Amazon Prime Day may be hogging the headlines this week, but Walmart is running its own summer patio sale, and some of these products are super impressive. While Prime Day deals tend toward gadgets and appliances, Walmart’s competing event leans more into outdoor living items like furniture, lighting, fire pits, and other accessories that actually make you want to hang out in your garden.

Whether you're starting from scratch or filling in some empty gaps, here are 12 picks that are worth adding to your cart before the sale ends. It's the simplest way to turn your patio into a stylish outdoor living space.

Outdoor Dining

Eating outside is one of summer's great pleasures, but it requires a table and chairs that can handle the weather without warping, rusting, or requiring you to drag them inside every time it rains (that’s just no fun).

Outdoor Seating

The centerpiece of any good patio is a comfy place to sit, and Walmart's sale has options across every style and budget, from statement lounge chairs to full conversation sets.

Shade & Lighting

Once you have somewhere to sit, the next priority is staying comfortable in the sun and being able to stay outside once it goes down.

Fire Pits & Outdoor Warmth

A fire pit can extend the season quite a bit. Even on cooler summer nights, it keeps the garden usable well after dark, and the social pull of an open fire is hard to beat.

Some of us start the day with coffee in hand and a pair of secateurs at the ready. Others don't truly come alive until the sun dips, preferring to water, deadhead, and pot up plants long after everyone else has gone indoors. And I've long suspected that there is a secret third category besides "early bird" and "night owl": the perennially exhausted pigeon.

As the parent of small children, sleep currently feels more like an elusive fantasy. I am neither cheerfully greeting the dawn nor embracing glamorous midnight gardening sessions. Instead, I drift through the garden at odd hours clutching a lukewarm tea and wondering if I've already watered that pot, or merely thought about watering it.

Thankfully, my garden seems to have adapted to my chaotic schedule. And, over the years, I've realised that some plants genuinely reward early risers, while others save their best performances for dusk. Which means, yes, you can absolutely find the best plants to suit your biological clock.

The Best Plants to Suit Your Biological Clock

The idea of setting out to choose the best plants to suit your biological clock might sound nonsensical, but there is real science behind it. After all, gardening experts say there is a correct time to water plants (usually early in the morning, when evaporation is lower and foliage has time to dry during the day, helping to reduce the risk of fungal diseases).

But what if evening is the only time you reliably make it outdoors? Well, don't despair, as entire moon gardens can be designed around plants that release their scent after dark or whose pale flowers glow in the twilight.

So whether you're up with your birth month bird, out with the fireflies, or operating on permanently sleep-deprived pigeon time like I am, here are the plants most likely to suit your body clock. You're welcome.

If You're an Early Bird...

1. Morning Glory

If there was ever a flower designed for morning people, this is it. Morning glories unfurl their trumpet-shaped blooms at dawn before closing later in the day. If your idea of bliss involves coffee, birdsong, and a quick wander around the garden before the rest of the house wakes up, this is your plant.

Shop Morning Glory Seeds:

2. Roses

Many gardeners swear roses are at their most beautiful in the early morning, when blooms are fresh and fragrance often seems strongest in the cool air.

Plus, if you're already outside early, you'll be perfectly placed to tackle deadheading before the day heats up. Sound ideal? Then get yourself a Heavenly Scented rose in a 3-gallon pot from Spring Hill Nurseries at Lowe's.

3. Herbs and Salad Crops

Early birds are ideally suited to growing vegetables like herbs and salad crops. Snipping basil for breakfast eggs or harvesting lettuce for lunch before the sun gets too intense feels deeply virtuous – even if you're still in your pyjamas. Vegetables and leafy crops also appreciate the consistent moisture that morning watering provides.

Naturally, the Heatwave Blend Lettuce Seeds from Burpee knows how to keep its cool when things get hot, hot, hot. Or try something like Seed Needs Basil Seedsif you want a low-stakes, low-commitment kind of herb.

4. Thirsty Container Plants

Container gardens dry out quickly, especially during summer. If you're naturally awake early, you'll have a head start on watering before temperatures rise and evaporation ramps up (trust me, your hanging baskets will thank you for it).

Shop Garden Watering Essentials:

If You're a Night Owl...

1. Night-Scented Stock

Night owls, this one is practically your mascot. The rather understated flowers of night-scented stock become (no surprises here!) strongly fragrant after dusk, filling the garden with perfume just as you're finally getting a moment to yourself. That intoxicating perfume honestly feels like excellent validation for anyone whose gardening day doesn't start until 9pm.

Keen to give it a go? Try sowing these Evening Scented Stock Seeds from Everwilde, stat.

2. Nicotiana

Flowering tobacco may not look especially dramatic by day, but many varieties release their intoxicating fragrance in the evening. Plant these Nicotiana Mix Bedder Seeds near a patio or seating area and you'll be rewarded every time you sneak outside for five minutes of peace after bedtime.

3. Jasmine

If night gardening had a signature scent, this would be it. Jasmine releases its most intoxicating fragrance in the evening, making it perfect for anyone who finally steps outside once the house is quiet. Honestly, my patio smells amazing all summer long thanks to this one plant!

Train it near a doorway, pergola, or seating area, and it will reward late-day wanderings with a scent that feels almost unfairly luxurious after a long day.

Shop Jasmine Plants Below:

4. Silver Foliage Plants

Plants with silver or grey foliage, such as lamb's ear, dusty miller, and artemisia, reflect moonlight beautifully and can appear almost luminous at dusk. If you regularly find yourself wandering the garden after sunset, they're worth making space for.

Shop Silver Foliage Plants:

Ultimately, the best plants for your biological clock are the ones that fit naturally into your life. Honestly, if you're forcing yourself to care for thirsty containers at 6am when you're genetically programmed to emerge at noon, you're going about this gardening lark all wrong; it should bring you joy, after all, not breed resentment.

Personally, as that perennially exhausted pigeon, I've learned to embrace a garden with 24-hour appeal – morning glories for the dawn people, jasmine for the night owls, and plenty of forgiving plants for those of us muddling through somewhere in between. What will you be choosing for yourself, I wonder?

Investing in one of the best pizza ovens is a great way to make the most of your outdoor space, whether you're hosting friends or simply want restaurant-quality pizza at home. Better still, pizza ovens aren't just for pizza. Many can also be used to roast vegetables, cook meat and fish, bake bread, and even whip up desserts, making them a versatile addition to your patio ideas that will raise your cooking game.

Before you buy, you'll want to think about your budget, the type of fuel you'd prefer to use, and how much cooking space you need. Just like the best grills, pizza ovens come in gas, wood-fired, electric, and multi-fuel models, each with its own advantages.

To help you choose the right one, our team has tested bestselling pizza ovens from leading brands including Ooni, Gozney, and our top pick Solo Stove – which is currently on sale for Amazon Prime Day. We assessed each model for ease of use, heat-up time, cooking performance, build quality, and value for money, making plenty of pizzas (and trying a few other dishes along the way) to find the best options for every budget and cooking style.

The Quick List

The Best Pizza Ovens: Expert Reviews

There's no shortage of choices when it comes to pizza ovens; electric, countertop ovens are super easy to use and will fit nicely in your kitchen while some higher-end gas and wood-powered ones can cook your pizza in as little as 60 seconds. To help narrow down the options, we've tested the best pizza ovens on the market, assessing everything from ease of use and heat-up times to cooking performance and value for money.

The Best Pizza Oven Overall

The Pi Prime pizza oven from Solo Stove is the latest in their wide range of high-quality outdoor furniture. It combines a lot of great features with an affordable price tag, making it easy to rate it as the "Best Overall" pizza oven for most people.

Design: The circular design of the Pi Prime keeps the overall size of the oven relatively small, which means it can fit almost anywhere in your backyard. It's even small and light enough to make it portable, so you can have pizza night at a friend's house or even at the campground. It's not quite as small and light as the Ooni Karu, but it's quite manageable. The best part is there's hardly any setup involved. Simply insert the stones and connect your propane tank, and you're ready to go.

