35 Items To Help You Enter Your Gardening Era

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 also are 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." —Avraham C

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

3. 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 purchased it for my mother as a gift and I absolutely love the product. Huge variety and very affordable price! The package looks great and each seed bag is individually labeled along with a QR that takes you directly to all the information you need pertaining to that type of vegetables. Love it." —V. G

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four other seed sets).

4. 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: "I never write reviews but had to share what a great find this was! I have routinely killed every living plant I've ever brought home. Joyful Dirt has completely changed that. All my plants look full and healthy with little to no effort on my part! I am so amazed that for teacher gifts this year, I am giving terrariums and will include a shaker of Joyful Dirt to go with each. If you have any trouble keeping plants alive, this is the solution." —KB13

Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in two sizes).

5. 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, black, or blue).

6. Or 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: "When I saw this product, I needed to purchase it for myself. I have been into gardening lately, and spend a lot of time outside. My back always hurts from bending over, or my knees ache. So having this chair low enough to the ground is so convenient! I also love that it comes with the tools and the tool bag attached to the chair. It folds flat for easy storage. I love it! —sheena bostick

Get it from Amazon for $36.99 (available in an 11-piece set).

7. A removable wheelbarrow tray that helps organize all your garden tools in one place. It has a spot for everything you need — it even has a drink holder and a water-resistant compartment to keep your cellphone safe from the elements.

Walmart

This tray includes long-handle tool holders, short-handle tool holders, a drink holder, and a water-resistant compartment to keep your cellphone safe from the elements. It fits most four, five, six, and seven cubic-foot wheelbarrows and stays securely attached at angles up to 90 degrees.

Promising review: "Love this!!! A great idea turned into a functional product. It's awesome. Keeps everything together and clean, out of the mulch and mud. No more running back and forth to the shed. It's a shed on wheels. Transformed my wheelbarrow. Highly recommend, you won't regret buying this cool new product." —Kelly

Get it from Walmart for $41.80.

8. 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.

Promising review: "True to size. Good arch support. Solid sole. Was able to walk over a pile of thorny bougainvillea trimmings with no problem. Waterproof. Good weight. Great all-around gardening clog." —Amazon Customer

"Love mine for gardening and muddy dirt road trips to the mailbox. Living in the country it’s great to have quick slip-on shoes with traction and waterproof for heading to the garden or orchards — and so cute!" —Wendy Marie

Get them from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in women's sizes 6–11 and 31 different colors/patterns).

9. A pack of Miracle-Gro water-storing crystals for making sure you don't over or underwater your plants. You mix it in with your regular soil, and the crystals swell to absorb water and then release it later.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I love these crystals. The heat is here, and this product keeps my plants in containers from drying out so fast and dying. With these moisture control crystals, I can even leave home for a couple of days with no worry." —Peggy Ryan

Get it from Amazon for $11.53.

10. A protective sunhat with a mesh net so you can garden without fear of being attacked by bugs. Try as they might, bees, mosquitos, and other insects will be no match against this.

Promising review: "I have a large wooded lot and six gardens and LOTS of mosquitoes. I wear this mosquito head net hat when I work in the garden. It is light weight and my view isn’t compromised. I wore it five hours today and I could hear the mosquitoes, but I was totally protected with the hat. No matter how much mosquito repellent you use, the mosquitoes will find the one area in your ear that you missed. With this hat you no longer have that aggravation. A great investment for anyone that spends a lot of time outside. It feels great to win the war with the mosquitoes." —Mary

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in eight colors and also in packs of two).

11. A small raised garden bed if you love the idea of gardening outside but don't have a lot of space. Tuck this somewhere accessible so you can grow all the herbs, produce, and flowers your heart desires.

Promising review: "Searched all over for a planter small enough to fit on my porch. I’m so happy I came across this one. It’s exactly what I was looking for, and I was able to plant six herbs in it. It’s made out of metal and feels very sturdy. It has a drain hole, which is a plus." —Christine

Get it from Amazon for $35.27+ (available in three styles).

