1. A pair of breathable and absorbent bamboo gloves for keeping hands cool in hot weather. These have a textured rubber coating on the palm and fingers, so you can grab thorny plants with no problem.
Amazon
Promising review: “Snug fit, and they preserve my dexterity. I feel very protected from wet soil and yard debris (probably not thorns — I haven’t pushed it). I love these gloves for gardening and even for light construction, like sanding wood. Grip’s 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
Get it on Amazon for $9.99+ (available in five sizes).
2. Or a pair of very pretty gardening gloves adorned with purple and green lavender blossoms if you want to wear something beautiful. These have a dotted grip pattern on the palm and fingers to help grab the most noxious of weeds.
My Little Belleville / Etsy
My Little Belleville is a woman-owned small business based in Salt Lake City making home goods with a focus on textiles and ceramics.
Promising review: “The item was a gift for my mother, and she loved it!! It was perfect, and I am truly blown away by it. Highly recommend!” —Melissa Howell
Get it from My Little Belleville on Etsy for $17.25.
3. A crack weeder tool to easily remove all the weeds that sprout up in the cracks of cement. From driveways and sidewalks to pathways and patios, this tool will get the entire root without needing to dig wide holes.
Garden Guru Lawn & Garden Tools is a family-owned small business that sells gardening tools.
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 $22.90.
4. A wall-mounted garden tool organizer so your gear is kept neat and organized. Now, when you need to grab something it’ll be easy to spot — a real upgrade from a spiderweb-covered stack in the corner of your shed or garage.
StoreYourBoard is a small business based in Virginia that makes sports equipment organization racks for the home.
Promising review: “There are tons of options for ways to hang your tools, but I was looking for something solid that I could affix to the wooden fence around my garden, and this tool did not disappoint. The design is such that I have both my big and smaller tools on the rack. Easy to install. Great value!” —Bonnie Z.
Get it from Amazon for $47.49+ (available in six colors and packs of one or two).
5. A nifty set of basic garden tools if you’re just getting started and want something pretty but effective. This is an especially good set if you’re a balcony gardener with no storage space, because these are gorgeous and don’t need to be hidden when not in use.
Promising review: “They’re well made and exactly what I wanted! In the spring long, handled tools are fine for clean-up, but as young plants start coming up, you need to be a little more detailed. This is everything and more that I have in long-handled tools. They’ve got good handles for gripping. The edges are sharp and work well. They clean up well…I can’t say enough good things!” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in purple/blue or red).
6. Or a seven-piece garden tool kit to provide you with 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.
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 $32.62.
7. A roll of garden tape for your plants that love to climb but don’t necessarily have the strongest stalks. This is especially true for tomato vines, because once the actual tomato fruit starts to grow the plants get really heavy and will likely fall without proper support.
Your plants may seem small when you first start building your collection, but with the right care, they’ll eventually grow much bigger. Larger plants may begin to lean to one side, but some garden tape can easily fix that.
Promising review: “I’ve been using this to train my vines along their supports. The good thing is that it can be easily reused as the vines grow. The color helps it easily camouflage among my plants. Unlike twine or burlap strings, this flexible material does not restrict plant’s growth!“ —Mehendi Das
Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in seven sizes).
8. A pair of microfiber dusting gloves to keep leaves happy and healthy by removing dust buildup. That thin layer of dust might not seem like much, but to your plant, it’s actually a big deal. You see, the dust covers the microscopic pores on the leaves, and that prevents the plant from getting the necessary oxygen it needs to create its food. If not removed, the plant will get frail and be more susceptible to disease.
Promising review: “I bought these gloves to dust my plants with, and look at the difference between the before-and-after picture! These gloves fit well, are extremely soft and comfortable, and do a bang-up job against dust. Highly recommend. I ordered the four pack of gloves, which comes in a handy resealable storage bag.”—Shannon T
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three glove sizes, four colors, and several pack sizes).
9. A set of poison- and pesticide-free sticky insect traps for getting any infestation of flying insects in and around houseplants under control. Reviewers swear that these traps completely wipe out common houseplant insects like fruit flies and fungus gnats, which is why over 9,500 reviewers give these traps five stars.
Promising review: “At first, I was hesitant. How could little sticky tabs on a stick control or eradicate my fungus gnat infestation? I had tried various pesticides, but those killed my plants, too. So, in desperation, I tried these. They had good reviews, and people said they worked wonders. Well, add my name to that list. These things worked fantastically! I bought these on June 28 after battling fungus gnats for months. The problem was only getting worse. It is now August 9, and I can honestly say I haven’t seen any gnats in my house flying around. I still keep the tabs out just in case, and occasionally, I’ll catch one of two, but for the most part, they’re gone, and it’s 100% due to these little tabs! And I didn’t even use all seven traps!” —Katheryn Camm
Get it from Amazon for $9.37.
