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1. A pair of gardening gloves so you can protect your hands from thorns and pests while also keeping your fingers and nails nice and clean. You can have a great manicure and be the best gardener there ever was, don't worry.
Reviewers suggest sizing up.
Promising review: "Snug fit, very dextrous. I feel very protected from wet soil and yard debris (probably not thorns — haven't pushed it). I really love these gloves for gardening and even for light construction, like sanding wood. Grips really good and helps me get my hands dirty when I don't really feel like it. No need for a nail brush after gardening with these gloves." —Delayed Gratification
Price: $6.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL)
2. A galvanized garden bed so your plants have a dedicated plot to themselves and you can dial in your soil mix to *exactly* what you want it to be. Metal beds will also withstand the elements bravely, lasting you many seasons to come.
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
Price: $40+ (available in three sizes and five colors)
3. Or a super raised garden bed if you want to give your plot a bit of height and save yourself the trouble of bending over all the time to weed and prune while you're at it.
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
Price: $69.99+ (available in three sizes and three finishes)
4. A hori hori garden knife for harvesting, digging, and pruning away in your backyard paradise. Your veggie and flower gardens are looking great this year, by the way.
5. An expandable garden hose because a good hose can be shockingly hard to come by. The Flexilla coils more easily than a traditional hose, is kink- and crush-resistant, and is overall a major upgrade from the one that causes a tantrum every time you try to use it. Oh, just me?
Promising review: "Have used this for about three weeks, watering flowers, grass and washing cars. Have used it almost every day in some way or another. It's very light, easy to maneuver, and doesn't kink. However, I think that's because I followed the directions on the box for how to unwind it for the first time. When I was first unraveling, it kinked in multiple places so I had to carefully unravel and lay it out fully extended before I even hooked it up to the water source. Has been kink-free ever since." —Sean Cotter
Price: $12.94+ (available in nine sizes)
6. A composting tumbler — oooh are you finally composting? Welcome to the club! This device will make it super simple to turn your compost scrap mix, giving you rich, dark soil for next year's garden.
7. A vertical planter that'll let you grow a veritable bounty of greenery, herbs, and flowers even if your outdoor space is limited.
8. Miracle-Gro indoor plant food spikes to nourish your plants and give them new life. If you love plants but seem to have trouble helping them thrive, this could be your solution!
9. A gardening kneeler and stool so you can take a load off as you tend to your outdoor plant babies. I love working outdoors, but it really can be tough on the knees and back, even as a hobbyist.
10. Pruning shears because a lot of the time the key to getting your plants nice and strong is to prune them back... there's something philosophical to pull from that, but I don't have time to find it right now. Moving on.
Promising review: "I purchased these as a gift for my mother who gardens extensively. She thanked me again for them today, declaring that these were the best pruners she has ever owned (she has been at it over 50 years). She cuts the branches off her trees and shrubs, then further trims them into small sections to fit in the recycle trash bags. It is her great joy to work in the yard made even my pleasant through the use of these pruners." —A. Kelly
Price: $13.46+ (available in three styles)
11. A soaker hose that, when laid properly, can give your crops a gentle, even drink right to their roots. All you have to do is place it in your garden, attach it to your hose, and let it do its thing.
Promising review: "i have tried at least six different hoses, including the most expensive brand offered on Amazon. LINEX is superior if you need a hose that seeps water the entire length at an almost constant rate. This hose will reduce my watering time from a one-hour period to a 25-minute period. I bought the 75-foot length. Exceeds my expectations." —Gadgeteer
Price: $13.99+ (available in five sizes)
12. A Seeding Square kit to help you space your plants evenly and so they have enough room to thrive. As someone who crowds their garden literally every year, do as I say not as I do and invest in a handy dandy spacer. It even comes with a dibbler stick so you can sow holes easily and at just the right depth.
Promising review: "Love this thing! I have been gardening for a while, and this takes all of the guess work 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
Price: $29.95
13. Sticky Stake insect traps if your indoor plants have been plagued by pests lately. Ugh, the worst! Take 'em out in a jiff with this lethally sticky tool.
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
Price: $5.99
14. A basic garden tool set because having the right tool for the job is honestly the key to any hobby, and gardening is no exception.
The set includes a hand trowel, transplant trowel, and cultivator hand rake. Each one has a nonslip handle.
Promising review: "Purchased these since several other brands/types that I've used over the years just bend when any pressure from digging is done. If you want something that can dig in regular soil rather than potting blend — these are for you." —Joe in MO
Price: $20.80 (available in three colors)
15. A garden bed cover to shield your plants — but especially produce — from too much sun, pests, and even frost toward the end of the season. But don't worry, they still let in light and water so all their needs are met. They're just wearing a cool outfit now.
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
Price: $16.99
16. Or plant covers for taller, single plants like tomatoes. I know you didn't plant those sun golds for the birds and squirrels to pluck off unceremoniously. Let's protect the goods.
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
Price: $13.99 for a two-pack (also available in a three-pack)
17. A long-handled standing weeder that'll make quicker and easier work out of snagging intruder plants from your garden. Especially if your back gives you trouble, this will be like a gift from above when it comes to keeping your beds neat and tidy.
