If you consider yourself a gardener, spring is an exciting but busy time of year with all sorts of tasks to tackle: planting seeds for the summer ahead, adding fresh mulch to your flowerbeds, pruning your shrubs, and just generally sprucing up your garden area after a long winter of laying dormant. These products have the stamp of approval from fellow gardeners who bought and reviewed them, and even went so far as to post photos showing how well they worked. Like, it’s honestly hard to believe these Miracle-Gro food spikes can actually bring a plant back from the brink of death — but the proof is in the pics.
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A pair of gauntlet gloves that are totally thornproof so you stay protected from prickly plants and brambles while weeding and trimming in the yard. The faux leather cuffs extend up the forearms for more coverage, with extra padding in the palms and fingertips that doesn’t restrict movement.
BTW, these run small so check the size chart or size up if you’re not sure!
Promising review: “These long garden gloves are perfect for working with thorny plants. The extended length covers your forearms, making it easy to reach deep into bushes or trees without getting scratched. They’ve been especially great for picking fruit from the back of my lemon tree. Durable, comfortable, and very practical.” — Murphy
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in five sizes and 19 colors).
Promising review: “These long garden gloves are perfect for working with thorny plants. The extended length covers your forearms, making it easy to reach deep into bushes or trees without getting scratched. They’ve been especially great for picking fruit from the back of my lemon tree. Durable, comfortable, and very practical.” — Murphy
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in five sizes and 19 colors).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A 10-pound compressed block of coco coir to kickstart your planting endeavors. This magical stuff expands to over 2 cubic feet (or 51 quarts) of pH-balanced, all-purpose soil when you add water, aka the perfect environment for those seedlings to grow into strong veggie plants or flowers.
You can use it on its own or mix it into the soil you already have in your garden.
Promising reviews: “My daughter showed me this coco coir and how well it works with the garden soil that I order from our local company. It’s amazing how well our vegetables grew this year because the roots stayed moist in between watering. I have mostly raised beds, so this is a must.” — Dana
“Excellent soil product replacement; I would HIGHLY recommend for any/all of your planter needs. One brick + 7.5 gallons water = enough soil to fill a 20-inch Veradek Mason Kona planter to the top.” — RL
Get it from Amazon for $19.28.
Promising reviews: “My daughter showed me this coco coir and how well it works with the garden soil that I order from our local company. It’s amazing how well our vegetables grew this year because the roots stayed moist in between watering. I have mostly raised beds, so this is a must.” — Dana
“Excellent soil product replacement; I would HIGHLY recommend for any/all of your planter needs. One brick + 7.5 gallons water = enough soil to fill a 20-inch Veradek Mason Kona planter to the top.” — RL
Get it from Amazon for $19.28.
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A watering wand attachment for your hose that makes it easier to direct that stream with the exact kind of spray and level of intensity you want. This lightweight, slip-resistant handle has a hold-open clip so you can let it continuously spray without tiring out your hand squeezing it, and it has eight adjustable water patterns: jet, angled, full, soaker, mist, flat, cone, and shower.
Need a good hose? This lightweight, flexible one is super highly rated — like, over 70,000 5-star ratings.
Promising review: “If you are tired of getting soaked while trying to reach high-up plants or bending over to water low pots, this wand is a reliable ergonomic solution that simplifies daily garden maintenance.” — Amul
Get it from Amazon for $21.13+ (available in four colors).
Promising review: “If you are tired of getting soaked while trying to reach high-up plants or bending over to water low pots, this wand is a reliable ergonomic solution that simplifies daily garden maintenance.” — Amul
Get it from Amazon for $21.13+ (available in four colors).
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A pack of Miracle-Gro plant food spikes if your leafy green friends keep dying or aren’t showing much growth despite your diligent watering. Just plop these into the soil, and they’ll feed each plant with essential nutrients they need to thrive for up to two months! Watch your struggling plants transform before your eyes like Cinderella before the ball.
You can use these with indoor or outdoor plants! Be sure to research your plant type, however, and make sure that it does well with plant food.
Promising reviews: “Plants are thriving! It brought one back from the brink of death. Easy peasy.” — jasmin
“Must-have for all houseplants! It’s the best plant food! I use these for all of my houseplants — I have around 30 or so. Super easy to use and works perfectly for all my plants. Definitely worth the buy!” — Kala H.
“As soon as I inserted a few of these in each of my vegetable plant, my garden took off from there. This is the only product that I use. Now I am actively growing and eating from my vegetable garden thanks to this product.” — Kia
Get a two-pack (with 48 spikes each) from Amazon for $9.
