A good gardening season starts long before you’re outside admiring your hydrangeas and pretending you weren’t just in a blood feud with crabgrass.
It starts with buying the right things early, before the rush, before the shortages, and before you’re forced to make panicky, last-minute choices in the garden aisle of your local big-box retailer. From seed-starting gear and fertilizer spikes to weed-pulling tools, gloves, shears, and even a smart sprinkler controller, these picks will help set the whole season up for success.
1. A bag of Scotts grass seed that’ll help bring your lawn back to life after a notably long and harsh winter. It’s made for both sunny and shaded areas, which is great if your yard gets a mixed bag of light and you just want something reliable that can help fill in patchy spots without a ton of guesswork.
2. 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 for easily grabbing things — even thorny plants — without fear of hurting yourself.
www.amazon.com
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).
3. 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 seriously love these. The nitrile glove attached to the sleeve is thin enough that I can actually feel what I’m doing, but thick enough that it won’t get punctured. It’s been heating up where I live, and instead of throwing on a long-sleeve shirt to protect my arms, I just slide these on, and they feel so much better! The sleeves are 100% cotton, so they’re breathable and lightweight. And the fun pattern? Just an extra little bonus I didn’t know I needed.
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 $21.99 (available in three sizes and six patterns).
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4. A leaf grabber rake because all those leaves that fell last fall? Yeah, they’re still in your yard. Use this to easily scoop ’em up so you can clear the ground for new growth and gardening opportunities.
Amazon
Promising review: “Whoever invented this, I humbly bless you! This tool has saved my back! Before, I had been using the leaf grabber hand mitts, which grabbed a great deal of leaves, but the constant bending to pick the piles up left me sore for days afterward. The tool’s weight is light and easy to manage. This was a great purchase for sure!” —Remybuxaplenty
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
5. A pack of zinnia and dahlia seeds to give your yard a major color upgrade without spending a fortune down at the local nursery. They’re suited for USDA zones 2 through 11, germinate in about seven to 10 days, and bloom from summer into fall, so you’re getting a lot of flower power for very little effort.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Home Grown is a small business that sells heirloom seeds.
Promising review: “I planted them a few months ago, thinking that I could fit the entire bag in one little flower bed. I definitely fit the whole bag in, and these flowers grew to about three feet tall. Next year, I’m definitely going to space it out a little bit more, but it was amazing to see a dense, lush field of zinnias, and the bumblebees absolutely loved them. I frequently would find them taking a nap on top of the flower heads. Great addition to a pollination bed. Water at least every other day to keep them happy if it’s not raining there. You will be amazed by how well they do.” —Victoria
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
6. A pack of Miracle-Gro tree and shrub plant food spikes that’ll give your trees and shrubs a boost without turning it into a whole gardening production. You simply press them into the soil near the root zone, and they get to work delivering nutrients where they’re needed most, which makes this an easy win to making sure your larger plants look better all season.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “We have three giant oak trees, about 60-70 years old. Back in May of 2022, we noticed one of them looked very scraggly and wasn’t putting out leaves like the others. So we used these spikes on May 19, 2022, and a year later, on May 19, 2023, the difference is amazing. It’s actually looking better than our other two now (and it’s now Sept 2024), so we are going to use the spikes on our other two giant oaks this season. Totally impressed!” —V M T R
Get it from Amazon for $12.36+ (available in tree and shrub or fruit and citrus packs (or both!)).
7. A weed-puller tool for easily removing weeds from your garden or lawn. It’s the bestselling weeding tool on Amazon, and for good reason! The same family-owned small business has been making these since 1913, and 48,500+ reviewers have given the product 5 stars.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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.
8. And a crack weeder tool so your pathways, driveways, and patios will be 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.
9. 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.
www.amazon.com
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 $13.99.
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10. A pressure washer to make mossy surfaces like new again, especially after a very wet winter. From mildew on fences to weeds in hardscaping cracks, this will help tackle difficult tasks that you thought couldn’t be remedied.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “Solid design. Multiple nozzles are super simple to install and remove. I used the 0-degree nozzle (cleaning weeds between pavers) and the 40-degree nozzle (cleaning the bicycle); both were well-suited to their tasks. Not too noisy, and the noise stops when the hand trigger is released. A breeze to use. I am well satisfied.” —DickieBird
“I’ve never used the word ‘satisfying’ as an adjective for an object before, but this one….this one right here? Satisfying. Perfection.” —Shatara Krupala
Get it from Amazon for $110.49+ (available in two model types).
11. A LetPot smart seed starting kit that’ll take one of the most optimistic parts of gardening season, starting seeds indoors, and make it feel far less like a part-time job. Instead of cobbling together trays, grow lights, and heating mats, this gives you an all-in-one station with smart controls, built-in lighting, and a heated base to help your seedlings get off to a stronger start.
Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed
Promising review: “I started my peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and tomatillos in the LetPot seed starter and I love it!! I just transplanted them outside to my greenhouse. It was so convenient to have a grow light and warming pad all built into one product, which means fewer plugs to worry about. The other great thing was being able to control the device from my phone. There were times that I woke in the middle of the night and realized the temp was too high and I was able to adjust the temp from my bed.” —Keturah
Get it from LePot for $83.99 (originally $119.99; use discount code SD30 for 30% off).
12. A potting bench for keeping all your gardening supplies in one compact, organized spot. With a spacious work surface, handy shelves, and a metal top that’s easy to clean, this bench is perfect for repotting, pruning, or really any other gardening task you need to complete to get your backyard ready for outdoor season.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “Great value for the $$ and attractive! Looks great on my back porch area and 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 highly recommend and would buy it again!” —Staci Evans
Get it from Amazon for $112.99+ (available in three wood finishes).
13. A two-pack of Miracle-Gro potting mix to give your container plants a much better place to get their act together. It’s made for pots and planters rather than in-ground gardening, so it gives flowers, herbs, and other container plants the looser, better-than-draining setup they need to settle in and start growing without a fight.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “I’ve had a really good experience using this potting mix from Miracle-Gro. It’s a high-quality soil that works very well for my container plants, flowers, and even a few vegetables that I grow in pots. The texture of the mix is light and fluffy, which makes it easy for roots to grow and helps the soil drain properly without becoming too compact. When I repotted my plants using this mix, they quickly looked healthier and more vibrant. One thing I really like is that it feeds plants for up to six months, which makes gardening much easier. I don’t have to constantly worry about adding fertilizer right away because the nutrients are already included in the soil. I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys container gardening.” —Simplified
Get it from Amazon for $9.67+ (available in four bag sizes).
14. 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.
www.amazon.com
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 gardening professional or hobbyist like me.” —JoJo
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in orange, black, or blue).
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15. A pack of five heavy-duty fabric grow bags (with handles!) so you can grow big plants with ease. They’re 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.
amazon.com
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.” —Ram C
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in tan or black and in 10 sizes).
16. And 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!
www.amazon.com
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 $18.99 (available in two colors).
17. A 21″ 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 (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 bought this mower exclusively for my front yard because I love my yard to be neat. Since my yard is on a slope, self-propelled is a must. I was really surprised by the power of the drive and the very even cut. Stores away in my garage and is always ready. Am I happy? Extremely.” —Greg D.
Get it from The Home Depot for $589.
18. 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
19. 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 I 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 $32.99.
20. An extremely flexible, kink-free garden hose that can stretch up to 75 feet. This is the bestselling hose on Amazon for a reason (70,500+ reviewers give it 5 stars). It’s also way lighter than other hoses — perfect for maneuvering around when you’re trying to water your yard.
21. A pack of bamboo garden stakes to support your plants and veggies in many different ways! The sticks even come in a wide range of thickness levels depending on how much support is needed.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: “I am SO GLAD I bought these! I originally bought these to stake my tomato plants, but now the options are limitless. I’m going to make a trellis for blackberries/strawberries and something for my clematis to climb. Yes, some of them are skinnier, and they aren’t perfect, but they’re BAMBOO, people. I love the look of them not being “perfect.” Very sturdy and easily went into the ground. I would highly recommend!!” —Arkanjel
Get a 25-pack from Amazon for $57.76.
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22. 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.
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 $27.99+ (available in two styles).
23. A resin storage bench if you have gardening equipment but no where to store it. This 70-gallon option is made from weather-resistant resin that won’t crack, peel, or need seasonal oiling, perfect if you want a seat that lives outside year-round with zero fuss. It’s also really roomy, which is perfect for storing bulkier gear like bags of soil.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: “This was a surprisingly nice build. Good for a small backyard; stores random tools and garden hoses. No water gets inside, either. Highly recommend.” —YUNI N.
Get it from Amazon for $179.99 (available in two colors).
24. 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.
25. Some black-and-white vegetable and herb markers to help you keep track of what’s growing where. There are over 40 popular veggie and herb names to choose from, and if your favorite’s missing, you can get a custom one made.
Lemon Studio / Etsy
Lemon Studio is a woman- and family-owned small business based in Chilliwack, Canada, that makes beautiful objects for the home with a laser engraving machine.
Promising review: “The plant stakes are great! They show up really well in my herb garden! Thank you!” —Judy Davis
Get it from Lemon Studio for $4.19 (available with all the common herbs and vegetable names with the option to add a custom name).
26. A denim apron with leather details designed specifically for gardening. Designed by plantfluencer Hilton Carter, it has leather pockets for holding heavy and sharp tools like shears and a ring for holding a towel or mister/spray bottle.
Things by HC
Hilton Carter lives in Baltimore and is an all-around plant genius who has amassed over 500,000 followers on Instagram. He’s also the author of six books about houseplants and plant styling.
Get it from Things by HC for $100 (available in original or dark denim).
27. 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.
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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
This piece is by Sally Elshorafa, the Home and Garden Editor at BuzzFeed Shopping, who’s written hundreds of stories about furniture, decor, cleaning, gardening, and home upgrades, all with one goal: to sift through the nonsense and surface what’s actually worth your money.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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