12. A heavy-duty metal wagon so you can haul your gear all over the yard. Gone are the days of having to run back to the garage or shed every time you need a different tool. This will also make transporting plants from your vehicle to your backyard WAY easier.

Promising review: "I couldn’t be happier with this cart. It’s really study, good quality, and it holds soo much weight! I have used it to carry XL ceramic pots, pathway stones of 250+ pounds, and more. It’s a bit of a pain to put together, and we ended up needing power tools. Love it and recommend it 100%." —c davila

Get it from Amazon for $105.44+ (available in six colors and two sizes).

13. A battery-powered 3-in-1 soil test tool to check the moisture, pH value, and sunlight level of your garden's soil. This will help you understand when and how much water your plants will need to thrive.

This gadget has two needles to ensure accuracy and doesn't require batteries. Just push it two to four inches into the ground and select what you want to test for.

Promising review: "This device is amazing. I bought it after my gardenia plant wasn't blooming. I came to realize that I was overwatering, and my plant never recovered. Since then, I’ve taken home two amaryllis plants from work that never grew. I replanted them and used this device to make sure that I was watering properly and my plants were thriving! It’s a real plant saver. I even got a monstera as well. And I should note, I usually don’t have a green thumb and kill plants easily!" —Roselle

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

14. An extra-thick foam kneeling pad so days spent tending to your garden won't result in excruciating knee pain.

Walmart

This mat measures 17.75 inches long x 11.75 inches wide x 1.5 inches thick.

Promising review: "I'm not getting any younger. Scrubbing the floor/floorboards behind the toilet, bottom of tub, refrigerator, lower cabinets, gardening on my hands and knees kills me these days. I was skeptical that this wouldn't be thick/sturdy enough to use for all of the aforementioned tasks. Boy, am I glad I was wrong! If you're looking for a great 'kneezy,' this one is it. It's supportive, cushioned, wipes clean, and has a carrying handle. Definitely worth your time and money." —Aiko

Get it from Walmart for $18.25.

15. Or a pair of knee pads if you need support but are on the move a lot. Never again will you have to cut your time outside short because your knees, hips, or back is throbbing.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These are the best knee pads I have ever used, for sure. Nice and soft feeling. They allow me to stay on my knees for an extended period of time without getting uncomfortable. I have worn them for nine-hour working days without any issues with fit, adjustment, or comfort. If you put them in place, they will stay in place. They have great cushioning and are very comfortable, but in my opinion, what really makes them better than most other knee pads on the market is the fact that they have two adjustable straps with slip buckles instead of one of the straps being Velcro. You can attach them very easily, and because you’re able to tighten them better than Velcro, they will stay in place. The straps are of good elasticity, so they won’t start hurting you even when they are really tight." —Shannon Huett

Get them from Amazon for $29.99+(available in two styles and two colors).

16. A wooden wall-mounted trellis for growing climbing plants and hanging planters. From potted plants to air plants, this trellis will provide you with everything you need to help your garden grow vertically.

The planters are sold separately, and I recommend either this pack of white ones or this pack of multicolored ones.

Promising review: "I have a small balcony with two entrances so not a lot of available floor space. By making a vertical garden I can have my fresh herbs without taking up valuable real estate. It goes on a wall by the door that wouldn't have been used otherwise. Plus it looks so pretty! It was very easy to install. With the addition of the hanging planters (sold separately) I love that I can easily take my herbs down to water them or bring into my kitchen to cook with. Looks so classy and functional." —Luna

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in nine sizes).

17. A potting bench so you have a designated spot to keep your gardening tools and supplies. The tabletop can hold up to 220 pounds, and the bottom shelf and cabinet can handle up to 176 pounds. There are also three metal hooks on the right side for hanging items.

Promising review: "Great value for the $$ and attractive! Looks great on my back porch area and is a nice place to store all my planting supplies. The metal countertop is a nice touch, as it’s easy to wipe down and gives it a bit of a rustic look. I would highly recommend and buy it again!" —Staci Evans

Get it from Amazon for $124.99+ (available in three wood finishes).

