The Best Gardening Tools for a Picture-Perfect Yard

Tested by our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab, the Flexzilla Garden Hose proved kink resistant and easy to maneuver. And Amazon customers agree: “It’s the perfect combination of lightweight and heavy-duty — I was impressed with how easy it is to handle, yet it feels sturdy enough to last for years,” raves one reviewer.

Browse GH Expert Picks: 7 Best Garden Hoses, Tested & Reviewed

The Spruce Weed & Grass Killer earned the GH Seal for its ability to effectively control weeds all while being easy to use. Plus, its ingredients meet the minimal-risk regulations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Our experts even confirmed that the product is safe to use around bees.

RELATED: GH Seal Spotlight: Spruce Weed & Grass Killer

If you’re hoping to clean up the yard before gardening, this pruner kit will do the trick. “I really like the Stihl mini chainsaw. I use it all the time at home. It rips through branches up to a few inches thick. Best of all, it’s available with a pole pruner attachment that makes it easy to reach high-up branches,” says Dan DiClerico, the GH Institute’s Home Improvement and Outdoor Director.

Browse GH Expert Picks: 5 Best Mini Chainsaws That Make Yard Work Easy, Tested by Experts

You can never go wrong with a double-duty product, like this tote-style colander that has just enough space to gather — and wash — veggies from your garden. Amazon customers love the style, too. “It’s a nice size for carrying produce and the material is soft enough to not bruise tomatoes. The handle is comfortable, and it comes in several cute colors,” says one reviewer.

Don’t bust your back while weeding. Use this tool instead to claw up dandelions, thistles and other invasive plants without bending over. Plus, you can even ditch harsh chemicals.

Label all your houseplants and garden veggies with these slate plant labels and a chalk marker. The best part? You can wipe away the name when the season is over and reuse them all next year.

Since there’s no better time to upgrade your toolkit, consider this stainless steel set that comes with everything you need to maintain your garden: a trowel, a weeder, a rake, a spade and a cultivator. There’s even a vibrant orange tote to keep everything in place.

Most bulbs need to be planted anywhere from three to six inches deep, which is a task in itself. This drill, which works in various types of soil, digs deep holes without the extra elbow grease. “I just finished planting 90 daffodil bulbs in clay soil in about 90 minutes. But the real point isn’t the length of time it took, but the effort required. Short version: not much,” raves one reviewer.

Meet the best way to keep your plants — tomato vines, especially — secure and supported. After cutting these soft-sided ties to any desired length, they’ll manipulate your garden to grow just the way you want it too. “I cannot be without this in my garden. It is easy to use, stays exactly where you put it, never comes unstuck, and is a wide, protective way to tie up your plants,” says one customer.

Whether you need to mix soil or remove weeds that are taking over your plant, this durable aluminum cultivator is sure to come in handy. It features an ergonomic handle to prevent wrist strain and there’s a hole at the end for easy hanging when it’s not in use.

Featuring stainless steel and a comfortable wood handle, this hand trowel’s sizable deep dish and narrow tip make it brilliant for repotting plants or planting.

Make watering your lawn stress-free with this retractable hose that can easily be mounted to a wall. It can swivel 180 degrees to ensure that the hose remains tangle-free while watering your lawn or garden.

If you’re lacking garden space, think up, not out with this trellis, which climbs more than 4 feet tall. Ideal for cucumbers, squash, peas and flowering vines, this top pick can also be folded flat and stored when not in use.

Nothing is more frustrating than overwatering or underwatering plants, resulting in wilted or yellowing leaves. With this nifty meter, you can test the moisture of soil to determine the perfect time to water your plants. Just insert it into soil to find out the results.

Don’t let another day of gardening go by without having this well-cushioned kneeling pad in your arsenal. Available in six colors and two sizes, this foam pad provides much-needed knee support and has a handle for easy carrying. Plus, customers love the durability: “Wind, rain, or shine-these pads stay put through all weather and maintain their use for several years,” writes one happy customer.

In addition to sticking with a consistent watering schedule and providing your plants with the right amount of light, they can also benefit from fertilizer. All you have to do is mix the fertilizer with water before watering your plants or add it directly to the soil.

Don’t strain your back attempting to carry loads of mulch or plants around your garden. Complete with a steel frame, this sturdy cart is equipped to hold up to 600 pounds.

You need to set the stage before planting flowers, vegetables and fruits. This pair of hand rakes are a game-changer for removing leaves — wet or otherwise — and placing mulch in your refreshed flower beds.