30 Products Longtime Gardeners Swear By

Grampa's Gardenware Co. is a family-owned small business based in Oregon that makes gardening tools.

Promising review: "We just moved into a new home and I couldn’t find my Grandpa’s Weeder tool. My husband said he had gotten rid of it via donation, not knowing it’s something I’ve used for over 20 years! Well, needless to say, I found it here on Amazon and was sooo happy that I could replace it. I cannot weed without this tool, and honestly, I won’t even try. This gets the entire root of your weed and removes the possibility of it coming back! Once in a while, if a weed is super-sized, it may take more than one removal, but it really does a phenomenal job and saves my back, too. It’s also kinda fun to use." —Rachael

Get it on Amazon for $39.97.

3. A seed and seedling spacer toolthat'll show you exactly where to put your seeds. The color-coded square helps you space out seeds just right, so your veggies grow in neat little rows instead of chaotic clumps. Just press into the soil, poke holes with the included dibber, and plant.

A dibbler is a measuring stick that pushes down dirt to the correct depth for you to drop your seeds.

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, use the stick to mark the spot, and dig a hole where it was marked. Simple enough. Would highly recommend. Super easy!" —Jennifer Geisel

Get it from Amazon for $29.95.

4. A pack of Miracle-Gro water-storing crystals to keep your outdoor plants perfectly hydrated, without you having to guess if you're overwatering or underwatering. You mix it in with your regular soil, and the crystals swell to absorb water and then release it later.

Promising review: "I am an avid gardener and I swear by this product. Especially having lived in South Carolina, New Mexico, and southern Texas, it is very important to keep your plants hydrated throughout the day. This product is excellent to add to container plants or even directly into the ground. I highly recommend it." —Dr.K

Get it from Amazon for $11.53

5. A pair of breathable bamboo gloves that'll make you feel like a gardening pro. They're breathable, flexible, and grippy enough to keep a solid hold on your tools (or that stubborn weed that refuses to budge). Plus, they're made from bamboo, so your hands stay cool and comfy while you work your backyard magic.

Promising review: "I have bought many, many pairs of gardening gloves, hoping to protect my hands, but I put them on and end up taking them off. I simply do not like not being able to feel the plants I am working with or the texture of the planting material. These gloves are totally different. The black material on the fingers and palms protects my hands while still allowing me to feel the dirt. They are comfortably cool and fit well. I am an avid gardener, and these gloves are holding up and in use every day." —Amy D,

Get it on Amazon for $7.49+ (available in three sizes).

6. Or a pair of gardening gloves with extra-long sleeves so you don't have to stress about poison ivy, thorny branches, or mosquito bites while you're out there doing your thing. Bug season is no joke, so it helps to stay covered. These'll also save your arms if you accidentally brush up against something prickly.

Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed

NOMPI Gloves is a woman-owned small business in New Jersey that makes garden gloves with long, pretty sleeves. The idea came to founder Lynne Eichenbaum after she contracted poison ivy while tending to her vegetable garden.

OK, I genuinely love these. I've been gardening a looong time — my mom is a horticulturist, so I've been doing it since I was a kid — and these are my favorite. The nitrile glove is thin enough that I can still feel what I'm doing, but not so thin that it rips easily. It's been super hot where I live, and instead of throwing on a long-sleeve shirt to cover my arms, I've just been sliding these on, and honestly, they're so much more comfortable. I pull them down during breaks so I don't get too hot (though the sleeves are cotton, so they're already breathable and lightweight), and then pull them up when I get back to work. The fun and colorful butterfly pattern is just a nice lil treat.

Promising review: "Made well. Great idea. I don’t need expensive leather things. I get a lot of use out of these, picking berries and trimming prickly bushes!" —Amy

Get it from NOMPI Gloves on Etsy for $19.99.

7. A crack weeder tool to make your pathways, driveways, and patios like new again. The uniquely shaped head allows the tool to fit into tight cracks and grab weeds by the roots for easy removal.

Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed

Garden Guru is a small business that sells lawn and garden tools.

After moving to the East Coast, I quickly learned that the stone pathways around my home are basically a spa retreat for moss and weeds. The cracks collect moisture, trap organic debris, and offer *just* enough shelter to help unwanted greenery flourish, especially with all the shade and rain we get. I didn't want my outdoor space to turn into a jungle, so I grabbed this tool and got to work. It's weirdly satisfying — kind of like flossing, but for your stone paths. The bent tip slides right into the cracks and pulls weeds out from the root, which helps keep them from coming back anytime soon. I've used it on my pathways, driveway, and anywhere else something tries to sprout where it shouldn't. The handle is comfortable, and it doesn't take much effort to use. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites. If you've got hardscaping, you need this in your toolkit.

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

8. A 3D-printed spout that'll turn your empty milk jug into a fully functional watering can. It's lightweight, easy to fill at the sink, and a genius little upgrade for anyone trying to green their garden and their habits at the same time.

Granny Geeks / Etsy

Granny Geeks is a woman-owned small business based in Georgia that makes 3D-printed garden accessories.

Promising review: "Such a clever item. My hose is hard to use so I can fill a jug in my kitchen sink and still have it water my plants well! I loved it so much, this is my second (one for indoor plants which require distilled water and one for my outdoor plants)!" —Melissa

Get it from Granny Geeks for $5.99 (available in five colors).

9. A pack of the 20 most popular vegetable seeds to basically turn your vegetable beds into your own organic produce market. From beets and cucumbers to cabbage and okra, there are enough seeds to grow plenty of produce year round.

Pro tip: Many local libraries are participating in the seed library movement, offering free seeds to community members for gardening. Check your local library to see if libraries near you have one.

Each pack includes 1,300+ seeds consisting of zucchini, eggplant, beet, pumpkin, butternut squash, cabbage, bok choy, cauliflower, broccoli, rapini rabe, celery, cucumber, kohlrabi, radish, bell pepper, cayenne pepper, okra, Brussels sprout, beefsteak tomato, and cherry tomato.

Promising review: "I love this kit. It has everything you need if you’re planning a garden. I’m growing hydroponic leafy greens and vegetables at the moment, so some of these seeds aren’t possible for me to use. All the ones I have used have germinated; I haven’t had any failed germinations. I’ve harvested so many greens since my purchase." —Drea

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

10. A Nisaku Hori Hori weeding knife that'll help you dig, weed, and slice through stubborn roots. It has both a straight and serrated edge for tackling different tasks, plus inch markings to help you plant at just the right depth.

Promising review: "I have a standard weeding tool (long, slim metal tool with a forked tip and wood handle) that would bend when I put too much force on it or plunged it in the ground too deeply to dig out those monster weed roots. I was looking for something sturdier.

It feels very solid in my hand with no flex or give when I plunge it into the ground and pry up on it. The photos show me using it on a large agave I removed; the serrated edge was perfect for cutting the fibrous roots and quickly dislodging dirt from within the root ball back into the hole for replanting. It will similarly perform well when removing new plants from larger pots; it will easily break up the soil for planting. I plan to get years of use out of it." —Martin

Get it from Amazon for$22.10.

11. A vertical planter so you can grow herbs, strawberries, or flowers without giving up your whole patio. Just stack the five tiers, fill with soil, and plant up to 20 things in one tidy, compact tower.

Mr. Stacky is a small business that makes vertical plant growing products.

Promising review: "It is pretty sturdy, holds up to howling winds quite well. I did put regular topsoil in the bottom of the sections to add some weight to it (we live in a very gusty area). I then topped the sections of with potting soil. It's easy to water, sometimes to well at the bottom. ( I planted strawberry plants on top and seeded the bottom with taller herbs. It's a great addition to my gardens. I also ordered one for my mom, and she loves it just as much as I do." —Dave & Chessey

Get it from Amazon for $36.95 (available in more sizes and colors via their store page, including the pink option above).

