We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A high-voltage insect zapper you can hang near wherever people will be hanging out the most in your backyard, whether it's by the pool, patio, or fire pit. It eliminates mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and other bugs with wings that are undeniably the worst part of lounging around outside.
It has a range of up to 1,500 square feet!
Promising review: "My husband and I love to sit in our backyard with the fire pit going. The bugs are getting really bad and it was very hard for us to stay outside with all the bugs. However, when I set this up I immediately noticed a huge difference. The bug zapper was zapping all the mosquitos and other flying bugs. So glad I purchased this. It's going to be a real life-saver this summer. I may have to purchase another one for the front of our house." —Ronnie Perez
Get it from Amazon for $36.95.
2. 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 made 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: "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 weeds 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 from Amazon for $39.99.
3. A pressure washer to blast away all the built-up dirt, ashes, and grime on your fire pit, patio, outdoor furniture, and pathways so you can get your backyard in tip-top shape for entertaining.
Promising reviews: "Used to clean composite deck, patio, and PVC fence, none of which had been cleaned for over two years. Patio was the worst due to drainage issues. Our seven-year-old 12x12 deck looked new in less than 3 hours. Patio took longer but looked like fresh cement when done. The right amount of power to freshen up our good-looking backyard. Very efficient and I highly recommend this power washer." —CK1256
Get it from Amazon for $169.
4. Or a bleach-free outdoor cleaner that's especially effective on concrete and stone, but can be used on any part of your yard where you need to wash away layers of dust, dirt, and grime. It hooks directly to your garden hose to deliver a deep foaming clean.
Promising review: "I first used this product about two years ago on the awning on my RV. That awning was so bad, that I thought I was going to have to replace it. After using this Scott's product as directed, the mold and mildew completely disappeared. This product definitely works and it works GREAT! What more can I say — it saved me nearly $500." —R. Latreille
Get it from Amazon for $10.98.
5. A dog spot repair solution so you can address the dirt patches in your backyard caused by pet damage. It's made from a combo of mulch, seeds, and soil designed to help healthy grass regrow in no time.
Promising review: "I have lacrosse players and dogs and this stuff is amazing. My yard looked like an abandoned lot before this and it literally 'grew anywhere' just like it said. The bag I planted last year actually came back strong this year so I put more down and it is working like a dream!" —chchmom
Get it from Amazon for $16.97+ (available in five sizes and in packs).
6. A garbage guard to rid yourself of the cloud of flies that takes up residence around your trash cans when the weather starts to get warmer. Just stick it inside the can, and it'll released an odorless vapor that kills insects for up to four months!
Promising review: "I ordered this product because every spring and summer we have problems with flies and maggots in the garbage can. The first time I used Terro, it didn’t stick very well. I can say it was user error because the adhesive tape stuck to my fingers. I had a hard time getting the tape off my fingers, but did manage to stick the device on the garbage lid. The next day I noticed that the device had fallen in the garbage can, so I ordered another one. I was very careful not to get the tape on my fingers this time. The device has been on my garbage can lid for a few days now. It survived the weekly trash pickup. As for whether or not this device works: Let me tell you, NO FLIES, NO MAGGOTS!!! This product works well. Just be careful when applying the adhesive strip." —Ms. Patricia A. Nelson
Get it from Amazon for $7.98.
7. A bottle of Yard Odor Eliminator if your lawn and patio furniture are stinky because your outdoor puppy or cat has had accidents...everywhere. This concentrated formula gets rid of poop and pee smells on grass, plants, patios, furniture, kennels, and pretty much everywhere else that your pet has left their mark on.
Promising review: "We have two male dogs. Need I say more? The dog run always had an odor even after watering down after spreading liquid, a cleaning product known to many people. Enter YARD ODOR! After using it just once, the odor was cut by 90% and after two applications, the odor is gone. So glad we tried it." —Roxy
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
8. A mildew remover to rescue your patio furniture and other outdoor surfaces from a build-up of mold and mildew (especially after sitting outside all winter). This formula cleans away stains without any heavy scrubbing needed — just spray down whatever you're trying to clean, let it sit, then rinse it off with a hose to finish the job.
If it's a particularly tough stain, you might need a second application and light scrubbing!
Promising review: "I don't often write a review of a product. But this was so impressive, I thought I should let others know. We have a set of vinyl outdoor chairs that were constantly covered with mildew. When we were feeling ambitious, we'd take the time to power wash the chairs, which worked pretty well but was a lot of work. The problem was that a couple of days later, the mildew was back almost as bad a before. With this mildew stain remover, we sprayed the chairs, let them sit a few minutes, and hosed off with a regular garden hose. Easy. And they were cleaner than they ever got using the power washer. When we put the chairs away two months later, they were still clean." —Christine A. Simonson
Get it from Amazon for $24.29+ (available in two sizes).