Promising reviews: “Plants are thriving! It brought one back from the brink of death. Easy peasy.” — jasmin
“Must-have for all houseplants! It’s the best plant food! I use these for all of my houseplants — I have around 30 or so. Super easy to use and works perfectly for all my plants. Definitely worth the buy!” — Kala H.
“As soon as I inserted a few of these in each of my vegetable plant, my garden took off from there. This is the only product that I use. Now I am actively growing and eating from my vegetable garden thanks to this product.” — Kia
Get a two-pack (with 48 spikes each) from Amazon for $9.
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, www.amazon.com
A standing weeder, which has three steel claws that yank weeds out by the root without you having to bend over for hours pulling them out by hand. Because no one wants to kick off summer with new back problems.
Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to make weeding easy.
Grampa’s Gardenware Co. is a small, family-owned business based in Oregon making tools for gardening. They’ve been making this tool since 1913!
Promising review: “I love gardening, but I’m getting older now and weeding is backbreaking work…until I bought this product. It works like a charm, it grabs onto the rootstock, and you simply leverage it out of the ground, root and all. The other end of the lever works well too, like the claw of a hammer; it grabs onto smaller weeds and lifts them out of the ground. Now I can weed a large area in less than half the time without breaking my back…👍” — Michael D. Kutras
Get it from Amazon for $39.97.
Grampa’s Gardenware Co. is a small, family-owned business based in Oregon making tools for gardening. They’ve been making this tool since 1913!
Promising review: “I love gardening, but I’m getting older now and weeding is backbreaking work…until I bought this product. It works like a charm, it grabs onto the rootstock, and you simply leverage it out of the ground, root and all. The other end of the lever works well too, like the claw of a hammer; it grabs onto smaller weeds and lifts them out of the ground. Now I can weed a large area in less than half the time without breaking my back…👍” — Michael D. Kutras
Get it from Amazon for $39.97.
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And a crack weeder tool to show those mischievous weeds growing in through cracks in your sidewalk, patio, and driveway who’s boss. Its L-shaped head and ergonomic handle make it easier to reach into those tight spaces and pull out weeds at the root so they don’t come back.
Promising review: “I’ve been searching for something to remove the weeds for a while and came across this amazing tool. Since I refuse to use chemicals in my yard, I’ve been left with scraped knuckles every time I attempt to remove weeds. The weeds have grown so tightly in the concrete cracks that I pretty much gave up; even weed-whacking it didn’t help much. Yes, you do have to use a little bit of effort, but the end result was so worth it!” — Shelley Arakaki
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A cordless grass trimmer that makes trimming around your garden way easier than trying to navigate tight spots with a mower or weed eater without damaging your decorative borders or delicate flowers, trees, and shrubs. It’s also great for shaping hedges!
The reviewer who shared their before and after pics above said they have an autoimmune disease that makes pulling overgrown weeds tough — but with this handy tool, they were able to clear the 6-foot weeds from their garden bed!
Promising review: “This tool is awesome and it lasts a long time for trimming around your plants. I love it and recommend it for anyone who needs to trim around their plants and/or vegetable trees. Mine is a banana tree and was not kept trimmed around it, but after getting this tool, I’m able to trim around without damaging or making a mess around it.” — IC
Get it from Amazon for $30.99 (available in three colors).
Promising review: “This tool is awesome and it lasts a long time for trimming around your plants. I love it and recommend it for anyone who needs to trim around their plants and/or vegetable trees. Mine is a banana tree and was not kept trimmed around it, but after getting this tool, I’m able to trim around without damaging or making a mess around it.” — IC
Get it from Amazon for $30.99 (available in three colors).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A raised garden bed if you’re looking to start your above-ground gardening journey — this has up to 8 cubic feet of space for growing veggies, flowers, succulents, and more, with drainage holes at the bottle to help the roots aerate and let excess water escape. And the taller height means less bending over and strain on your back!
Promising review: “Love this product for so many reasons. The raised design keeps our dogs and nature friends out of the garden. It’s great for elderly and people with back or knee problems. You can still garden. Easy to put together. We got a 4-foot garden. Possibly overloaded it, but we have four tomato plants, three eggplants, three green peppers, three red peppers, and three strawberries. Highly recommend.” — Cybil
Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in two sizes, plus an extra-deep size, seven colors).
Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in two sizes, plus an extra-deep size, seven colors).
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Or a galvanized garden bed designed to last for many, many years without risk of rot. They’re easily assembled and a budget-friendly option for container gardeners!