The stainless steel construction makes it durable, so you can leave it outside without having to worry about it getting damaged. If you don't have a covered porch or other weather-proof place to store it long-term, I'd recommend picking up the cover for it, but it will still last even without it.

I do wish there were a built-in temperature gauge, but it's not the end of the world.

Performance: I was most impressed by how quickly the Pi Prime heated up. Every other oven I've tested took at least 25-30 minutes to be ready to cook, but the Pi Prime was ready for pies in about 15 minutes. And once preheated, nearly every pizza was fully cooked in about 90 seconds.

Luckily, we didn't have to sacrifice quality to get that speed. Every pizza I cooked, from plain cheese to tomato-basil, was exceptional. The thin crust on the bottom was nice and crisp, and the edges had that light, airy texture you get from restaurant-quality pizza.

Value: My favorite thing about the Pi Prime is that you get all of this - a great design, fast cook time, and excellent flavor – all at a very affordable price.

Reviewed by Jason Cockerham

Buy it if

✅ You want to cook pizza fast: The Pi Prime can be preheated in about 15 minutes. And once it's ready, you can crank out hot, fresh, delicious pizza in about 90 seconds. That's the quickest prep-to-serve time of any pizza oven we've tested.
✅ You want to cook on a budget: Solo Stove is known for its high-quality yet affordable fire pits. Now, you can get the same great quality in a pizza oven that won't break the bank.
✅ You want great taste without a lot of work: The best part of the Pi Prime is how easy and hassle-free it is to use. Using propane means there's no wood or ash to deal with, and the whole thing can be set up in minutes.

Don't buy it if

❌ You don't like guesswork: There's no built-in temperature gauge on the Pi Prime, and while the flame adjustment knob has a recommended setting indicated on it, you'll still need a separate thermometer to know for sure.
❌ You're looking for that authentic, wood-fired flavor: The base version of Pi Prime runs only on propane. So if you really want a more classic wood-fired flavor, you'll have to pay more to upgrade.

The Best Indoor Pizza Oven

Cuisinart is no stranger to kitchen appliances, so it makes sense they would make a solid, kitchen-ready pizza oven. The Cuisinart Indoor Pizza Oven is compact, so it fits well on the kitchen counter, and it's incredibly easy to use.

Design: Cuisinart's design language here is pretty smart in that it's quite inconspicuous. It doesn't stand out too much and honestly looks like any other large toaster oven might. That means it fits quite comfortably into any aesthetic and the silver, black, and red colors can match pretty much any decor.

With a simple dial for setting the temperature and a basic timer on the side, there's not much to think about when it's meal time. And the big front window and oven light let you watch the pizza cook in all its glory. They've even included some suggested temperature settings right on the window for you.

Best of all, they include all the accessories you need, and aside from the pizza stone, they're all dishwasher safe, so cleaning up is a cinch.

Performance: I was impressed with the results of the pizza oven, particularly considering it's not gas or wood-fired. I noticed it does tend to cook a little hotter on one side than the other (not uncommon for pizza ovens), so I recommend turning it halfway through cooking.

The crusts fluffed up nicely, and the pepperonis had those nice crispy edges. Deep-dish pizza cooked just as well, but just be aware the deep-dish pan is quite heavy when full, so you'll need two hands.

Value: The price isn't too unreasonable because you're really getting a completely uncomplicated pizza oven. The convenience and simplicity of it alone make it a great option for your first pizza oven.

Reviewed by Jason Cockerham

Buy it if

✅ You want a hassle-free pizza oven: The Cuisinart Indoor Pizza Oven is incredibly easy to use. It's essentially a big toaster oven so you set the temperature, slide in the pizza, and you're ready to go. There's no fuel or anything to worry about.
✅ You have limited space: Not everyone has a great outdoor space to set up a pizza oven which makes this pizza oven a great choice. It sits comfortably on the kitchen counter so you can cook in any weather, and it's compact so you'll still have plenty of room for everything else.
✅ You want a great value: It's hard to argue with what you're getting here. It's easy to use, compact, and well priced.

Don't buy it if

❌ You prefer a quiet kitchen: While it's not disruptively loud, you'll certainly notice this pizza oven while it's on. So if you plan on having a lot of guests over or you just don't like lots of chaos in the kitchen, you might look elsewhere.
❌ You don't have a lot of prep time: This pizza oven can take as long as 30 minutes to be preheat, and potentially another 15-20 minutes to actually cook, so you'll need to plan ahead.

The Best Compact Pizza Oven

The Gozney Arc is a stylish pizza oven from one of the top names in the business. They've brought their extensive experience of building commercial pizza ovens into your backyard with a compact, premium-designed pizza oven that can cook delicious pizza in as little as 60 seconds.

Design: The Gozney Arc looks similar to what you might find in a professional pizza kitchen, and for good reason: it's heavily inspired by Gozney's own commercial-grade pizza ovens. Unlike the professional-grade ovens, however, there's very little setup or installation required for the Arc. Once it's out of the box, there are a few small pieces to slot in place, and that's it. The unique dome shape allows the flame to 'arc' up and across the entire roof of the oven, which cooks every pizza quickly and evenly.

The Arc is also the most premium-looking oven we tested. It looks stunning in the backyard and will be certain to turn some heads at your next pizza night. It's easy to tell how well crafted the Arc is, and that quality design language extends to Gozney's accessories as well. The serving peel, turning peel, pizza rocker, and cutter our tester received were all high quality as well.

Performance: I was quite impressed that Gozney's claim of being able to cook a pizza in 60 seconds held true. Once it was fully preheated to the desired temperature, the pizza was fully cooked in just one minute. The big downside here is that to reach that peak temperature of 950°F, the oven had to preheat for a full hour. But the results were well worth it as the pizza was cooked perfectly every time with a thin, crispy bottom crust and a delicious, airy edge.

The design of the Arc allows for much more than just pizza to be cooked in it, and I also had great success with cooking a steak, veggies, and homemade tortillas for tacos.

Value: The Gozney Arc is expensive, but for someone look to spend a little extra for a top-tier pizza experience, it's worth the investment.

Reviewed by Jason Cockerham

Buy it if

✅ You want to cook pizza fast: Thanks to the unique design of the Arc, you can have hot fresh pizza ready to serve in as little as 60 seconds. You'll need to stay close so you can turn it when needed, but it's all part of the fun.
✅ You want to class up your backyard decor: There's no denying the slick design of the Gozney Arc. It looks unlike anything else on this list and will be sure to turn heads at your next backyard gathering.
✅ You want a cleaner cooking experience: The Gozney Arc is powered by propane or natural gas which means there's hardly any mess to worry about. There's no ash to deal with and it's much easier to regulate the temperature without trying to figure out how many logs or pellets to add.

Don't buy it if

❌ You don't have much time to prep: While the Arc's design helps it cook quickly and evenly, the downside is that it can take up to an hour to fully preheat, depending on the temperature you need. If you don't often have that kind of time before dinner, the Arc may not be for you.
❌ You're on a budget: The premium design and cooking experience of the Arc doesn't come cheap. While this is the least expensive Gozney pizza oven currently available, it's still one of the more expensive we've tested.

The Best Electric Pizza Oven

The Volt 2 is the successor to Ooni's first electric-powered pizza oven, the Volt 12. As you'd expect, the quality is just as impressive as the rest of the brand's lineup.

Design: The Ooni Volt 2 takes inspiration from Ooni's other pizza ovens with its trapezoid-like shape. It differs from the others in that it has no chimney (thanks to electricity) and no long legs to stand on. Despite packing in all the electrical components, the Volt 2 has a noticeably smaller footprint than its predecessor while retaining the same cooking capacity. It also retains heat incredibly well and is safe enough to use indoors.