9. 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 have that outdoor barbecue without constantly swatting around your face.
It's suggested to position this at least 20 feet away from anywhere you'll be hanging out, as the smell is *not* pleasant for humans.
Promising review: "My neighbor has three dogs and they don't clean up their mess from the backyard. This summer the flies have hatched in force, and I can't clean up after my dog fast enough to keep them away. I've had this trap hanging on my back fence for 10 days now, and it has already started making an impact. I've no way of estimating the numbers caught, but it must be in the thousands. Imagine how many flies you can pack into a plastic sandwich bag, and that is about what I have after 10 days. I can now open my back door without 2-3 flies entering the house. Make sure you hang it away from doors and any windows you like to open. It does stink, and it does attract flies to it. I've seen the hanging strips and those are great for catching a dozen or so flies at a time. But if you want to eliminate them by the hundreds and thousands, this is the way to go." —John C.
Get it from Amazon for $7.
10. A pack of citronella candles to deter those pesky mosquitoes from being a *major* damper on backyard hangouts. Each one lasts up to 30 hours!
They have a citrusy smell that's a blend of rosemary, peppermint, and lemongrass oils. It'll smell great to you (and is non-toxic!), but mosquitos can't stand it.
Promising review: "I am extremely satisfied with this product. I purchased these for our trip to Guatemala in the rainy season where there are tons of mosquitoes, so bad that I always smell like Off and it's so annoying to smell like bug spray. Plus I'm so sticky. So I wanted something that I can put out when we're having dinner or hanging out with the family in the patio. These worked perfectly. They really smell good and they WORK; as long as the candle was on I was not bit by any bugs! I wanted to carry it with me everywhere we went, but not possible. Short story, we purchased two and were there for 10 days. They lasted the 10 days with very little to spare and I used them as much as possible and at night for at least five or six hours each night. I purchased another four for our next trip coming up because I don't have to use as much bug spray on my body as these work to keep the bugs from biting!" —World Travler
Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (also available in a pack of six).
11. Or a box of mosquito-repellent incense sticks from the same brand so you have a moment of zen in your backyard without all the skeeters making you their next snack. They're made from a blend of five plant-based repellent oils: rosemary, peppermint, citronella, lemongrass, and cedarwood.
Promising review: "I am so happy to have this mosquito repellent. I wanted something for my back patio in the evenings. This is so pleasant! Everyone comments about the scent; it’s not offensive like other nasty repellent sprays or candles." —Namaste
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (also available in a two-pack and with reduced footprint packaging).
12. An outdoor fan because keeping the air circulating will help cut down on the bugs that linger while you're outside trying to enjoy some fresh air.
Promising review: "Great fan at a good price! I bought this fan for my backyard to help circulate the air in hot days and to help deter mosquitoes at night around the fire pit. This fan worked perfectly. It has three speeds, the highest of which is super strong. The fan at high speed is a bit noisy, but nothing unexpected of a powerful fan. It is also 100% waterproof, which is a must. My only minor issues would be 1) it would be nice if the fan came with a cover for when it’s not used (I bought 20-inch tire storage covers to do the job), and 2) the fan is only adjustable up and down not side to side — if they could make it oscillate that would be great. Having said that, I would recommend this fan for sure and would not hesitate to buy it again" —Bigdad
Get it from Amazon for $99.65+ (available in three sizes).
13. 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.
Promising review: "This plant cover is thicker than others that I have purchased and lasts a lot longer. I have it covering my Brussels sprouts right now. The temps are getting hotter so I use it to shade my plants. It is also great to cover my squash plants to keep out the squash vine moths and borers." —C. Dryman
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
14. 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 any invaders. There's no problem watering the plants through the net and plenty of sun and air get through." —Debbie Cetin
Get them from Amazon for $16.99 (available in multiple sizes and in multi-packs).
15. 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+.
16. The FrogLog, an escape ramp for your pool so any unfortunate critters who fall in have a way of exiting instead of ending up in your skimmer basket, leaving you with an unpleasant surprise next time you go to clean it.
Promising review: "We had been inundated with frogs last year, and I kept finding little frogs in the skimmers, many of which did not make it until I could rescue them. This product is doing EXACTLY as I had hoped! Since I purchased this the frogs had not been getting in the skimmers and my frog tally for this year is now 28 rescued, 14 fatalities." —Sandra J. Christian
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
17. A super concentrated weed and grass killer designed to kill weeds down to the root so they can stop taking over your pathways, garden beds, and brickwork.