Promising review: “I ordered the raised flower bed because I just couldn’t prep my hard ground for a garden. It arrived a week sooner than it said it would be here, and it took me about 20 minutes to put it together. It saved me hours of unnecessary work, and my garden looks great.” — Christine Hanaki
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three sizes and five colors).
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three sizes and five colors).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
Or heart-shaped galvanized raised planter beds here to bring a heavy dose of cuteness to your garden — just imagine how darling your marigolds and daffodils will look sprouting up in that sunshine yellow one! Assembly doesn’t require any tools, just about 20 minutes of your time, which is so worth the level of joy you’ll get out of these all spring and summer.
The reviewer (above, left) ordered silver and painted them the exact colors they wanted, since the shade range was more limited when they purchased.
Promising review: “This was so easy to put together! It’s awesome, looks exactly as pictured. It had great instructions and took me like 20 minutes to put it together. I was super impressed with the quality and how easy the whole thing has been. I highly recommend.” — Bernadette Felice
Get it from Amazon for $49.97+ (available in nine colors).
Promising review: “This was so easy to put together! It’s awesome, looks exactly as pictured. It had great instructions and took me like 20 minutes to put it together. I was super impressed with the quality and how easy the whole thing has been. I highly recommend.” — Bernadette Felice
Get it from Amazon for $49.97+ (available in nine colors).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A variety of sunflower seeds that are easy to grow and low maintenance, with minimal watering required. With a little time and patience, they’ll grow strong into a vibrant flower patch that’ll delight you and your local bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Promising review: “Great seeds. I bought these a few years ago and they were beautiful. I just planted some a few days ago and they are already starting to sprout after only four days.” — Daniel Miller
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two sizes and eight varieties).
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two sizes and eight varieties).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
Or a wildflower mix with 30,000 (!!) seeds to transform your humble garden bed into a colorful butterfly paradise.
Seed Needs is a family-owned small business in Michigan that makes seed packets.
Promising review: “I bought this package hoping to attract butterflies. It did not disappoint. I have the opposite of a green thumb, and this was super easy. I couldn’t tell you the names of any flowers, but we have at least six different types. I overseeded a smaller area, so I will probably make the area larger or only do half the seeds next year. We can go outside at any time and see our beautiful flowers and SO many butterflies! 10/10” — Tesa Taylor
Get a large pack from Amazon for $13.99 (available in eight mixes and two sizes).
Promising review: “I bought this package hoping to attract butterflies. It did not disappoint. I have the opposite of a green thumb, and this was super easy. I couldn’t tell you the names of any flowers, but we have at least six different types. I overseeded a smaller area, so I will probably make the area larger or only do half the seeds next year. We can go outside at any time and see our beautiful flowers and SO many butterflies! 10/10” — Tesa Taylor
Get a large pack from Amazon for $13.99 (available in eight mixes and two sizes).
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www.amazon.com
A soil moisture meter giving you immediate info on your soil’s moisture, pH, nutrients, and light conditions so you can decide whether to water and adjust care as needed. Your garden is likely full of many different types of plants, all of which have different needs, so this tool is essential for keeping your green fam happy.
The photos above show that the meter gave the same results as a separate pH test the reviewer took with their soil (between a 6 and 6.5).
This meter has a single-probe design (aka less danger to your precious plant roots!) that must be inserted at least 2.5 inches into the soil. No batteries are required!
Promising review: “This little gizmo surprised me. My vegetable garden wasn’t going too well. My wife said it needed more water; I said it needed more fertilizer. It turns out, we were both right. After seeing the readings on the Raintrip, I adjusted both. Now the garden is producing like wild! It requires no batteries and, as long as you keep it clean, it’s as accurate as can be. It’s a tiny investment to find out soil acidity/alkalinity, moisture, nutrients and light levels. I wish I had this years ago! Simple to use, well packaged and easy to read. Seriously, this makes me look like I know what I’m doing.” — Jimbo
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors).
This meter has a single-probe design (aka less danger to your precious plant roots!) that must be inserted at least 2.5 inches into the soil. No batteries are required!
Promising review: “This little gizmo surprised me. My vegetable garden wasn’t going too well. My wife said it needed more water; I said it needed more fertilizer. It turns out, we were both right. After seeing the readings on the Raintrip, I adjusted both. Now the garden is producing like wild! It requires no batteries and, as long as you keep it clean, it’s as accurate as can be. It’s a tiny investment to find out soil acidity/alkalinity, moisture, nutrients and light levels. I wish I had this years ago! Simple to use, well packaged and easy to read. Seriously, this makes me look like I know what I’m doing.” — Jimbo
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
Sticky Stake insect traps designed to attract and trap those annoying gnats, flies, and other insects that swarm your container plants. Once it’s caught all the bugs (ugh), just toss it right in the trash.