Even with its sturdy build, it's also the simplest Ooni to use. The entire thing is operated with just three dials and is perfect for anyone just starting out on their pizza-making journey. The controls are granular enough that you can even adjust the balance between the top and bottom heating elements while your pizzas are cooking.

Performance: Our tester, Dan, could not say enough great things about the quality of the pizza cooked in the Ooni Volt. He was impressed with how well the electrically powered oven was able to match the quality of other wood- and gas-fired ovens he's tested.

Aside from a classic cheese pizza, he tested cold meats like prosciutto, salami, serrano ham, pepperoni and, of course, plenty of veggies. Everything he tested cooked perfectly evenly without needing any adjustments to the oven during the process – certainly not something that can be said for every pizza oven.

Value: The Volt 2 remains one of the most expensive pizza ovens we've ever tested. Even premium gas-powered ovens like the Gozney Arc cost less, and Ooni's own wood-fired pizza ovens can produce exceptional pizza for hundreds of dollars less.

That being said, it's hard to argue with the combination of convenience and quality offered by the Ooni Volt 2. Sure, it's expensive, but it's also one of the easiest ways to make incredibly good pizza at home.

Reviewed by Dan Fauzi

Buy it if

✅ For stone-baked flavor without the hassle: The Ooni Volt 2 cooks delicious, restaurant-quality pizza at the turn of a dial, with no external fuel required.

✅ You want to make pizza indoors year-round: Designed for indoor use, the Volt 2 lets you enjoy restaurant-quality pizza whatever the weather.

✅ You want good pizza, fast: The Volt 2 heats up quickly and, with Pizza Intelligence™ presets and responsive controls, can cook authentic pizza in as little as 90 seconds once it's up to temperature.

Don't buy it if

❌ You want something portable: The Ooni Volt 2 needs to be plugged into a power outlet, making it far less portable than gas or wood-fired pizza ovens.

❌ You want an outdoor-only pizza oven: The Volt 2 is designed for indoor use, so if you're after a traditional outdoor pizza oven experience, a gas or wood-fired model will be a better fit.

❌ You're looking to save money: The Ooni Volt 2 is one of the most expensive pizza ovens we've tested. While its convenience helps justify the price, there are excellent gas and wood-fired alternatives available for much less.

The Best Premium Pizza Oven

The Breeo Live-Fire Pizza Oven will elevate your pizza night in almost every way possible. From the incredible quality and durability of the oven itself to the wonderfully delicious pizza you get every time, it's hard to go wrong with it. It's not hard to see how much care, thoughtfulness, and intention go into Breeo's products, so you know you're getting what you pay for.

Design: The simple, modern design of the Breeo Live-Fire Pizza Oven (and accompanying fire pit) will add plenty of elegance and beauty to any backyard. The stainless-steel construction means it not only cooks well, but it can also withstand the elements and retain its clean, industrial look for years to come.

The thicker pizza stones help retain more heat, so there's less reheat time between pizzas, and the temperature gauge on the side means you've got everything you need to start cooking great pizza (you'll still need a pizza peel, of course).

Performance: The great build quality extends beyond just the looks of the pizza oven. Every pizza we cooked in it came out hot, fresh, and delicious. The open window at the bottom gave us easy access to the fire below, making it easy (and fun) to adjust the temperature of the fire as needed.

The design of the oven contributed to every pizza being cooked quickly and evenly, without too much charring on the bottom, even after almost an entire half of the pizza toppings were spilled on it.

Value: There's no getting around how expensive the Breeo Live-Fire Pizza Oven is. Especially as you can't even use it without a Breeo fire pit, which is also a tad pricey.

That being said, you certainly get quite a lot for the price. The Breeo pizza oven will last for years to come and give you delicious pizza consistently, every time you use it. Plus, the live-fire cooking experience is truly enjoyable.

Reviewed by Jason Cockerham

Buy it if

✅ You already own the fire pit: The Breeo Live-Fire Pizza Oven is only compatible with the brand's existing fire pit.
✅ You don't want to deal with any setup: It comes fully assembled in the box. Just slide in the pizza stones, set it on top of your fire pit, and that's it.
✅ You want unbeatable craftsmanship: Every Breeo pizza oven (and fire pit) is handmade in the USA, and it shows. You can clearly see the exceptional craftsmanship and durability in every inch of the pizza oven.
✅ You want an authentic, wood-fired cooking experience: Cooking in the Breeo Live-Fire Pizza Oven is a truly enjoyable experience. It takes some work to get the fire going and manage the temperature, but that's all part of the experience.

Don't buy it if

❌ You want something more compact: The Breeo Live-Fire Pizza Oven is quite large and the stainless steel makes it heavy too. It's not something you'll want to move around a lot, especially since the compatible fire pits are heavy as well.
❌ You don't want to spend a lot: The pizza oven by itself is already quite expensive, but to make matters worse, it only works with a Breeo fire pit, which are also quite expensive.
❌ You want something easier to use: There's a fair amount of work involved in using the Breeo pizza oven. You need to build the fire, and continually maintain or adjust it as needed throughout the cook.

The Most Versatile Pizza Oven

The Ooni Karu 12 is one of our tried-and-tested favourites, offering the flexibility to cook with wood, charcoal or gas. It's one of the most versatile ovens we've tested, although the optional gas burner is sold separately.

Design: The Karu 12 is compact, lightweight and easy to assemble, taking just a matter of minutes to get up and running. It weighs only 12kg, making it easy to move around the garden or pack up for trips away, and the folding legs and removable chimney make it even more portable. Like the old Fyra model, you can either buy a bespoke portable table for your Ooni to live on or place it on an existing outdoor surface.

Performance: In terms of ease of use, the Karu 12 is as straightforward as it gets. Keep an eye on your pizza as it cooks and rotate it every 20 seconds or so for a perfectly cooked crust and bubbly mozzarella. We found the wood-fired mode delivers plenty of authentic flavour, but our gas-cooked pizzas were easier to control and therefore more evenly cooked, making the optional gas attachment a worthwhile investment. Once up to temperature, the Karu 12 can cook pizzas in as little as 60 seconds.

Value: The Karu is one of our favourite pizza ovens, but its higher price tag means it's a little disappointing that the gas attachment doesn't come included. The Woody has just pipped it to second place on our list because of price comparison (despite this getting a slightly higher score) – it costs the same amount as the full Woody kit before you shell out for the peel, thermometer, gas attachment and cover. That said, if you value the flexibility of switching between traditional wood-fired cooking and the convenience of gas, the Karu 12 remains an excellent investment.

Reviewed by Millie Fender

Buy it if

✅ You want the flexibility of multiple fuel types: The Karu 12 can cook with wood, charcoal or gas (with the optional gas burner), so you can choose between authentic flavour and fuss-free convenience.

✅ You want a portable pizza oven: Weighing just 12kg with folding legs and a removable chimney, the Karu 12 is easy to transport and store.

✅ You love authentic wood-fired cooking: The Karu 12 delivers delicious smoky flavour when cooking with wood, while still giving you the option to switch to gas for easier temperature control.

Don't buy it if

❌ You don't want to buy extra accessories: To get the most from the Karu 12, you'll need to budget for extras like a pizza peel, infrared thermometer and, if you want gas cooking, the optional gas burner.

❌ You're on a tight budget: By the time you've added the gas attachment and essential accessories, there are better-value pizza ovens available.

❌ You want the easiest pizza-making experience: While the Karu 12 is straightforward to use, wood-fired cooking takes more practice than a dedicated gas or electric oven, and you'll need to manage the fire as you cook.

We think the Ooni Koda 16 is the ultimate gas pizza oven, serving up 16in sharing pizzas that are perfect for feeding a crowd in just 60 seconds.

Our reviewer was impressed by how sleek and modern the design of the Koda was, and she had no problem connecting the hose and regulator to the gas cylinder. She found the L-shaped flame took a little getting used to, but once she'd perfected the technique of rotating the pizza every 20 seconds for an even cook, the results were well worth it. That said, you will need to buy a pizza peel separately, as Ooni doesn't include one in the box, and it's essential for getting your pizza in and out of the oven, as well as rotating it once it's in to cook. This is the same with most other ovens though, so it's likely you'll have that expense whatever oven you buy.

