a wide variety of beautiful, yet ultra-lightweight planters now available that even replicate the genuine look of many natural finishes, including wood, stone and ceramic.  Polylam 4 planters by Dynamic Design, for instance, aren't just attractive, but are also more durable and a fraction of the weight of traditional planters.

For the mom who's pressed for time, multi-tasking garden tools are a must. Today, there are more gardening tools than ever designed to save time and effort.  These tools are valuable because they can be used for more than one job.  And not only do they minimize the number of tools mom will need to use, carry and store, but they can help her complete her gardening tasks quicker.

The new Planter's Buddy from True Temper is a great example.  This unique 7-in-1 garden tool features a uniquely shaped, durable, stainless steel blade and combination straight and serrated edges, so mom can use it for transplanting, splitting open soil or mulch bags, weeding, cutting twine or even sod without ever needing to reach for another tool.  On the front and side are 12-inch measurement markings for easy measuring of distance when planting.  And a poly tamper on the end makes it easy to tamp down wood stakes, markers, or even fertilizer spikes. And it's an all-in-one convenient, easy-to-carry tool.

Or, why not a tool that's designed to save mom from a sore back? Weeding is a chore that takes countless hours and meticulous attention to detail.  But Hound Dog  has an innovative and ergonomic tool, the Weed Hound, that will keep mom's knees straight and her hands clean, while making weeding easy and efficient. The long handle of the tool and comfortable grip means she can pull out weeds, and roots, while she's still standing; simply place, step and pull.  Its unique plunger clears weeds after pulling and aerates soil for a healthy lawn. And best of all, no more bending, stooping or kneeling!  For added value, you could print up your own certificate and weed the garden for mom, free of charge.  Or, she may enjoy it if you commit to spending some special one-on-one time with her in the garden.

Remember, too that not all gardening-related gifts need to be used outdoors. Once mom has completed all her gardening tasks, pamper her by treating her with a gift basket filled with hand creams, lotions and exfoliates specifically designed for gardeners. Many are fortified with additional nutrients that work to replenish skin that's been exposed to the outdoor elements.

Most importantly, remember that no matter what you decide to purchase when shopping this Mother's Day, it's the thought that counts. Your mom is sure to appreciate anything you might give her if it helps her enjoy her gardening hobby even more!

Courtesy of ARAcontent