12. A battery-operated 2-in-1 handheld hedge and grass trimmer that'll help you clean up messy garden edges, trim back overgrown shrubs, and neaten up any rogue patches of grass. It comes with two blade attachments you can swap out depending on the job, and it's lightweight enough to use one-handed.

Promising review: "Every year I dread pulling the weeds from our flower boxes. This year I ordered this product and just mowed through them and then picked them up. The cutting ability was great, and I was able to maneuver around the bulbs that are blooming. The noise level was fine. I am a senior and wanted something I could hold easily. This worked so well, I recommend it to everyone. I also like being able to recharge it, but it didn't need recharging and I got through the whole front yard flower boxes and between pavers." —Karen Franklin

Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in three colors).

13. A pair of stainless-steel gardening shears for clipping cuttings and deadheading. Folks say they're lightweight and easy to use, and despite their size, can cut through really thick, tough stems.

Promising review: "I needed something sharp and small enough for deadheading smaller blooms, but that would also do well with any size of bloom. These are my new favorite pair. They're sharp and easy to use. The small push lock that keeps the blades closed is very easy to unlock and relock. I would highly recommend these to any gardener professional or hobbyist like me." —JoJo

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in orange or blue).

14. A galvanized steel planter bed for neatly planting all your veggies and fruits. It has an open bottom, which provides good drainage and keeps weeds away from your soil.

Promising review: "Pretty straightforward to build. I have 6 of them in my garden and have had them since March 2023. It's now January 2025 and they are still holding up pretty well." —Dylan

"For the past 40 years have always had a garden in the ground. So tired of weeds taking over. Decided to try raised beds. Love this. Easy to assemble." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in two sizes).

15. Or a raised garden bed that removes the need for bending or kneeling, preserving your back and knees as you tend to your garden. It's made from Chinese fir, a great wood for outdoor furniture and construction because it doesn't warp out of shape when it gets damp or wet.

Promising review: "This is my third raised bed. It is very easy to put together, especially after the third time. It is very sturdy; the one I bought three years ago is still standing tall. I like the drainage holes. I do deep watering, so I never worry about the bed being waterlogged. It is easy to move when it is empty, not so much when it is full of dirt." —Anita

Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in three sizes and three finishes).

16. A 21-inch Ryobi self-propelling lawnmower because yard work is way more tolerable when your mower doesn't sound like a helicopter. This one's battery powered-powered (read: quiet), and the charge lasts forever — I did both my front and back lawn with juice left over. It's a very worthy investment if you want to maintain a pristine lawn all year long without a lot of effort on your part (self-propelling really is awesome).

Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed

My house has a lot of lawn: over 3,000 square feet. When we first moved in, I bought a cheap battery-powered mower that could barely handle either the front or the back yard on a single charge. Not ideal. This Ryobi mower is the total opposite. I can mow both the front and back with charge to spare.

A "command center" lets you activate turbo mode and lights, and adjust the self-propel speed right from the handle (great for slowing down when you're trying to mow a corner). Turbo mode gives you an extra boost for tough patches, and it comes with a grass catcher bag, though I always keep mine on mulch mode because it's better for the lawn. The handle folds down for easy storage.

Bonus: the 40V battery works with over 85 other Ryobi tools, which I love because it means I can expand my collection without collecting a bunch of different batteries.

Promising review: "I have about 1,500 sq. ft. yard and I have mowed it four times and the battery is at 50%. It does great on a 25% incline slope. It has so much power that I had to lower it to 50%. Best lawnmower I have ever owned. Highly recommend." —RchoHomeOwner

Get it from The Home Depot for $549.

17. A seven-piece garden tool kit if you're new to gardening and want a one-stop shop for all your needs. This kit has a folding stool so you can sit comfortably while you work, and all the tools you'll need for basic gardening tasks.

amazon.com, amazon.com

The seven-piece kit includes a weeding fork, cultivator, weeder, transplanter, trowel, folding stool, and tool bag.