Once tried and tested, we loved the Ooni Koda 16's performance, our only other gripe being the lack of in-built thermometer which makes it hard to guage when the oven has reached the optimum temperature for pizza cooking. Again, you can buy this separately, but we would have liked to see one included in the build which is why this oven didn't quite achieve full marks. However, it still makes a great investment for your outdoor kitchen in our book.

Gardeningetc rating 4.5/5 stars – read our full Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven review

The Best Gas-Powered Pizza Oven

The Ooni Koda 16 is the ultimate gas pizza oven, serving up 16-inch sharing pizzas that are perfect for feeding a crowd in as little as 60 seconds. Its extra-large cooking surface and sleek, modern design make it a standout choice for outdoor entertaining.

Design: Our reviewer was impressed by how sleek and modern the Koda 16 looked, and she had no problem connecting the hose and regulator to the gas cylinder. Assembly couldn't be simpler – just unfold the legs, insert the pizza stone, and it's ready to use. That said, you will need to buy a pizza peel separately, as Ooni doesn't include one in the box, and it's essential for launching, turning and removing your pizzas. An infrared thermometer is also a worthwhile extra, as there's no built-in temperature gauge.

Performance: The L-shaped flame took a little getting used to, but once she'd perfected the technique of rotating the pizza every 20 seconds for an even cook, the results were well worth it. We loved the Koda 16's performance, producing beautifully crisp pizzas with evenly cooked toppings in around 60 to 90 seconds. Its generous 16-inch cooking surface also makes it ideal for larger pizzas and feeding a crowd.

Value: The lack of a built-in thermometer meant the Koda 16 just missed out on full marks, but it remains one of the best gas pizza ovens we've tested. While you'll need to budget for a few essential accessories, it's a worthwhile investment if you regularly entertain or want consistently excellent pizza with minimal fuss.

Reviewed by Laura Crombie

Buy it if

✅ You regularly cook for a crowd: The generous 16-inch cooking surface is perfect for making large sharing pizzas and feeding family and friends.

✅ You want a gas pizza oven that's easy to use: The Koda 16 is quick to set up, heats up in around 20 minutes, and cooks pizzas in as little as 60 seconds.

✅ You love entertaining outdoors: With its sleek design, spacious cooking area, and consistently excellent results, the Koda 16 is a fantastic centerpiece for an outdoor kitchen.

Don't buy it if

❌ You want a lightweight, portable pizza oven: Te Koda 16 is one of Ooni's larger models and is better suited to staying in one place.

❌ You don't want to buy extra accessories: You'll need a pizza peel to get started, and an infrared thermometer is highly recommended as there's no built-in temperature gauge.

❌ You're on a budget: The Koda 16 is a premium gas pizza oven, and there are smaller or multi-fuel models available for less if you don't need the extra cooking space.

The Best Portable Pizza Oven

The Gozney Roccbox is a compact, portable pizza oven that delivers outstanding results and premium build quality. While it can cook with both wood and gas, we found it performed best using the included gas burner.

Design: The Roccbox seriously wowed us from the moment we took it out of the box. We tested the green version, although it's also available with a grey silicone jacket. The silicone exterior stays warm rather than hot during cooking, making it safer to touch than many rival pizza ovens. Despite its sturdy build, it's compact enough to transport and store with ease.

Performance: We found the wood-fired fuel box a little small and it took around 40 minutes to reach cooking temperature. Switching to gas transformed the experience, with the oven heating up much more reliably and producing beautifully cooked pizzas in just over a minute. The Roccbox consistently delivered crisp bases and evenly cooked toppings, making it one of the easiest portable pizza ovens to use.

Value: While the Gozney Roccbox sits at the premium end of the market, it includes a gas burner as standard, which is often sold separately with competing multi-fuel pizza ovens. If you value build quality, portability and consistently excellent results, it's well worth the investment.

Buy it if

✅ You want a premium portable pizza oven: The Roccbox is compact, durable and easy to transport, making it ideal for gardens, camping trips and cooking on the go.

✅ You prefer cooking with gas: The included gas burner makes the Roccbox quick to heat up, easy to control and capable of cooking pizzas in just over a minute.

✅ You value premium build quality: From its silicone outer jacket to its sturdy construction, the Roccbox feels exceptionally well made and built to last.

Don't buy it if

Don't buy it if

❌ You want the best wood-fired experience: The wood-fired fuel box is quite small and takes noticeably longer to heat up than when using gas.

❌ You're on a budget: The Roccbox is one of the pricier portable pizza ovens, even if the included gas burner helps justify the cost.

❌ You want to cook large pizzas: The Roccbox is designed for pizzas up to 12 inches, so it isn't the best choice for feeding larger groups.

How to Choose the Best Pizza Oven for You

If you're considering a pizza oven, there's a few things you'll want to keep in mind during you're search for the best one for you:

What Size Pizza Oven Do I Need?

Most pizza ovens we tested will cook about the same size pizza (12-14 inches), which suits most families. If you entertain a lot, then size up to 16 inches with the Ooni Koda 16 or Gozney Arc XL.

Don't forget, you can also cook a great deal more than pizza in a pizza oven, so if you want to be able to cook a wider range of dishes, you may want to go for a bigger pizza oven size.

Bear in mind that the physical size of the pizza ovens themselves varies quite widely. The first thing you'll need to find is a place for your oven to live. Some indoor ones will fit well on a kitchen counter, while others will need a dedicated spot outside. It's a good idea to find a good place for it first, so then you'll have an idea of how big an oven you can get.

Which Fuel Type is Best for Pizza Ovens?

The fuel source is critical to your decision. Some pizza purists would say there is no other way to cook it than in a wood-fired oven, and the authentic smoky taste imparted to the crust is one reason why.

Cooking with wood and wood pellets provides a fun experience, and wood can also reach higher temperatures than gas. You can try out different types of wood to experiment with the flavors a bit.

While gas may bring your oven to temperature faster, you get a more ferocious flame with wood or charcoal. That said, reaching this temperature and tending to the fire is one major reason many choose gas. Wood takes time and effort to manage – you need to constantly top up the fuel between pizzas – but you simply turn on the gas, much like an indoor oven, and let it do the rest.

When it comes to running costs, wood pellets are generally the most affordable fuel option, followed by propane gas. Cooking with hardwood logs or lump charcoal can cost more, especially as logs burn relatively quickly and need topping up more often, while pellets and lump charcoal tend to provide a steadier burn.

Upfront prices vary too, but rather than focusing solely on fuel costs, we recommend choosing the pizza oven that best suits your cooking style. If you value convenience, a gas or electric model may be worth the extra expense, while wood-fired ovens offer a more traditional cooking experience. Can't choose? Select a multi-fuel option like the Ooni Karu or Gozney Roccbox above for flexibility.

How Much Should You Spend on a Pizza Oven?

As you've seen from our list here, the prices for pizza ovens vary quite a lot so knowing your budget is one of, if not the first, step in your buying process. While the lowest end of the spectrum starts at around $150, our recommendations start at closer to $300–$350.

Look out for what is included with the pizza oven. All will include the stone and oven but you will always have to buy fuel separately, so factor this in. Often multi-fuel ovens require you to buy the gas attachment on top of the cost of the oven, too.

Some pizza ovens come as a kit including a peel and thermometer. These aren't essential but it is much harder to get the right temperature without a thermometer and very, very hard to put a pizza in an oven without a peel, so see where they are included. Finally, a cover is a nice extra. It will mean you can protect your oven outdoors over summer.

For our part, we found that every oven we tested cooked good pizza (certainly better than most fast-food pizza shops) with the differences being mainly in the time it took from start to finish and the versatility of the oven.

What Build Quality Should You Look For?