Promising review: "I was pleasantly surprised at how long this product works. 10 months later and still little to no weeds in areas I sprayed. So much nicer than using a weed eater every couple of weeks. Sometimes on some plants it takes a while to work but it gets there. Some weeds appear to be a little resistant but they too eventually wither away." —R.M.
Get it from Amazon for $20.67.
18. A set of ant bait stakes that'll help you reclaim your yard from the infestation of ants that have made it their home — because the last thing you want is them moving their colony indoors. These'll eliminate their colonies and rid your yard of the annoying ant hills.
Promising review: "When I say I'm at war with the ants in my yard, I mean I wake up thinking about my attack strategy in the morning. These suckers were EVERYWHERE: so many hills in my yard that my grass stopped growing and my yard turned into dirt land, a TON of hills between bricks in our walkway, and a few in our flower beds. I put these things out since I didn't really want to mess with any chemicals at home and the all-natural stuff was getting me nowhere. I put them out and within a week I could see a difference in activity. Within three months they were all gone. As others mentioned, there can be satellite colonies that end up bigger when you attack the main colony. What I did (and worked for me) was putting these out for a month, then getting more and searching out the newly forming colonies and relocating the bait. Good luck!" —KP
Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $9.98.
19. A heavy-duty garbage strap if your yard is frequented by raccoons or bears at night and they're constantly trying to break into your trash cans. It holds the lid on super tight so that even if they manage to knock the can over, they won't be able to feast upon your trash anymore.
Promising review: "I got this product to keep a group of raccoons out of my trash can. Since installed they have only visited a couple of times and were never successful in getting into the can and dragging trash all over the yard. Haven't seen them in a long time now. I guess they figure they can just skip this house since they can't get into the can. Very thankful for this item." —Mike
Get it from Amazon for $32.50 (also available in a pack of two).
20. A set of scare cats with reflective eyes designed to humanely frighten off wild animals you'd rather keep out of your yard, from stray cats and bunnies to birds, skunks, and raccoons.
Promising review: "If you don't mind having fake cats all over your yard or garden, these are great. I had some birds eating our strawberries, so I put one of these right behind the strawberries in the raised garden bed and hung one from a porch light. The porch light one looks like the cat is flying, but the wind makes it move a bit and the birds are none-the-wiser. Haven't seen a bird near the garden in a month. Worked well for me." —Tiki
Get a set of three from Amazon for $16.99.
21. A set of bird-repelling discs because you paid way too much for your nice patio furniture for it to be covered in bird poop every time you go outside to lounge. When these discs sway in the wind and reflect sunlight, it scares off the birds in a way that's not harmful or alarming to them so that they find somewhere else to hang out.
Promising review: "I have so many birds in my backyard, and they tend to poop on my patio furniture — that is, until I found these deflectors!! They are good-looking and easy to assemble. I highly recommend. The birds still visit but they stay in the trees and grassy areas." —Michelle Knaier
Get eight strings (24 discs total) from Amazon for $18.95.
22. A roll of chicken wire so you don't have to fret about hungry bunny rabbits and other local animals nibbling on the growing veggies you worked so hard to plant.
Promising review: "Perfect size for surrounding my garden. I have a family of rabbits that get to my plants and this is working out fine. I also like the way it looks around my garden. It gives it a neat look. It's easy to cut. I have ordered two rolls and I am pleased." —The Doer
Get 25 feet of fencing from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three sizes and three colors).
23. A scent-free mosquito repellent that gives you a 15-foot zone of protection from those annoying bloodsuckers that just won't leave you alone! It's small enough that you could easily carry it around with you when you move from the patio to the garden and elsewhere.
This device uses scent-free repellent mats using naturally occurring repellents found in plants to rid of mosquitoes.
Promising review: "It has allowed me to enjoy my backyard; I couldn't before. It works reasonably well. You need to set it up at least 10 minutes before you occupy the space. Let it chase away the mosquitos before you are there. If you are sitting outside and then turn them on after the mosquitos know you are there, it seems they are less likely to fly elsewhere if they know their meal ticket is in the area. The pads do not always last as long as expected. I usually get two hours out of them." —D. Byk
Get it from Amazon for $19.98 (available in 21 colors).
24. Mole, gopher, and groundhog repellent solar stakes, which release sonic pulses into the ground to encourage the critters to vacate your yard and go elsewhere. No more stolen crops or mole hills.
It's recommended to place these every 96 feet for the best results!