Promising review: “Holy cow, these suckers work! I’m so grossed out by the result, but at the same time, I have a sick sense of satisfaction. I used these in my houseplants that are breeding fungus gnats. I used them in conjunction with beneficial nematodes, and they definitely cut down on the number of gnats in our house. Unfortunately, I added a new houseplant, plus repotted one that had outgrown its prior home, and we are wrapped up in them again. I’m buying another package of sticky traps as soon as I finish this review!” — Megan
Get a pack of 16 traps (with eight stakes) from Amazon for $8.97.
Get a pack of 16 traps (with eight stakes) from Amazon for $8.97.
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A Seeding Square kit to make evenly sowing your seeds so easy, even kids can jump in and help! And those perfectly spaced rows will be so satisfying to look at every time.
It also comes with a measuring stick called a dibbler that pushes down the dirt to the correct depth for you to drop your seeds. The holes are color-coded to let you know exactly where to plant seeds of different varieties.
Promising review: “Love this thing! I have been gardening for a while, and this takes all of the guesswork out of spacing. I used this for the first time this spring, using the planting chart/guide, and it has worked out perfectly. I have had little to no weeds (I mean, come on, you’re gonna get some weeds). Planting per the Seed Square will, for the most part, choke out the weeds, while promoting growth for the plants. I even used this to plant growing plants, and not just seeds. Just put the square on the ground, used the stick to mark the spot, and dug a hole where it was marked. Simple enough. Would highly recommend. Super easy!” — Jennifer Geisel
Get it from Amazon for $29.95.
Promising review: “Love this thing! I have been gardening for a while, and this takes all of the guesswork out of spacing. I used this for the first time this spring, using the planting chart/guide, and it has worked out perfectly. I have had little to no weeds (I mean, come on, you’re gonna get some weeds). Planting per the Seed Square will, for the most part, choke out the weeds, while promoting growth for the plants. I even used this to plant growing plants, and not just seeds. Just put the square on the ground, used the stick to mark the spot, and dug a hole where it was marked. Simple enough. Would highly recommend. Super easy!” — Jennifer Geisel
Get it from Amazon for $29.95.
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Gardinnovations / Etsy
, Gardinnovations / Etsy
Or a back-saving gardening claw that creates 17 evenly spaced holes at once for planting seeds — work smarter, not harder!
Gardinnovations is a Bridgewater, New Jersey-based small biz that specializes in gardening tools and accessories.
Promising review: “Okay, I’m a gadget fan, and this is a GREAT gadget. At 17 inches long, it works for any kind of in ground, container, or raised bed. Good weight, sturdy. Gives nice, straight, easy-to-space rows. The points are 1 inch apart. Nice spacing for easy thinning, or just seed every second or third or fourth divot depending on what you are planting. For those who think it might be too deep, easy enough to adjust that for your needs. Have personally found that even lettuces come up stronger for slightly deeper than recommended planting depth, then again, live in the hot dry desert. All in all, a great idea and good quality tool.” — Candace Delaney
Get it from Gardinnovations on Etsy for $26.95.
Promising review: “Okay, I’m a gadget fan, and this is a GREAT gadget. At 17 inches long, it works for any kind of in ground, container, or raised bed. Good weight, sturdy. Gives nice, straight, easy-to-space rows. The points are 1 inch apart. Nice spacing for easy thinning, or just seed every second or third or fourth divot depending on what you are planting. For those who think it might be too deep, easy enough to adjust that for your needs. Have personally found that even lettuces come up stronger for slightly deeper than recommended planting depth, then again, live in the hot dry desert. All in all, a great idea and good quality tool.” — Candace Delaney
Get it from Gardinnovations on Etsy for $26.95.
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
A 7-inch hori hori garden knife you’ll wonder how you’ve ever lived without, since it can be used to pop out weeds, dig small holes, cut roots, and more. It comes with a thick leather sheath for storage, with a built-in belt loop for easily carrying it around during your gardening sesh!
In the photo on the left above, the reviewer is showing how they used the knife to methodically pry and release their 60-pound asparagus fern from a pot.