When buying a pizza oven you want something that is built to last. Look for an oven with a thick stone floor, at least 3/4 inch thick. While you can pick up a generic pizza oven for a reasonable price at your local DIY store, you’re better off investing a little more money (or a lot, depending on your budget) on a brand that specialises in them.

Brands like these will have spent a lot of time and money on developing the look and design of their pizza ovens, so not only will they look great, but they’ll have been built with quality materials that ensure years of use.

Should You Go for a Built-in or Portable Pizza Oven?

Nearly all of the pizza ovens on our list are portable to some degree. Many are small enough to set up on a table (or other heat-proof surface) and then put away at the end of summer. These are not space hungry (although you will want room to store in a shed or garage), and they can be taken camping or to a friend's house if you want a pizza party elsewhere.

A built-in pizza oven is a much bigger commitment. For one, you need a large enough space – safely away from fencing or trees – to build your pizza oven in. You also need to be pretty sure you are going to give it plenty of use. That said, many will double as an outdoor fireplace, so a trattoria-style brick pizza oven could be a wonderful focal point in your outdoor dining area.

How to Clean a Pizza Oven

One of the best things about pizza ovens is that there is typically very little cleaning or maintenance involved, but there's still some, depending on the type of oven you purchase. For the most part, you'll need to brush or gently wash down the stone(s) along with the peel, and that's about it. Just be careful to never use soap on the pizza stones, as that can cause them to crack and break. Warm water and/or a steel brush are all you need.

For fire-burning ovens, you'll need to clean out any ash left every so often, and for the gas ones, just make sure you have enough propane for your next cook. That's essentially it.

How We Tested These Pizza Ovens

Trust us: it isn't hard to find willing pizza oven testers on our team. Every pizza oven in this guide was tested in a real home backyard over the course of several weeks. Our reviewers assembled each oven themselves, timed how long it took to heat up, and cooked multiple pizzas to assess how easy it was to achieve an evenly cooked crust, bubbling cheese, and crisp base.

For multi-fuel ovens, we tested every available fuel type to compare heat-up times, ease of use, and cooking performance. Where appropriate, we also experimented with cooking foods beyond pizza, including vegetables, meat, and baked dishes, to see how versatile each oven really was.

As well as judging the quality of the finished pizza, we looked at how straightforward each oven was to set up, operate, and clean. Some models were as simple as plugging them in and turning a dial, while others required more hands-on fire management and temperature control. Neither approach is necessarily better – it simply depends on the type of cooking experience you're looking for.

Because these ovens are designed for home cooks rather than professional pizzaiolos, our testing team includes reviewers with a range of experience levels, from complete beginners to seasoned outdoor cooks. This helps us judge how approachable each model is straight out of the box.

Finally, wherever possible, we continue using the products long after the review has been published. That allows us to assess long-term durability and update our recommendations if our experience changes over time.

The Expert Testers

There’s a certain stubbornness that comes with sitting outside when it’s 95 degrees, insisting you're fine, even though you’re sweating through your dress and melting into your garden chair. For years, the only patio shade ideas I relied on were a parasol and small shade trees, but after trying a patio misting system, I don’t know how I ever managed without one.

The science of it is actually pretty simple: fine water droplets evaporate the second they hit the air, pulling heat with them and taking the temperature around you down by up to 20°F. You don’t even need electricity, just a standard garden hose. Even better, the mist raises the humidity around heat-sensitive plants and creates a cool, damp microclimate that things like basil and lettuce thrive in.

The One That Convinced Me

This is perfect for those who have never installed a misting system before. HOMENOTE's 26FT system (currently over 40% off for Amazon Prime Day) connects to a standard garden hose and fastens to umbrella canopies, railings, and covered patio roofs. This means that for you, setup takes less than 10 minutes and doesn’t require any tools, hiring a plumber, or even going down a YouTube rabbit hole looking for a tutorial.

The 26-foot line with seven brass nozzles is the right size for an average patio or deck, producing a fine, barely-there mist rather than that aggressive kind of spray that soaks your furniture and will irritate your guests. Brass nozzles last much longer than their plastic counterparts and are far less prone to clogging. This is certainly worth noting, as nozzles are always the first thing to break on cheaper systems.

For gardeners specifically: run it along the edge of a raised bed or container garden area, and your plants get a cooling overhead mist during the hottest part of the day. This is essential to reduce heat stress and keep the soil from drying out as fast. One system that does two jobs for you; now that’s an easy choice, especially when it costs well under $30.

More Misting Systems Worth Buying

For me, the epitome of lush and healthy lavender tends to be tied up with picturesque scenes of rolling hillsides, coated with fragrant purple. Trouble is, the reality of growing lavender can often be a little less picturesque (and how many of us are lucky enough to have rolling hillsides to fill with plants?). Summer comes round, and we hope for those nascent spikes of baby blooms – and it can be genuinely gutting when our own lavender plants seem to be losing their mojo.

Visions of intoxicating evenings inhaling evocative fragrance seem mocking when the reality is a sad, woody clump that looks like it’s giving up on life. It can be tough when you feel like you're doing everything right by your lavender. You’ve given it a sun-baked spot and resisted the urge to drown it, yet the blooms are sparse and the fragrance is barely a whisper. Seeing this quintessential tough beauty underperform, it's tempting to just chalk it up to fate and assume you don't have the magic touch.

But don’t give up just yet. The thing is, your lavender doesn't want to be pampered with expensive, rich fertilizers. In fact, the secret to unlocking a flurry of billowing summer blooms is likely hiding in a box of school supplies, by which I mean ordinary chalk. Now, I know, the idea of crumbling kiddie’s chalk into your flower beds sounds like a playground prank. But chalk really can work wonders for your glum-looking lavender in early summer, and here’s how it works….

Why Does Lavender Crave Chalk?

To understand why a humble piece of chalk can transform your lavender’s fortunes, consider where this fragrant diva feels most at home. Most backyard soil across the US is naturally rich, slightly acidic, and dense, which is basically the exact opposite of what lavender wants. Native lavender enjoys clinging to the sun-baked soils of Provence or the rugged coastal cliffs of Greece, and thrives in lean, alkaline earth.

Now, back to that packet of chalk. Standard white chalk is pure calcium carbonate. Basically, when introduced to your garden bed, it acts like a soothing antacid, neutralizing the acidity and mimicking the chalky, high-soil pH environment that your lavender is secretly homesick for. This gateway to high summer is your best chance to take action. As we hit the peak of the sunny season, your lavender is working overtime to push out those iconic spikes. By introducing chalk to your soil now, the plant has both the energy and the incentive to grab that chalk with gusto.

Of course, it’s all a balancing act, and chalk isn’t going to be a magic fix if your soil is claggy or sulking in full shade. But allowing for your lavender type, growing zone, sunshine exposure, and soil drainage, checking in with your soil pH levels is vital. When the soil is too acidic, lavender is unable to absorb the nutrients around it. By lifting that barrier, you allow the plant’s roots to freely drink in what they need to produce robust stems, vivid purple spikes, and potent essential oils.

What Kind of Chalk is Best?

If you are eyeing a dusty box of chalk in your kid’s art box or play closet, let’s clear a few things up. Yes, you absolutely can use traditional white blackboard and sidewalk chalk, which is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (the ingredient found in agricultural lime). However, leave the neon, glittery, and washable outdoor chalks alone. Those modern varieties are loaded with artificial dyes, polymers, and binders. Stick to plain, old-school white chalk. You can grab Crayola Anti-Dust White Chalk (12 Count) from Amazon for a safe calcium carbonate top-up.

The way you use it is also important, though: this isn’t about burying chalk sticks randomly in your borders. It’s best to apply your chalk either as a fine powder or a chalk tea. And don’t expect overnight results: this is a slow-release treatment. For growers who don't fancy tucking into art supplies for that chalk fix, you can also lower acidity in your soil by using agricultural lime or finely crushed eggshells or even oyster shells. They all do the exact same job: boosting alkaline levels for your lavender. You can buy Espoma Organic Garden Lime from Walmart. This granular garden lime is formulated to dissolve quickly into the soil with larger lavender beds.