Grampa's Weeder is a family-owned small business that's home to a standing weeder design that's been around since 1913.
Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to made weeding easy.
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
Price: $39.99
18. A hose timer to free yourself from the ultimate commitment of remembering to water consistently. If your garden isn't too fussy, a regular schedule should serve it just fine. And doing a THING at a TIME?! Best to avoid when possible.
Twist it onto your faucet (or faucet splitter), then screw in your hose, and run it to your sprinkler or other watering device. It also has a rain delay button that can delay the next watering by 24, 48, or 72 hours.
Promising review: "I have a small garden area that does not get water from my sprinkler system, so I run a soaker hose from the spigot. More than once, I turned it on and forgot about it until the next day, getting a huge water bill. This timer gives me peace of mind that my garden area is watered properly and saves me money. Very easy to program." —Maureen
Price: $29.99
19. A pair of gardening gloves with claws (!!!!) that allow you to dig and plant in the garden without a trowel *and* without getting a ton fo dirt under your real nails. And you've gotta admit it'll be fun to slowly tap your fingers together while wearing these like you're a plotting super villain.
Promising review: "I laughed when I first saw the picture of this item. I thought, well if they don’t work I’ll use them for a costume. But they are amazing at pulling weeds. I use mine for those pesky weeds in the rocks. One pull and you get root and all." —cynthia Williams
Price: $7.95+ (available in two colors and as a two-pack)
20. Joyful Dirt concentrated plant food and fertilizer your indoor plants are gonna go gaga for. You can mix it into water and pour it onto the plants *or* more hilariously sprinkle it directly onto the soil from its shaker like you're giving it some ~seasoning~.
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
Price: $19.95
21. A pack of Velcro garden ties that are much less fiddly than trying to tie twine and are reusable from season to season.
Promising review: "These straps work pretty well and can be easily expanded since it’s using Velcro to stick together. I use it for my zucchini plant and fruit trees. It holds well and seems to be easier on the plant stems since it’s much wider than the wired alternatives. I recommend giving extra buffer when cutting. This way you can expand as the plants grow. These are much easier to adjust than my old wire setup." —DivideByZero
Price: $3.98+ (available in five sizes)
22. A set potato growing bags if it's spuds you crave. Here are your simple instructions: just cut up a few red potatoes, mix them into some rich soil in these bags, let them grow, let the green tops die, and then open the door at the bottom of the bag to reveal your crop. You got this!
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
Price: $23.99+ (available in two sizes)
23. LED grow lights for anyone whose indoor garden could use a little sunshine, even if it's artificial. Armed with flexible necks and a timer, these lights will improve your plants' prospects, especially during the darkening fall and winter months ahead.
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 light 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
Price: $26.99+ (available in two wattage levels)
24. A pop-up leaf collector to scoop up now in preparation for the — I'm sorry to say this — upcoming fall. Yes, it will get cold again, but at least you'll be prepared to clean out your garden with more than an old rake and a prayer.
Plus, it folds up into the included carrying case for easy storage in the off-season.
Promising review: "I was able to pick up my leaves in record time using this leaf collector. I wish I had know about it years ago. It would have saved me so much money hiring people to do my leaves. I have told everyone I know about this product. They are all amazed when they see the video I did showing how I raked the leaves on the leaf collector. Folded up the ends like a taco and put it in the bag and released. SO EASY! Absolutely worth the money." —Ronnie
Price: $25.95
25. A 10-pack of reusable seed-starting trays that a certainly an upgrade from the egg cartons I've been using. They have adjustable vents to dial in the humidity level, a clear top so you can peak at how germination is going, and drainage holes at the bottom because DUH.
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 timing 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
Price: $19.99 (available in three colors)
26. A pack of bamboo garden stakes whose array of thickness levels mean you'll have the perfect support on-hand almost any time you need to give a plant something to lean on. Siri, cue "Lean on Me."
Promising review: "I over-planted with tomatoes this year in the garden, and with the way they were still growing, I splurged on the 6-foot stakes. Strong and sturdy, these fit the bill well. The thicknesses differ slightly within the bundles, too, which is perfect for using them with different plants/stages of growth, too, as the plants need more or less support. After using them for a season, they are also still very strong and have little if any signs of weakening in the bottom foot that I'd pushed into the ground, which means I will be able to get multiple years out of them, even though my soil isn't the best draining — one of the best garden investments I have made in a long time for sure!" —JJ
Price: $32.87 for a 25-pack
27. And finally The Complete Gardener's Guide which you can turn to for advice whenever your plants are misbehaving, the gardening blogs aren't hitting, or you just want to learn a little something new. This would also make a great gift for the gardener in your life, just sayin'!
Promising review: "I bought a new home in the woods and haven’t really gardened before. The previous owners already had a very impressive garden. Me being new to the scene, I wanted to learn as much as possible to keep up my garden beautiful, fresh, and healthy. This book has everything a first timer like myself could need. From plans, designs, sowing, pruning etc. I was also excited about the fruit and vegetable section, as I plan to grow my own. I definitely recommend the Complete Gardener’s Guide book. It just arrived today and I’ve been flipping through bunny earring pages all night. Excited to prune my rose bushes tomorrow after reading the section on them." —QueenJ
Price: $21.37
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.