Promising review: “This is such a great tool! Our neighbors who lived in Nicaragua told us about their gardener who had a hori hori knife and used it for everything, like an extension of their arm. Planting bulbs, opening bags of soil, cutting twine, weeding, prying bricks into place, loosening soil, it’s so useful! And this particular one is SHARP! (learned that the hard way! X-( ), the blade is sturdy and the handle is full tang. It’s got a nice girth that fits well in my hand in addition to being fairly beautiful. It comes with a sturdy sheath that hangs faithfully on my garden bag. It may sound silly but I have never been so enamored with a garden tool. This one deserves my full respect.” — Anne
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Promising review: “This is such a great tool! Our neighbors who lived in Nicaragua told us about their gardener who had a hori hori knife and used it for everything, like an extension of their arm. Planting bulbs, opening bags of soil, cutting twine, weeding, prying bricks into place, loosening soil, it’s so useful! And this particular one is SHARP! (learned that the hard way! X-( ), the blade is sturdy and the handle is full tang. It’s got a nice girth that fits well in my hand in addition to being fairly beautiful. It comes with a sturdy sheath that hangs faithfully on my garden bag. It may sound silly but I have never been so enamored with a garden tool. This one deserves my full respect.” — Anne
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
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www.amazon.com
A set of ant bait stakes that’ll help you reclaim your garden from the infestation of ants that have made it their home, potentially harming your plants and biting you while you work in your beds. These’ll eliminate their colonies without the use of toxic insecticides that may harm bees, butterflies, and outdoor pets.
Promising review: “These really do work! We had a big ant infestation in the garden, with four separate nests. I was worried about using these with the dogs in the yard, so the night before we left on a week’s vacation, we set up about 10 of these traps, putting them right beside the nests. As soon as we got home, we picked up all the traps (ALL the bait was gone) so the dogs could not get to them, and we noticed that all of the nests were no longer active. It WORKED. We now put them outside our fence line so the dogs can’t get to them, and it seemed to keep the ants out of the yard all summer. My only issue is that they can get messy. You have to be sure to hold them straight up after you clip off the tab and open the trap, otherwise, the liquid bait inside will spill out.” — pboy
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $11.90.
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $11.90.
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
Cloning paste for your house plants that are currently stagnating and seemingly not producing new leaves or blooms — this stuff can help stimulate new growth so your plant bbs can once again flourish. It’s made for orchids, but you can use this paste on all sorts of plants, like begonias, string of pearls, and pothos.
Here’s how it works: Find a node and peel away the bract to reveal the bud. Apply a small amount of the paste, and in two to eight weeks, a clone will grow out of the node!
Promising review: “This product is just AMAZING!!! I waited a few months before writing this review because I wanted to test the product first. I am just AMAZED! I have to say…depending on the season and the place on the spike where you apply it, you either get a keiki or new flower spike (which is awesome!). Based on my experiments, the lower on the spike, the more chances to get a keiki. The higher on the spike, the more chances to get a new flower spike. If you apply it during winter (tropical area winter), you will more likely get flower spikes. If you apply it during summer (tropical areas), you will more likely get a keiki — at least that’s what I observed!” — Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
Promising review: “This product is just AMAZING!!! I waited a few months before writing this review because I wanted to test the product first. I am just AMAZED! I have to say…depending on the season and the place on the spike where you apply it, you either get a keiki or new flower spike (which is awesome!). Based on my experiments, the lower on the spike, the more chances to get a keiki. The higher on the spike, the more chances to get a new flower spike. If you apply it during winter (tropical area winter), you will more likely get flower spikes. If you apply it during summer (tropical areas), you will more likely get a keiki — at least that’s what I observed!” — Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
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www.amazon.com
A nontoxic disposable hanging fly trap with a smelly bait buzzing pests simply can’t resist. After the bag fills out, all you have to do is dispose of it! Now you can focus on your weeding and harvesting without constantly swatting around your face.
This non-toxic fly bait attracts flies from a distance of 30-40 feet, and you’ll want to position it at least 20 feet away from where you’ll be most of the time, as the smell is not pleasant for humans.
Promising review: “Great product. In the first few days, I saw more flies in my life than I have ever seen in my garden ever. After a couple of days, the water in the bag started turning black, and hundreds of dead flies in there. Originally, I got this product because I have a lime tree that flies lay eggs in the soil. After a couple of days, I don’t see any more flies emerging from the soil. Smells like week-old fish market but a great product, does exactly what it’s advertised.” — Chris
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.10 (also available in larger packs).
Promising review: “Great product. In the first few days, I saw more flies in my life than I have ever seen in my garden ever. After a couple of days, the water in the bag started turning black, and hundreds of dead flies in there. Originally, I got this product because I have a lime tree that flies lay eggs in the soil. After a couple of days, I don’t see any more flies emerging from the soil. Smells like week-old fish market but a great product, does exactly what it’s advertised.” — Chris
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.10 (also available in larger packs).