How to Tell Your Lavender Needs It

Signs of an underperforming lavender plant are most apparent during June and July. Midsummer is the ultimate stress test: the sun is super-hot, and your lavender is likely burning through massive amounts of energy trying to push out those signature summer spikes. If your soil pH is off, this is when things grind to a halt quite noticeably. Telltale signs can involve yellowing on the lower leaves, while the rest of the plant stays a dull gray. If lavender growth has stalled, or you pinch a leaf and barely detect any sort of fragrance, your plant is sending out a definitive SOS.

If any of this describes your lavender right now, don’t panic: this is just a time to stage an intervention. Where the soil has likely become too acidic, this is your cue to take action, However, the maxim is: don’t guess, always test. Don’t just throw chalk into the mix before testing your soil first. Use a good diagnostic tool like the Luster Leaf Rapitest Digital Soil pH Meter from Amazon to get a precise reading of your soil's current acidity levels. It can let you know in minutes whether your lavender is genuinely homesick for an alkaline boost. If it reads below a neutral 7.0, it’s fine to get that chalk working for you.

Are All Lavenders Chalk Addicts?

Before you start sprinkling your new secret weapon, just bear in mind that not all lavenders share the exact same level of chalk dependency. Our yards are usually home to the Big Three lavender types (English, French, or Spanish), each with their own personality. English lavender (L. angustifolia) is a real chalk lover. If you want sweet culinary blooms and potent oils, a high-soil (alkaline) pH is non-negotiable. French (L. dentata) and Spanish (L. stoechas) lavenders are slightly more laid back about a neutral soil, but they still heavily rely on the structural calcium that chalk provides to develop strong, heat-resistant stems.

Plant age matters, too. Tender, young transplants need a gentle hand so you don’t shock their developing roots. Woody, established old-timers will happily welcome chalk to rejuvenate their stale beds. Where you are growing lavender in containers, take note: several commercial potting soils still have peat moss, which is acidic, so check the bag. Container-grown lavenders are susceptible to shifting soil conditions. Potted lavenders in container gardens can run out of steam quickly and almost always require a regular pinch of chalk to keep their root zones sweet.

If you’re looking to extend your lavender family, Southern Living Phenomenal lavender, available from Nature Hills Nursery, handles US humidity and summer stress like a champ. It pairs beautifully with a sweet, chalky soil mix.

How to Add Chalk to Your Soil

Transforming a stick of blackboard chalk into garden gold is simple. But again, please don't just bury a whole stick in the earth. Instead, place a couple of sticks of plain white chalk per plant into a heavy-duty zip-top bag. Use a rolling pin or a pestle and mortar to smash them into a coarse powder. Take your freshly crushed powder and gently sprinkle it around the drip line of your lavender. Using a light hand tool, carefully scratch the chalk into the top two inches (2cm) of the soil, being careful not to dig too deep or disrupt the shallow root system. Dutch-crafted DeWit Forged Hand Cultivator from Amazon is a lovely hand tool for delicate soil scratching.

There is an alternative, especially if you have a container-grown lavender or a plant that is actively sulking in a heatwave: you can use chalk tea. Dissolve your crushed chalk powder directly into a watering can, giving it a vigorous stir, and then pour around the base of the plant. Whichever method you choose, give the area a light, gentle drink of water immediately. This helps to further dissolve the calcium carbonate particles and wash them down to the root zone, where they can get to work. However, when if you think you need faster results, you can use a bit of Jonathan Green Mag-I-Cal Plus for Acidic Soil from Lowe’s for a fast-acting calcium formula that gives instant root relief.

Best Summer Care for Your Lavender

Once your chalk has been watered in, you can step back. In the blazing heat of July and August, watering sobriety is advised. Overwatering in a heatwave can steam the roots and trigger root rot. Instead, if you do wish to give your lavender a little TLC in the weeks after adding your chalk, try a light midsummer haircut. Use sharp bypass pruners to snip away faded flower spikes, cutting to the first two sets of green leaves. Don’t cut into the woody part, which will stunt the plant. Trimming forces the lavender to channel its newly unlocked energy into fresh, fragrant growth.

While feeding is not generally necessary in summer, you can treat your lavender to a teeny splash of organic liquid seaweed or tomato feed. A liquid tonic like Neptune's Harvest Seaweed Fertilizer from Walmart can help to deliver a gentle, potassium-rich multivitamin hit that intensifies flower color. Finally, if you have organic wood mulch packed around your lavender, replace it with a clean ring of light-colored pea gravel such as best-selling Kolor Scape 0.5 cu. ft. Multicolor Pea Gravel from Lowe's. This protects the root crown from rot and reflects the hot summer sunlight back up into the foliage, keeping the base of your plant bone-dry.

Shop Lavender Essentials

Bringing out the best in your lavender doesn't require plenty of pricey extras. However, a few little care treats can make a huge impact on plant health, flower volume, and essential oil production. This curated trio can help you nurture your favorite fragrant shrubs through the summer heat and set them up for a breathtaking extended season of vibrant color and gorgeous fragrance. Chalks away!

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By this point in June, a peach tree has stopped being a spring project and turned into a summer one. The blossoms are long gone, the little green fruit from a few weeks back have started to swell into something you can picture eating, and the tree is pouring real energy into growing fruit big enough to harvest.

Good peach tree care is really key right now in the back half of summer when your tree's water demands and the insect pressure both crest at once. If you ignore your trees now, they will find a way to let you know their displeasure – split fruit one week, a crop browning on the branch the next.

By the end of June, peach trees are in high gear. The fruit fattens fast, and the heat that ripens it also brings out every pest and disease waiting for a chance. The next few weeks are crucial for how your harvest turns out, so do these tasks now to keep trees happy and full of healthy fruit.

1. Water Deeply

Heat can both help and hurt a peach tree. It helps fruit get bigger quickly, but it also pulls moisture from the soil faster than the roots can replace it. A tree loaded with a full crop of peaches by June often wants an inch or two (2.5-5 cm) of water a week – even more in sandy soil.

Most people water a little bit and very often often, which keeps the surface damp and not much else. But the feeder roots sitting deeper never really get a drink when you water like this.

Instead, a slow soak at the drip line that is deep enough to wet the top foot (30 cm) of soil goes further than a light daily sprinkle. This braided soaker hose from Amazon makes watering peach trees hands-off. It weeps water right where the roots want it.

Steady watering matters as much as deep watering, too. An uneven watering schedule is exactly what causes fruit to split just before harvesting.

2. Thin Out Extra Fruit

Thinning peach trees usually happens earlier in the season, back when the fruit was marble-sized. But plenty of trees head into July still carrying clusters that never got dealt with. It's not too late, though. Crowded fruit stays small and shades its neighbors. It also gives brown rot an easy bridge from one peach to the next.

Aim for one fruit every 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) along the branch and pull the rest. Prune away the smallest and least healthy fruits first. The tree won't miss them – and you would rather ripen forty good peaches than a hundred mediocre ones. Branches carrying less weight are also far less likely to snap later on in the season, which is one less issue to deal with come August.

3. Prune for Light & Airflow

Pruning peach trees in summer isn't really about shaping the tree. It's about getting sun down to the fruit. By now the tree has thrown up a mass of vertical shoots, also known as water sprouts, that crowd the center and shade the fruit that's trying to color up underneath. Snip them out and the canopy opens up, allowing light to reach the peaches that were sitting in shade.

Keep pruning light. A few targeted cuts to vigorous upright growth plus anything dead or rubbing is all you need to do – this isn't the hard winter prune. A clean pair of Fiskars tree loppers from Amazon make quick work of this task and leave cuts that heal fast, which is important in humid weather when open wounds invite disease. Hold off on pruning if your tree is heat or drought-stressed, though. Let it recover first before making any cuts.