Promising reviews: "I bought these with a skeptical attitude: How could nearly imperceptible vibrations get rid of ground squirrels? They arrived. I put two into the ground near their destructive holes. And I haven't seen them or their damage since! I've been warring with ground squirrels for three years. I tried all types of weapons to no avail. These stakes worked for me." —Amazon Customer
"I tried a couple or so last year and they worked. So, this year, I ordered the eight-pack. Only one of the three or four I'd purchased last year still worked. There were actually a few mole hills in my backyard when I ordered the eight-pack. They're gone!!! Love these." —Amazon Customer
Get a eight-pack from Amazon for $54.99.
25. An insect killer made with natural essential oils that are safe for pets and humans, but will kill *and* repel fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and other pests you don't want hanging out in your backyard.
It's free of pesticides, fragrances, and artificial colors and is safe to use on lawns, gardens, patios, vegetables, flowers, dog kennels, and grass. It's also safe to use on areas where your pets or kids may play. The spray can treat and prevent infestations from ants, ticks, chiggers, crickets, Japanese beetles, and roaches, however, some reviewers note that because of the added cedar oil, the product may attract carpenter bees if you already have a few flying around.
Wondercide is a woman- and family-owned small biz based in Austin, Texas with an emphasis on making plant-based pest protection that's safe for pets and humans.
Promising review: "I rarely leave Amazon reviews, but this definitely deserves a few minutes of my time. I moved into a new place and had a flea problem to the point where I had to take my cat and leave him at a friends house while I battled the fleas for an entire month (even though he had Revolution and a flea collar, it didn't seem to make a difference). I would do yard work and get covered in flea bites and then wake up and be covered in flea bites. I sprayed this on the entire lawn ONCE and now there are no fleas. I walked outside in shorts and no bug spray and was bitten ZERO times. PLUS it smells AMAZING. Like fresh cut cedar <3" —Shannon
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
26. A weed removal tool with a V-shaped blade designed to cut right to the root of weeds and yank them out without you needing to bend down, whether the little suckers are growing in soil, gravel, or between stones.
It has a long 54-inch handle so you can use it from a standing position and comfortably clear large areas of weeds! Skidger is a small business founded by Gloria Schultz. She spent countless hours wedding in her family's garden as a child and realized there had to be a better way to remove weeds. After explaining to her stepfather what she thought might work, he designed this genius tool.
Promising review: "If you have the unwanted weeds in your garden or flower bed, this tool will cut them down. I’ve used the big box store squared off D-shaped ones for years and you’re almost better using a hoe. This one can get real close to plants and objects and cuts like using a good knife or scissors. Slices on the push and pull strokes. So far I love it and I plan to buy it again and I recommend it." —Jimmy Goodwin
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
27. Or a hand weeder if you have a smaller garden or just need a little extra help pulling the weeds up by their roots. For under $20, this makes the job quick and painless.
Promising review: "I hate me some weeds folks. Hate is a bit of an understatement. This little gadget has been my sidekick this year. I have pulled a lot of stuff from the ground with this baby. I'm happy with my purchase and it has held the test of time in my yard that can't catch a break from the rain." —CH
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
28. And a padded kneeler for your gardening station that'll protect your knees while you're crouched for hours planting seeds and pulling weeds. It also flips up into a seat for when you need to take a break *and* you can store your tools in the side pockets.
Promising review: "These works great! I was able to do twice as much weeding as normal. I turn it upside down to use so I am closer to the weeds .Something soft to put my knees on or just sit on and handles to easily push myself up. Wish I had bought this a long time ago. Very sturdy, strong and I love that it folds for easy storage. Also, no assembly required. You can use it right out of the box." —Pixie
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
29. A leaf blower/vacuum with a built-in mulcher to make clearing debris from your yard and patio a breeze. It even has an angled snout to make cleaning underneath furniture easy.
It can actually chop up 16 bags of leaves so they fit into just one bag!
Promising review: "I have two very large red oak trees in my yard and they tend to dump a lot of leaves all over my yard and my neighbor's yard. Before this arrived, I blew them into a pile awaiting the shipment so I could mulch them up. I previously had a mulching attachment for my line trimmer and it wasn't that great, but it did the job. In comparison, this was far better. It had rained the morning before I tried this out, so the leaves were wet, which made the work a little slower than with dry leaves, but it still worked. It did get bogged down one time, but I was overfilling the bag when it happened, so it was partly my fault. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a mulching vac." —Matt Hamilton
Get it from Amazon for $84.54.
30. And a gutter scoop so you can address those gutters currently clogged up with dead leaves, animal nests, and mud while protecting your hand from scrapes.
31. An outdoor garbage can to hide your unattractive outdoor trash can and give it a cute yet functional home. It also helps protect it against harsh weather and nosy animals.
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