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www.amazon.com
A deer-repelling spray because you love Bambi, but you don’t want him nibbling around on the flowers and veggies in your garden.
Promising review: “I have bought this twice and am ordering my third bottle now. We live in Maryland, north of DC, and behind a wooded preserve with a high population of deer who are brazen in their approach to eating vegetation. This has saved my hydrangeas, sedum, and even my gorgeous gigantic mums bought from Costco, all of which had been devoured by the deer until I found this product. I put it on once a month. The smell is strong but not offensive.” — KSwan
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
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www.amazon.com
LED grow lights ensuring your seedlings get the proper amount of light needed for them to flourish — and to help struggling houseplants as well! It has a built-in timer, a flexible gooseneck for angling the light, and a clamp so it can attach to the edge of your table.
The timer function has three options: 4 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours — and it follows a 24-hour cycle, so you can set it to turn on for eight hours every day, for example.
Promising review: “My favorite time of year is starting seeds for our vegetable garden. I previously relied on sunlight from our windows, but decided to try a grow light this year. Our germination rate since using those grow lights has dramatically improved. I love how the light has different brightness settings and can also be set to a timer. It’s also so easy to use that my elementary-aged children turn it on every morning and set the timer as one of their chores. Since it is flexible and stays in place well, I’m able to direct light to two different trays on separate shelves with just this one light. Excellent grow light! Would make a great gift for any gardener!” — Melissa
Get it from Amazon for $22.45+ (available in three wattage levels).
Promising review: “My favorite time of year is starting seeds for our vegetable garden. I previously relied on sunlight from our windows, but decided to try a grow light this year. Our germination rate since using those grow lights has dramatically improved. I love how the light has different brightness settings and can also be set to a timer. It’s also so easy to use that my elementary-aged children turn it on every morning and set the timer as one of their chores. Since it is flexible and stays in place well, I’m able to direct light to two different trays on separate shelves with just this one light. Excellent grow light! Would make a great gift for any gardener!” — Melissa
Get it from Amazon for $22.45+ (available in three wattage levels).
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www.amazon.com
, www.amazon.com
Some plant covers to protect your precious garden beds from bugs, cold weather, or strong sun with a lightweight barrier that still allows air and moisture to reach your plants.
Note: As the reviewer below mentions, this doesn’t come with hoops to hold the cover up, so be sure to pick those up if needed.
Promising review: “Overall an excellent product! The material is breathable enough to let airflow and sunlight through. It protected my plants during the rare snowstorm in southeast Texas. I purchased hoops to keep the blanket off my plants to keep the foliage safe from any freeze damage. This isn’t going to protect your foliage unless you keep the fabric off the plant. But it will protect the root system even if used without hoops. If you leave the cloth with snow on it resting on your plant’s foliage, it’s like leaving an ice pack on the foliage for hours/days; you will get foliage damage. Purchase hoops to prevent that from happening. I hope this helps!” — FCaballero
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three material types and five sizes).
Promising review: “Overall an excellent product! The material is breathable enough to let airflow and sunlight through. It protected my plants during the rare snowstorm in southeast Texas. I purchased hoops to keep the blanket off my plants to keep the foliage safe from any freeze damage. This isn’t going to protect your foliage unless you keep the fabric off the plant. But it will protect the root system even if used without hoops. If you leave the cloth with snow on it resting on your plant’s foliage, it’s like leaving an ice pack on the foliage for hours/days; you will get foliage damage. Purchase hoops to prevent that from happening. I hope this helps!” — FCaballero
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three material types and five sizes).
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Or smaller mesh plant covers for protecting single plants like tomatoes, blueberries, and strawberries from insects and other pests that will try to nibble away at your poor plants. These have a drawstring design that lets you secure them at the base.
These help protect them against bad weather as well!
Promising review: “Love the size of these nets. I’m trying my hand at growing tomatoes in pots this year. My friends have told me about their issues with birds, critters, and insects, and these nets seem perfect. They fit perfectly over the cages, and I particularly like the drawstring on the bottom to safeguard against any invaders. There’s no problem watering the plants through the net, and plenty of sun and air get through.” — DC
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four sizes and various packs).
Promising review: “Love the size of these nets. I’m trying my hand at growing tomatoes in pots this year. My friends have told me about their issues with birds, critters, and insects, and these nets seem perfect. They fit perfectly over the cages, and I particularly like the drawstring on the bottom to safeguard against any invaders. There’s no problem watering the plants through the net, and plenty of sun and air get through.” — DC
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four sizes and various packs).
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A 10-pack of reusable seed-starting trays letting you create little greenhouses for those tiny seedlings so they can germinate. They have adjustable vents for regulating the temp and humidity, drain holes at the bottom, and a clear top for observing their growth.