10. 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 realized 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 ensure 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.
11. 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 headnet hat when I work in the garden. It is lightweight, 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. It is a great investment for anyone who spends a lot of time outside. It feels great to win the war with the mosquitoes.” —Mary
Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in four colors and also in packs of two).
12. A trio of self-watering cat globes to make sure your plants stay watered in the cutest way possible. Each globe provides up to three weeks of hydration.
Promising review: “So glad I got these. I’m a chronic over-waterer, and my plants were struggling. Now I don’t have to worry, and I don’t even have to water. This is great for indoor plants that don’t actually need much water. And they’re super cute. I get lots of compliments on them!” —MB
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two styles).
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 $5.59+ (available in orange, black, or blue).
14. A garden hose nozzle sprayer with up to eight patterns that fits all standard garden hoses. Reviewers love (there’s over 13,800 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 dog washing.
Promising review: “I use this nozzle to water plants in my garden and container gardens on my deck. I like that the trigger allows me to save water between locations without having to turn off the water at the spigot. Water conservation!!” —lakelady
Get it from Amazon for $21.80+ (available with three pattern quantities).
15. An extremely flexible, kink-free garden hose that can stretch up to 75 feet. This is the bestselling hose on Amazon for a reason (60,700+ reviewers give it 5 stars). It’s also way lighter than other hoses — perfect for maneuvering around your yard trying to water your yard.
Promising review: “I have three of these coupled with three 25 versions. This gives us maximum flexibility and reliability. I got very tired of spending money on the flexible hoses only to have them fail within a year. These hoses keep on doing their job. Very good buy.” —Duffy
Get it from Amazon for $10.49+ (available in seven lengths and with or without a nozzle).
16. A watering can with an extra long spout so your plants never get too thirsty, no matter where they’re placed. This one is a hit with reviewers because it’s aesthetically pleasing, so no need to hide it out of view when not in use.
Promising review: “Perfect design! It makes watering the plants in difficult-to-reach places very easy. It makes me feel confident making blind or overhead pours without spilling. The taper of the spout, along with the handle shape and angle, provide me with optimal flow control, so overwatering is never a worry. This has saved the lives of many of my indoor plants.” —Anthony M.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors).
17. Or a small watering can if you are dealing with limited space. Some people forgo watering cans altogether and use bottles or glasses instead, but in my opinion it’s better to have a designated tool to do so because you can fit a lot more water in this, meaning you don’t have to keep running back to the sink to refill.
Promising review: “This is my ideal watering can for my small apartment full of small plants. The design is beautiful without being overwrought, it’s compact enough to sit in a small space on a shelf, and the capacity is generous enough to water several plants before refilling. It also maneuvers easily under a small tap, like in a standard bathroom sink, for easier filling.” —L. Smith
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 11 colors).
18. 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 $38.50.
19. 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: “The insoles are removable, so you can use your own insoles in these. It’s an added bonus. Also, the heel area underneath the ‘factory’ insole is built up to provide extra cushion in that area.
“I bought these to use outside in the garden when it is a little too wet, so I don’t mess up my better shoes. They are a smooth design that should keep my feet clean for quick times outside, yet are a solid design to not allow my feet to get dirty and need a foot bath before coming in the house. As well, these shoes will spray off easily when dirty.“ —jamieLeigh
Get them from Amazon for $27.35+ (available in women’s sizes 6–11 and 25 different colors/patterns).
20. 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 $109.99+ (available in six colors and two sizes).
21. A pair of knee pads for comfortably gardening for hours on end. Gardening is such a wonderful thing, but if your body starts to ache, you can soon be in agony. Give these pads a try if you find yourself having to quit gardening before you’re ready due to aches and pains.
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).
22. 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 they 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 $18.05.
23. A gathering tote that doubles as a colander. Step outside to collect your fruits and veggies, carry to a water source, clean, and — bam! — the bounty is ready for consumption. This is especially good if you planted root crops, because no one needs a kitchen sink full of dirt.
Promising review: “I have several fruit trees (orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, pomegranate, and persimmons), and so I decided to try out this colander/basket to make the job of collecting fruit a little easier. It does its job well and allows me to easily hose off the fruit after collection. I can’t fill it more than halfway with fruit, though, or else it gets too heavy. It’s also useful to tote the fruits to my workplace and share them with everyone.” —Melody R.
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two colors and two sizes).
24. A pair of gardening gloves with extra long sleeves so you never have to be worried about poison ivy or mosquito bites again.