4. Stay Ahead of Brown Rot & Pests

Brown rot on peach trees can be devastating. It turns ripening peaches to brown mush almost overnight and spreads on contact. This common peach disease loves the warm, humid stretch right before harvest. The first defense is sanitation. Pull and bin any dead or rotting fruit the moment you spot it and quickly clear what drops to the ground.

Insects show up around the same time as brown rot. Oriental fruit moths tunnel into shoots and fruit, while stink bugs leave dimpled, corky spots where they feed. A weekly walk around your peach tree to check fruit and the undersides of leaves catches most trouble while it's still manageable.

For brown rot in a wet year, applying an organic fungicide like this one from Amazon as the fruit nears ripeness can help, though cleanup does the heavy lifting. Prevention is the best method of control.

5. Support Heavy Limbs

A branch that looked fine in May may be bending toward the ground by mid-June, weighed down by fruit that's still gaining size. Peach wood is brittle and a heavy limb that splits takes next year's growth with it – sometimes a third of the tree in one loud crack. Walk around trees in June and find the branches sagging the lowest.

Propping up heavy branches is simple. A notched board or a sturdy stake wedged under the limb takes the strain. Alternatively, a set of adjustable limb supports from Amazon does the same job with less fuss, if you'd rather not DIY your own supports.

Tie-ups work, too. Anchor heavy branches to a central stake with soft cloth strips so nothing bites into the bark. Either way, complete this task before the fruit reaches full weight – not after you hear the crack.

6. Refresh Mulch & Reduce Fertilizer

A few inches of mulch under a peach tree earns its keep in summer. It holds in moisture between waterings and keeps the soil from getting too hot, all while smothering the weeds competing for the same nutrients your tree needs.

If the layer of mulch you added in spring has thinned or broken down by this point in the summer, top it back up to 2 or 3 inches (5-8 cm) of wood mulch or straw. This organic mulch from Amazon is a great choice. Just keep it pulled back a hand's width from the trunk so the bark stays dry.

Feeding is the opposite story. By June, your peach tree should already have what it needs in terms of nutrients and a shot of nitrogen now will only encourage soft new growth right when it should be steering everything it has into fruit and, later, into hardening off for winter. Late feeding can also delay fruit ripening and produce tender shoots that won't survive a cold snap. Hold off on fertilizing peach trees until next spring.

As summer temperatures soar, so does the risk of heat stress in our plants. Our first instinct when we see our beloved hydrangea or hosta start to wilt and turn brown is to drench it with cold water in an attempt to perk it up. But overwatering heat-stressed plants can actually do more harm than good.

When daytime temperatures climb above 85°F, our plants can start to show signs of heat stress. They may begin to wilt, droop, and leaves can even show signs of sunburn. Plants that experience heat stress are more susceptible to pests and diseases, so it’s important to treat this problem fast before it spirals into other issues.

The first step is identifying whether or not your plant has heat stress (or if it just needs a drink). Then it’s time to take action and save your heat-stressed plant without overwatering it and causing a whole different set of problems.

What Is Heat Stress?

Heat stress in plants occurs when temperatures rise above 85°F. The ideal growing conditions for most plants are between 60° and 85°F. So when temperatures reach above that and into the 90° to 100°F and above range, heat stress is a real concern.

Plants that are suffering from heat stress droop, look wilted, may show signs of sunburn, and can become stunted. Sunburn can occur on leaves or stems of plants. It looks like light-colored or discolored splotches on the foliage of your plant and is caused by excessive exposure to bright sun.

How to Save Heat-Stressed Plants

If you notice signs of heat stress in your plants while gardening during a heatwave, don’t worry. There are a few simple steps you can take to save plants before it’s too late. But don’t rush out there with the hose just yet, because overwatering heat-stressed plants can actually make the problem worse. Here’s what to do instead.

1. Check Your Soil Moisture

Before drowning your plants with a big drink of water, it’s best to check the moisture level of your soil first. You can use the finger test to do this. Simply stick a finger about 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the soil to see if it feels moist. If it does, then a lack of water is not the problem. If it doesn’t, then it’s probably time to give your garden a drink.

Another foolproof method is to use a soil moisture meter, like this one from Amazon. This type of device tells you exactly how much moisture is in your soil and whether or not your plant really needs more water or not.

The best time to water plants is in the morning, but if your plants are wilting and their soil is dry then you can water them at the base of the plant.

2. Add Mulch

Whether your plant needs more water or not, it’s a good idea to add some mulch around your heat-stressed plants regardless. A layer of an organic mulch, which you can order on Amazon, holds in moisture and keeps plant roots cool.

When temperatures are very high, the soil heats up just like the air and this causes roots to heat up as well. This can cause heat stress in plants, but a layer of mulch helps lower the temperature and adds organic material and nutrients back into the soil as it breaks down over time.

3. Provide Sun Protection

If you notice sunburn or sunscald on your plants, then it’s time to provide some shade. A simple shade cloth, like this one from Amazon, can help protect plants the way sunscreen protects gardeners from the scorching summer rays.

Creating shade for plants will protect foliage from burning and it will also help keep plants cool. Think about how refreshing it feels to step under the shade of a big oak tree on a hot summer day. Give your heat-stressed plants some respite from the blazing sun with a shade cloth.

If you grow plants in containers simply move them to a shadier part of your yard during the hottest part of the day. A covered patio is the perfect spot. You can use a rolling plant caddy, like this one from Amazon, to make moving large planters easier.

4. Stop Fertilizing

You may think that giving plants a boost of their favorite food will help them come out of heat stress stronger, but just the opposite is true. Fertilizer forces plants to push out new growth, which can stress them further. It can also cause sunburn on plant foliage, so fertilizing in hot weather is a bad idea all around.

Instead, if your plants are showing signs of heat stress, immediately stop feeding them. Let them rest and recover before adding more nutrients to the soil again.

5. Remove Ripening Fruits & Faded Flowers

If the plants in your vegetable garden have heat stress, then it may be time for an early harvest. Edible plants work hard to send their energy towards developing fruits and vegetables. But this can be at the expense of their own health and vitality.

If you want your plants to keep producing fruits and veggies for the rest of the summer, you can harvest the produce that’s ripening now to give them a break and let them rest before they send out the next round of fruit.

The same principle applies for flowers. If you leave faded flowers on your plants, they will work to send energy towards producing viable seeds in the spent blooms to reproduce. Deadhead flowers that are done blooming to let heat-stressed plants focus on staying alive rather than producing seeds.

Reputable nurseries and seed suppliers have begun taking Amazon by storm, and there are now so many amazing varieties available to purchase online. It's always important to do your research, of course, but scrolling through and finding rare seeds to sow is so exciting, especially when you can sit back and envision the seedlings thriving in your yard.

Whether you're newer to planting seeds or hoping to bulk out your seed repertoire, there's no better time to bag some seed collections for great value. I honestly can't believe how many great picks there are out there on Amazon Prime Day deals – you're truly spoiled for choice.

Here's a round up of my favorite Prime Day seed bundles so far, as well as some highly recommended seed starting supplies that are also slashed down in price.

Flower Seed Deals

Vegetable Seed Deals

Herb Seed Deals

Seed Starting Essentials

Summer is a busy time of year with the garden in full swing and outdoor gatherings just about every weekend. Unfortunately, pests can ruin your gardens and your parties.

Common garden pests can destroy large sections of plants quickly and leave your frustrated. I have been battling groundhogs for years and mosquitoes for my whole life! I have rounded up the best Amazon Prime Day deals for pest control so you can spend less time scouring the internet for pest control solutions and more time enjoying your summer.

Read on to see my pest control picks that are on sale during the Amazon Prime Day event this week.

Mosquito Control Deals

I am a mosquito magnet so I am always looking for the best products to help me cope with my skeeter neighbors. Here are the best deals on mosquito control products on Amazon.