Promising review: “This tray is sturdy and the perfect size for new gardeners or for gardeners who have a smaller garden. Even established gardeners can take advantage of this space-saving tray. Seeds all grow at different rates, and you should be planting the seeds at the right time so they are ready to transplant outside. Once you plant the seeds, you should not take the dome off until about 50% of seeds have germinated or popped through the soil. You also shouldn’t have to water again, if you watered properly when planting, until those sprouts pop out. So this means that anything you plant in a tray should all be expected to pop through the soil at about the same time or you run the risk of overwatering or removing the dome too soon. These smaller trays will help solve all those problems and make things much easier for you. It makes planting the seeds more manageable.” — Lexi
Get it from Amazon for $16.98 (available in three colors, a totally transparent option, and a version with a taller cover).
Get it from Amazon for $16.98 (available in three colors, a totally transparent option, and a version with a taller cover).
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, www.amazon.com
A compact rotating compost bin that’ll innovate your gardening process and save money long-term by turning your food scraps and yard waste into rich, high-quality soil your plants and flowers will thrive in. It’s also not as much of an eyesore as other composters and will fit neatly in between your garden beds.
Promising review: “I balked at first at how pricey this was, but now I can say it was worth it. I fill it once a week, added some dry twigs and leaves from sweeping the driveway, added a little water, and I’ve got the start of some really rich soil nutrients. Don’t believe the reviews that say you’ll have good compost after one month. I’ve owned this since the beginning of summer (it’s now almost fall), live in Denver where the unit gets really hot, and I’m just now getting some good stuff out of the unit. I turn it three full revolutions once a week after adding kitchen waste, and that’s it. I feel good knowing I’m being environmentally friendly while creating great nutrients for my smallish herb and flower garden. The unit is attractive — pretty unobtrusive — so don’t worry about it making your yard look ugly. It’s the best-looking one I found. If you’re serious about composting but don’t want to work too hard at it, and don’t want to spend hours putting together a cheaper unit, this one’s for you.” — Yvie
Get it from Amazon for $349.99+ (available in two colors and two sizes).
Get it from Amazon for $349.99+ (available in two colors and two sizes).
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, www.amazon.com
A stackable planter for a vertical gardening solution, with ample room for your flowers, herbs, and small veggies to grow and absorb sunlight. Imagine this with some adorable strawberry plants inside! 😍
Mr. Stacky is a small business that makes vertical plant growing products.
Promising review: “I have enjoyed the planter not only for my strawberries but I also fit in a few small growing flowers so it’s functional but also looks nice! It was easy to assemble and a high quality for a reasonable price. I do have it sitting on a plant coaster so I can spin it around as needed so all plants get equal sun.” — Myra O.
Get it from Amazon for $35.37 (available in more colors and sizes on their store page, including the larger size pictured on the right above).
Promising review: “I have enjoyed the planter not only for my strawberries but I also fit in a few small growing flowers so it’s functional but also looks nice! It was easy to assemble and a high quality for a reasonable price. I do have it sitting on a plant coaster so I can spin it around as needed so all plants get equal sun.” — Myra O.
Get it from Amazon for $35.37 (available in more colors and sizes on their store page, including the larger size pictured on the right above).
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, www.amazon.com
A pack of neem oil–infused plant wipes to give your houseplants a little TLC. These textured wipes are designed to gently wipe away dust, dirt, and water spots that aren’t just making your plants look dull, but can also block light and hinder that essential photosynthesis. They’re pre-moistened, so just think of them like baby wipes for your precious monstera, pothos, or fiddle leaf fig.
Promising review: “These wipes are designed specifically for cleaning plant leaves, and they do an excellent job of it. I tried them for the first time this past summer, and they cleaned years of dirt, bug residue, and mold off of the leaves of my plants. My houseplants are outdoors from the beginning of May to the end of October, and I live in the woods, so the leaves really do get dirty. The best approach I found is to first spray the plants with water, then use the wipes. The solvents are able to remove what plain water or water + dish soap cannot remove. The final result is plants with clean, shiny leaves. Well worth the price.” — Mark W.
Get it from Amazon for $15.97.
Get it from Amazon for $15.97.
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A five-pack of potato growing bags if your love for potatoes (and all of their wonderful cooked forms) is so boundless, you’re ready to start growing them yourself. If you’re NOT ready to start a self-sustainable potato operation, don’t worry: You can use these for other vegetables like tomatoes, as well as herbs!