NOMPI Gloves is a woman-run 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.
Promising review: “Just as pictured. Made well. Great idea. I don’t need expensive leather things. I will get a lot of use of these picking berries and trimming prickly bushes!” —Amy
Get it from NOMPI Gloves on Etsy for $22.50.
25. A compact brush and dustpan for cleaning up the tiny messes that happen when you do houseplant maintenance. From trimming dead leaves to repotting plants, this small but mighty duo will help keep everything tidy.
Promising review: “I use this handy little brush for cleaning up the soil and debris that scatters everywhere when repotting plants. The compact size and strength of the bristles make this the perfect little sweeper for the job. Would buy again!” —Carlos Jovi
Get it from Amazon for $13.45.
26. A smart sprinkler controller that lets you control your garden’s watering through a handy app. Run sprinklers, set and view upcoming schedules, and see your estimated outdoor water usage.
Amazon
Rachio is a small business based in Denver, Colorado making smart watering devices.
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 $99+ (available with three different settings).
27. A pair of leaf scoops because you shouldn’t have to break your back when cleaning up that pile of leaves in your garden.
Amazon
Promising review: “We have a very large wooded property that requires a lot of leaves and sticks to be raked up. We have tried various brands of leaf scoops, but most have not even lasted one season. Since purchasing the ReLeaf Leaf Scoops, our job has been much easier. First of all, is the way your hands grasp the scoops. These are much more ergonomic and are actually like extensions of your own hands. Second, these are very sturdy and do not bend when trying to pick up a pile of sticks and debris. We have made it through the season so far without issue. Next will be the dreaded fall cleanup. I highly recommend the ReLeaf Leaf Scoops, which make our yard, woods, and garden cleanup easier.” —trouble54
Get a pair from Amazon for $28.95.
28. A mini plant tool set if you’re seeking an all-in-one solution for your home gardening needs. It comes with 11 pieces, all of which fit inside the included bucket shovel. Whether you’re watering, transplanting, cleaning, or trimming, this set has everything you need to start your plant journey!
Amazon
This plant tool set comes with everything you need to work with soil including a shovel, spade rake, and a gardening potting mat. You also get a watering bottle, curved-tip tweezers, straight-tip tweezers, scissors, pruning scissors, a cleaning brush, and a plastic bucket shovel.
Promising review: “I love this set! It’s perfect for my home gardening. It’s got everything I’ve needed so far and makes repotting and pruning so easy. Love that all the tools fit inside the dirt scooper, it doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it’s easy to tuck away. The mat that comes with it is so convenient to contain the mess when repotting/planting. Great for small indoor plants.” —Hira Waheed
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
29. A set of three leafy-looking watering funnels that help you water the soil of very leafy plants. If you’re not paying attention, using a watering can on a bushy plant can lead to all the water cascading off the leaves and onto your floor. These will make sure the water goes directly onto the soil.
Amazon
Promising review: “Do you have a lot of houseplants? Are they crowded together and hard to see where one pot begins? Or bushy plants that spread out low and wide? These will help in all of those situations. My plants are happy, and my floors are dry.” —k gannon
Get a set of three from Amazon for $11.99.
30. A pack of ringed plant stakes if your leggy plants have a hard time standing up on their own. I’m looking at you, beautiful orchids and gorgeous tulips.
Promising review: “These fit perfectly around most of my indoor plants that need help growing in an upright position. The green color blends in with the plant and you don’t even notice it’s there. If you are trying to use these for much bigger plants, the cage may not fit around the trunk of your plant.” —Melissa M.
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $11.99+ ( available in packs of four or eight).
31. And a set of two glass misters that are as practical as they are pretty. A lot of gardening tools are more utility than aesthetics, but these bottles are gorgeous and you won’t mind leaving them out when not in use.
Bek, a former BuzzFeed contributor, uses this spray bottle for her plants. Here’s what she had to say:
“Most of my houseplants are from more humid regions, and spraying their leaves helps them look lush and perky, even when the heat or AC is blasting. I know it’s pretty weird to be passionate about a spray bottle, but I absolutely need to tell you about this mister. Just holding it in my hands makes me happy. The bottle is made with thick, dark brown glass and the sprayer is a sturdy plastic. The mist itself is evenly dispersed and covers a lot of the leaves’ surface at once. Just a few quick sprays will completely douse my lovely green pals. I wish I could hold a ceremony and award this mister a “Best-Made Product Ever” award. My pilea and peace lily would be in attendance and applauding with their little stems. If you love your plants, spoil them with this fantastic mister.”
Get two from Amazon for $19.98.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