18. 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: "This raised bed is very affordable. The bed looks thin and flimsy at first, but once it is set up, it is very sturdy even though very light to carry around empty. I also appreciate that this is a foot tall and not too shallow like some other raised beds being sold. This is an excellent product and I would recommend it highly for what you are paying for." —JT

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

19. 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: "My granddaughter and I started a garden in this raised bed! It's perfect for me because I don't have to bend down on my knees and high enough for her (she's 4). Now we wait for things to grow so we can eat them!!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in three sizes and three finishes).

20. A pack of sunflower seeds with nine varieties to turn your garden into an oasis for honeybees, bumblebees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Each package has over 1,000 seeds and can cover up to 325 square feet. Sprinkle, sprinkle!

Created by Nature is a small business based in Oregon that sells customized wildflower seed packets inspired by each of the National Parks and designed to give back to nature’s bounty.

Promising review: "Planted a handful of the seeds in our front lawn area. A few months later, we had a spectacular color array. Great flowers!" —Shane

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

21. A set of vegetable, fruit, and herb markers so you can keep track of all the foods you've planted each season. Each stick is sold individually, and there are over 40 popular fruit, vegetable, and herb names to choose from. There's also a custom option at no additional cost if the name you need isn't listed.

WoodNSparksCo / Etsy

WoodNSparks Co. is a small business based in Montana that makes wooden garden markers.

Promising review: "These were great! Perfect size and nice quality. Ordered a variety of different herb and vegetable sticks including some custom, and they all came out exactly as ordered and described." —Lauren

Get it from WoodNSparks Co. on Etsy for $2.34 a stick.

22. Five-tier vertical planters to grow flowers or produce in an accessible way. If you have limited space but want to grow a variety of plants, this is your best option.

Promising review: “Perfect for my deck. Plan the plants correctly, and you barely even see the planters — it's just a cascade of flowers, vines, and herbs. Wonderful. Well made, and super super easy to assemble.” —Missy Malick

Get it from Amazon for $149.99 (available in two colors).

23. A weed puller tool for easily removing weeds from your outdoor space. It's the best-selling weeding tool on Amazon, and for good reason! The same family-owned small business has been making these since 1913, and 35,000+ reviewers have given the product 5 stars.

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

Promising review: "Oh my god, I friggin' love this tool. I bought this on a whim, given we bought our first house and know nothing about caring for a yard. Boy, has it come in handy. Our new house had a ton of weeds in the front yard, and this tool helped me get most of them out in no time. In fact, the process of yanking out the weed was strangely satisfying! I don't think anyone can say that weeding is fun, but this tool made it as close to fun as you can get, especially when you see a long root along with the weed you pulled." —JG

Get it on Amazon for $39.97.

24. 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: "These are great for plants! I have three five-gallon geranium plants that don't like to get wet. For the last couple of years, I was lugging them around back and forth on the patio. What a relief for my back that I don't have to do that anymore. The trays are sturdy and deep enough that water doesn't come out all over the ground, either. I like the wheel locking feature in case I want them to stay in place, and the maneuverability of them is great." —Cheryl

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two colors).

25. A stylish cedar privacy screen if you have nosy neighbors or just want to create some separation. Each side has two planter boxes, so it looks good from the front and the back.

Promising review: "My husband and I purchased two of these for our backyard patio so we can have some privacy from our neighbors. The height is perfect. If you're looking for a privacy wall, I would suggest purchasing two. We added river rocks inside each of the planter boxes and filled it completely to the top to support our privacy wall in the strong winds. I plan on adding small potted flowers to place on top of the rocks in the summer. We also painted these with two coats of spar urethane to protect the wood in all-weather environments just as a precaution. Very happy with our purchase!