Promising review: "This stool is extremely convenient. I hate squatting in the garden and flailing around trying to find my tools when I need to dig something up. This has several small pockets for the small tools it comes with, plus a large pocket in the middle where I keep my larger clippers and gloves. Since I have things stored inside now, I don't fold it, but before that, the folding was great because it takes up almost no space in my shed. Can't beat the convenience of using and storing all of these things in one compact package. The tools themselves are decent, too. The shovels are flatter than I am used to, but it has actually come in handy in some areas, like around my stone wall." —Molly

Get it from Amazon for $36.99 (available in two colors).

18. A pair of Fiskars 28-inch tree trimmers so you can finally cut back those rogue branches without feeling like you just did CrossFit. They've got power-boosting levers that make it way easier to slice through thicker limbs, and the blades stay sharp and gunk free.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "LOVE these 15-inch loppers! I had a hydrangea bush with tall, dead stems. I couldn't prune them with pruning shears (not enough strength), and my pruning saw couldn't fit in the tight base of the shrub. With these loppers, I found I could cut the tall dead stems easily at the base!! I had so much fun, I almost did the whole shrub. I wish I had known about these shorter loppers years ago." —senior citizen

Get it from Amazon for $24.98+ (available in seven styles).

19. Or a pole saw if you're done playing the ladder game every time a tree branch misbehaves. It extends anywhere from nearly 8 feet–27 feet (depending on the model you purchase), letting you trim high limbs from the ground. The sharp, triple-cut blade makes quick work of branches, and the lightweight design won't destroy your arms in the process.

Promising review: "Great product! Very strong design. Managed to cut three 10cm diameter (4 inches) branches about 6m high (19ft), without much trouble. The weight of the pole helps do the sawing, so you don't need much strength, except to lift the pole vertically. The saw went through the branches easily. Less than three minutes for each one. Would definitely recommend it to anyone." —Alexandre Mendes

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four lengths).

20. A bottle of organic Joyful Dirt concentrated plant food and fertilizer for indoor or outdoor plants that you mix into either soil or the plant's water. Within a few weeks, your plants will look noticeably healthier and taller.

Joyful Dirt is a small business based in Portland, Oregon, making organic, all-purpose plant food since 2013.

Promising review: "We love this stuff. We use it on all of our house plants and our outdoor garden. The indoor plants look better day and night about a week after application. Love that it’s all natural too, and don’t have to worry about any harmful chemicals. Been using this stuff for about three years now!" —DJ D.

Get it from Amazon for $22.95.

21. A pack of reusable Velcro garden ties that'll gently keep your plants in the right spot. Use these to secure stems to stakes, trellises, or cages without damaging anything delicate. They're soft, adjustable, and way easier to manage than twist ties or string.

Promising review: "This product is something I can't live without as a gardener. I use it to attach many plants to stakes to help them stay upright, or climbing vines, etc. It sticks to itself, you just cut off the length you need, the roll lasts for a surprising amount of time, and I have found I can reuse it several times even after being exposed to the weather and elements (we live in a part of the country that gets ice, snow, wind, and baking hot sun). It is also gentle on the plant stems." —Victoria Mitchell

Get it from Amazon for $6.90+ (available in five sizes).

22. Agarden dibber to make planting bulbs, sowing seeds, and breaking up clumps of dirt easier than ever — every gardener should have one of these babies!

Rockin K Creations Shop /Etsy

Rockin K Creations Shop is a family-owned small business based Lemont, Illinois.

Promising review: "This has become a 'go-to' garden tool!! I've used it from weeding and seeding to poking holes to try and find the mole/vole tunnels in the yard. It would make a great gift for your gardening friend. Unique AND useful!!" —Penny Sterud

Get it from Rockin K Creations Shop for $24.95 (available in six materials).