Promising review: “We bought the bags to try growing vegetables, herbs, and fruit (tomatoes). We travel full-time so the ease of transportation is terrific. Using new potting soil, and so far, all the plants have grown and produced well. The bags are holding up, and we plan on using them next year.” — Paula
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and multiple packs).
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and multiple packs).
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, www.amazon.com
An AeroGarden indoor herb-growing system, complete with its own automated LED light and water level indicator — no soil needed! Try your hand at growing your own herbs or small vegetables indoors — all you have to do is drop your seeds in, fill the bowl with water and some plant food, and plug it in!
The AeroGarden Sprout comes with a free seed kit to get you started with three herbs (Genovese basil, curly parsley, and dill). You can also pick up one of AeroGarden’s Grow Anything kits if you want to use your own seeds in the future! If you’re interested in growing more, there are a variety of AeroGardens in bigger sizes as well as seed kits that let you grow cherry tomatoes, petunias, salad greens, and more.
Promising review: “I have three of the AeroGardens in different sizes. This size is perfect for herbs you use all the time. The compact size fits anywhere. The system comes with fertilizer. You fill the reservoir, add the fertilizer, put the pods in, and plug it in. The timer for the correct amount of light is preset, so make sure you put the unit in a place where the light won’t bother you. It also reminds you to add fertilizer. Once the plant is hardy enough, you can plant in soil or leave it on your counter in water. I love it!” — Nicki
Get it from Amazon for $39.96+ (available in two colors).
Promising review: “I have three of the AeroGardens in different sizes. This size is perfect for herbs you use all the time. The compact size fits anywhere. The system comes with fertilizer. You fill the reservoir, add the fertilizer, put the pods in, and plug it in. The timer for the correct amount of light is preset, so make sure you put the unit in a place where the light won’t bother you. It also reminds you to add fertilizer. Once the plant is hardy enough, you can plant in soil or leave it on your counter in water. I love it!” — Nicki
Get it from Amazon for $39.96+ (available in two colors).
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, www.amazon.com
Solar-powered light-up flowers designed to come on as the sun goes down, transforming your garden into a whimsical fairyland. You can arrange them in your garden beds and next to real flowers for a magical effect at night.
Promising review: “Love it! Looks beautiful at night, and guests love them! Planning on ordering more soon! Works in all weather, rain, snow, heat! Just need sunlight! Only con is probably not a con, but they only stay lit at night for approximately two and a half hours. That’s fine because we head to bed, so it’s perfect for us! Highly recommended!” — Damon R. Jackson
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $39.99 (also available in a 10-pack).
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $39.99 (also available in a 10-pack).
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Or a two-pack of solar-powered garden lights that look like little fireflies so you can enjoy your gorgeous flowers and landscaping at night as well as during the day.
Promising review: “I am totally obsessed with these lights. I bought my first set and had them for about a week and couldn’t get over how lovely they were. So I have now purchased two more sets. They light up my flowers and azalea bushes beautifully. They have a lovely orange glow like little fireflies.” — A Lombardo
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.98 (also available in larger packs).
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.98 (also available in larger packs).
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, www.amazon.com
A Stab-A-Nut if gum balls in your garden are the bane of your existence, especially with how your back feels after an hour of picking them up. This clever tool lets you quickly collect gum balls (along with walnuts, chestnuts, and macadamia nuts) without having to bend over.
Promising review: “Bought this for my dad whose back gets to barking picking up the thousands of sweet gum balls…pokey balls as we call ’em. He’s used it a few times now and says it definitely helps his back and doesn’t take too much extra time, if any, than doing it by hand. He says you do have to play around a little bit to get used to adjusting the head around as you’re picking them up, so you can fit as many as possible in the fingers before emptying. But it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. It works picking up from rocks (without picking up the rocks) and in grass, as well as hard surfaces. Although these aren’t the cheapest items to purchase and don’t replace the shoveling of large piles, they do seem to work as advertised when going around picking up the random scattered ones if you can’t shell out the $$$ for the larger machines this company makes.” — Eric
Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (also available with a collection bag).
Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (also available with a collection bag).
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, www.amazon.com
A pack of Velcro garden ties that are easier to use than basic twine or wire, softer on your plants, and REUSABLE from season to season — so a money-saver, too. You can cut them to whatever length you need!
Promising review: “I’ve used these for years on my tomatoes, cucumbers, and cantaloupe that are trellised. They provide great support, are easy to apply, and will hold all year long. I’ve tried several other types and keep coming back to this.” — Jem
Get it from Amazon for $5.47+ (available in three sizes).
Get it from Amazon for $5.47+ (available in three sizes).
The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.
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