***Update*** It’s been over a year since I purchased this product, and this held up throughout Northeast Ohio's windy lake-effect snowstorms without any problem! I am so happy my river rocks worked, and I also tied this down to my deck railings during the winter as an extra precaution. As long as you weigh it down and secure it properly, you won’t have any issues." —Kristina Marie

Get it from Amazon for $349.96.

26. A set of metal hanging flower pots so you can have fresh flowers or herbs, regardless of whether you have a plot of dirt to grow them in. Each set includes 10 planters, so you can plant different types of flowers, herbs, and other greenery.

Promising review: "Lovely colorful flower pots. Perfect size to hold a single flower, and they add such a nice pop of color to my yard. Very easy to hang up, no hardware required! I’m getting a lot of compliments on them. I bought several sets and planted bright flowers in them. I have them lining the inside of my yard and on the front of the house. They add a lot of cheer and homeyness for a simple and cheap project." —Maegan

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in multicolor, black, or white in two sizes).

27. A pack of four plant supporters, because some plants just need a little extra help staying upright. Bonus points because the metal is powder-coated green, so it'll camouflage really well.

Promising review: "These plant supports each consist of two semi-circles that fit together to encircle the plant. I have two snake plants that are getting taller and need support. These plant stakes are working perfectly. They can easily be inserted into the soil to the desired height, and the green color obscures their appearance. My plants look prettier and stronger now that they are standing tall." —A.Consumer

Get a 4-pack from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two sizes).

28. A two-pack of solar-powered outdoor lantern lights to add just the right amount of illumination to your backyard. Because they don't require electricity, you can hang them and then not worry about maintenance.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "My goodness, I did not expect to love these lanterns as much as I do. They are very, very good quality and display lots of light. I hung both of them between my small patio and English garden, and they provided enough light for both areas. I received them late afternoon, so they got about four hours in the sun. At 9 p.m., both came on like clockwork. I got up at 3 a.m. to check if they were still on, and they were as bright as ever. They are so dang cute and unique in my yard. I will be buying more. Love, Love, Love them." —Dog Tailor

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three styles).

29. A garden tool rack that fits right into the corner of your garage or shed. And because it holds everything upright and separated, there's no risk of an entangled mess.

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "This tool tower is lightweight, movable, and extremely easy to put together. Six pieces, three minutes, no tools required. Though it is light, it is sturdy and stable. I have just as many tools kept in the rack as the marketing picture on Amazon, and have no issues with entanglement or anything falling over. These tools had previously taken about 10 feet of my garage wall to store. It is much more convenient to have them all consolidated into a much smaller space." —TL

Get it from Amazon for $34.98.

30. Or a wall-mounted storage rack to organize everything from hoses to landscaping supplies. Keep your garden tools clean and accessible by hanging up the essentials instead of having them pile up in corners.

Promising review: "We just put this up last week in our garage and already love how it looks and functions. We love how you can customize the different hook arrangements to fit your needs easily. Everything is included inside the box with meaty screws to hold up the bracket. We liked it so much we decided to get another set to extend it even more." —Ian Petersen

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four lengths).

31. A bottle or bag of grass seed that's specifically formulated to repair dog urine spots. Using a combination of mulch, seed, and soil amendment, will grow grass again where pet pee burned off whatever grass was growing there before.

Promising review: "This product has greatly improved my life. Last fall, I got a new, thoughtless, dog-owning neighbor who thought it was fair game to let her dog whiz, on leash, on my side of the property. It was the ugliest my lawn had ever looked — BUT NOT ANY MORE! Now, I have thick green grass in about 97% of the dog patches. It looks amazing! Now I don't have to stare out the window at the horrible blight, and having seen the difference those treatments made — the neighbor seems impressed enough to be mending her pet-owning behaviors. Hooray!! I couldn't be more pleased." —Good Eye Stylist Services

Get it from Amazon for $25.55+.

32. A pack of solar-powered path lights to stick right into the ground so you can gaze out at your beautiful garden whenever you want, no sunlight required. Because they're powered by the sun, you never need to worry about running out of battery or turning them on at night. It all happens automatically!