23. A pack of five heavy-duty fabric grow bags so you can grow big plants with ease. These grow bags use a breathable material, which keeps roots and soil oxygenated and cool throughout the year. Great for developing robust, fibrous root systems that stay healthy without needing regular root pruning.

Promising review: "So I'm no plant pot-biologist, but these are awesome. They're durable and strong. The handles are stitched on super well. They are also solid enough to hold the soil and plant with no problem while letting enough oxygen to the roots to create a bigger root ball, leading to bigger plants/yields. Best mesh flower pots by far." —Tom Higgins

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in tan or black and in 10 sizes).

24. A potting bench to turn your backyard into your new favorite workspace. This one will give you a waist-height spot to repot, trim, and admire your plants without hunching over like a Victorian ghost. It'll hold your tools, display your prettiest blooms, and even offer a little shelf for whatever garden project you're working on next.

Promising review: "Nothing to dislike about this garden bench. It's not built for heavy-duty gardening, which is what I love about it. There's storage, a drawer, and a little shelf for my supplies. It's a private area for just me to play with my plants and bulbs. Super easy to clean up, too. Love it!!" —April

Get it from Amazon for $122.99+ (available in three wood finishes; be sure to apply the $12 off coupon when applicable).

25. A smart sprinkler controller that'll take over your yard's watering schedule with actual intelligence. It uses weather data to skip watering when it rains, adjusts automatically with the seasons, and lets you control everything from your phone. You'll get a greener, healthier lawn without wasting water or fiddling with confusing timers.

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I bought this Rachio 3 because I need remote control of my irrigation system. I did research, and Rachio 3 came to the top of the list. My old one is Hunter, which is ok but not Wi-Fi controllable. Plus, it is hard to schedule different watering schedules at the same time. The Rachio 3 is really smart and very user-friendly. It will skip the water day if rainfall is in the forecast. I wish I bought this unit years ago." —Turning Point

Get it from Amazon for $164.99+ (available in two styles).

26. A pack of three rolling plant caddies to make sure you can move your heaviest plants without much effort. Each caddy can hold up to 80 pounds, too, so we're talking about some pretty big plants!

Promising review: "I have purchased quite a few of these plant trolleys ever since we built our new deck last year. They make the larger plants so much easier to move around, whether on the deck or inside the house in the winter, and they do not leave marks on the deck. The saucers are a good depth to catch water, but not so deep that water stagnates and allows mosquitoes to grow. I have reordered a couple of times as the collection of plants grows; the original trolleys are still just fine after a year of use." —Sunny C.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).

27. An extremely flexible, kink-free garden hose so you can water your yard with ease. It's also way lighter than other hoses — perfect for those of us who don't want to turn watering the garden into a cardio session.

Promising review: "This thing is an absolute game changer. I mean, it's heavy-duty yet super lightweight, which is a total win-win. It's like the Hulk of garden hoses: strong and sturdy but easy to handle. I can drag it around my yard without feeling like I'm lugging around a huge snake. It's also a vibrant green color, so it adds a nice pop to my outdoor space. I highly recommend it to all my fellow garden enthusiasts out there. You won't regret it!" —Fouad al Maawdah

Get it from Amazon for $14.85+ (available in eight lengths).

28. A garden hose nozzle sprayer with up to eight patterns that'll fit all standard garden hoses. Reviewers love (there are over 16,200 5-star reviews!) the 100% heavy-duty metal handle, and that it can take on jobs as simple as lawn watering all the way up to more complicated ones like muddy dog washing.

Promising review: "The double seal where the handle connects to the hose is a high-quality feature. I chose this model because of the lever flow control. As an avid gardener, this is better than the trigger-activated garden hose nozzles." —Ernest G.

Get it from Amazon for $21.80+ (available with three pattern quantities).

29. A pair of supportive, waterproof clogs if you're always tracking mud into the house after spending time in the garden. When you're done outside you can just wipe 'em down or hose 'em off.