Outdoor Insect Control Deals

Insects like aphids, mites, and Japanese beetles can quickly take over your garden and destroy all your hard work. Here are some great options for controlling outdoor insects.

Indoor Insect Control Deals

Fruit flies and fungus gnats are some of the peskiest indoor pests. Keep them at bay with these great deals from Amazon.

Animal Pest Control Deals

I love wildlife, but these cuties take a real toll on my garden every year. Here are some of the best Amazon Prime Day deals to keep animal pests away.

Keep an eye on the Gardening Know How site for more of our Amazon Prime Day picks like our favorite lawn care deals and plant deals!

Shopping for a new raised garden bed can feel a bit like standing in the middle of a crowded plant nursery: where do you begin? Unlike shopping for plants, it’s not as if you can buy in bulk. I get it, these really can feel like big purchases, and you’ll want to know that the raised bed you pick is durable, generous, and nice to look at, while also blending well with the aesthetic of your yard, patio, or balcony.

Do you fancy heavy-duty steel or warm, natural wood? Do you need a vertical tiered setup to save your back, or a built-in trellis for climbing crops? Trying to balance durability, drainage, and style with a price tag that doesn't make your eyes water is enough to cause serious overwhelm. Well, panic no more, because this guide to the best Amazon Prime Day deals for raised beds can help you skip the endless scrolling. This curated cart-friendly collection hones in on the uber-cool raised bed bargains that can truly raise your growing game while saving you cash.

Maybe you’re just starting out and want something simple, or maybe you’re feeling adventurous and like the idea of building out (or up!) from an existing raised bed plot? This “best of the best” raised bed bonanza covers off some of the loveliest and most practical picks currently available with generous price reductions as part of the Prime Day Event. Take advantage of some of the most bargain-stuffed beds around, freeing you up to focus on your next big planting project – and spending that extra cash on even more plants (don’t worry, we won’t tell).

Big & Beautiful

Raised beds are intended to be practical but that doesn’t mean they can’t look good. They’re going to be housing some precious cargo, after all. Just like a picture frame defines something beautiful, the right bed can also be a thing of beauty. These stylish raised bed ideas balance impressive functionality with sleek aesthetics, all while helping you score generous discounts. Whether you’re after an extra-deep bed for root vegetables or a greenhouse-style combo for large-scale growing adventures, these big and beautiful beds offer longevity, weather resistance and plenty of room.

Compact Corners

If you’re like me, space is not something you have loads of – which is why I love these smaller-sized raised beds, as they still hold their own for all kinds of growing projects. If you are working with a cozy patio, a sun-drenched balcony, or a spare corner of a paved courtyard, compact raised beds are your ultimate ticket to raising your growing game. These space-saving designs prove that limited square footage shouldn't limit your ambitions. You can grow high-yielding salad greens, tumbling patio tomatoes and vibrant ornamentals outside your back door: no digging required.

Tiers and Trellises

When horizontal ground space is at a premium, the only way to go is up. Vertical gardening is one of the smartest ways to maximize your space, turning bare walls, tight patios, or blank fences into lush towers of verdant joy. Choosing a raised bed that features built-in tiers or integrated trellises allows you to cultivate deep-rooted vining plants alongside shallow-root herbs. These multi-dimensional setups create a striking structural focal point, while giving climbing crops like sugar snap peas, pole beans, and flowering jasmine the sturdy support they need to reach for the sky.

These raised garden deal ideas are for a limited time – so don’t miss out. Whether you’re after a compact unit or a big-capacity beast, these super-bargains are sure to take your gardening adventures to the next level. Don’t forget to keep your eye out for any Clip Coupon boxes as part of these deals. A lot of garden brands stack an extra 10-20% off coupon on top of official Prime Day discounts, so you might bag an even bigger bargain.

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We’ve all got a version of our garden in our head that we sometimes dream about while pinning photos to Pinterest. The tools are hung neatly, the cushions are dry, and you’re not tripping over anything on your way to the back door of your shed. However, reality sets in when you actually look outside. A tangle of rakes stares at you from the corner, potting soil bags slump sadly against the fence, and your cushions got all wet and are now getting moldy. Good garden storage is the difference between these two realities.

Garden storage protects your investment in furniture, tools, and equipment from weather, keeps your outdoor space serene and organized, and, most importantly, you can actually find a trowel when you need it.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 gardening deals have brought some of the year's best prices on outdoor storage across every category. Here's what's worth buying.

Patio Storage Boxes & Deck Boxes

A deck box is the workhorse of garden storage; it’s part seat, weatherproof chest, and seriously earns its spot on your patio. The best ones double as extra seating while swallowing up cushions, pool toys, throw blankets, and all the other clutter that accumulates outdoors. Look for UV-resistant resin, a lockable lid, and ideally a reinforced top for sitting.

Outdoor Storage Cabinets

This is the perfect balance if you’re looking for more storage than a deck box has but aren’t ready to fully commit to a shed. Tall, narrow, and lockable, these are perfect for standing long-handled tools upright, stacking cushions, or storing fertilizer bags, all without taking up much floor space. The best models combine multi-wall weatherproof resin with a neutral finish that looks great alongside garden furniture.

Mini Sheds & Horizontal Storage Sheds

Horizontal sheds occupy a smart middle ground where they aren’t quite a full garden shed, but also not a deck box. These keep a low profile, so you can tuck them along a fence line or up against a house. They’re ideal for hiding trash bins, storing lawn mowers, or housing bulky outdoor tools that don’t fit anywhere else. The modern weatherproof resin versions don’t require any maintenance and look much nicer than you would expect.

Garden Tool Storage & Wall Organisers

What happens so often is that even if you have a shed or a garage, tools often have a habit of piling up in corners or leaning against walls. A wall organizer can change this entirely, and the best ones make tools actually accessible rather than something you need to search for.

This category has excellent Prime Day discounts on heavy-duty steel systems this year.

It’s easy to ignore garden drought prep in June. The borders look lush, the watering can is keeping up, and a scorching August feels a long way off. But that gap is exactly the opportunity. Plants given a few weeks to settle and root deeply before the heat lands handle it far better than ones thrown into survival mode mid-July. Prep now is slow and almost invisible, but it's extremely effective.

And it’s a completely different game from taking care of plants in a heatwave once it’s already here – by then you’re just bailing water on a sinking boat. The jobs that matter build resilience into the soil and the roots – the parts you can’t see – so plants can ride out a dry spell without you hovering over them with a hose. None of it is hard. Most of it is cheap.

June Watering Essentials

1. Mulch Beds Thickly

A couple of inches of mulch is about the closest thing gardening has to an insurance policy. Spread over bare soil, it shades the surface and slows evaporation quite effectively, and it stops the ground from baking into a hard crust that sheds water rather than soaking it in.

Organic mulches like bark or shredded leaves do double duty, breaking down over time to feed the soil as they go. Aim for 2 to 3 inches (5–8 cm) – thinner won’t hold much moisture; thicker can actually keep rain from reaching the roots.

A bag or two of Back to the Roots Organic Premium Mulch covers a surprising amount of bed, though a chipper or a leaf pile can get you there for free. Just keep it pulled back from stems and trunks, where piled mulch invites rot.

2. Water Deep, Not Often

Daily light sprinklings feel responsible – but they quietly sabotage your plants. Shallow water only ever wets the top inch of soil, so roots stay up near the surface chasing it – right where the sun bakes them hardest the moment you stop. A long, slow soak once or twice a week does the opposite, drawing roots down deep where the soil stays cool and damp far longer.

The aim is to wet the soil 6 to 8 inches (15–20 cm) down, then let the top dry before the next round. These simple soaker hoses from Amazon, snaked through the bed, deliver exactly that without the runoff.

In terms of when to water your garden, early morning is better than evening as the plant drinks before the heat, and the leaves dry off before nightfall.

3. Build Up the Soil

This is the job that works out of sight, and it’s the one with the longest payoff. Soil rich in organic matter behaves like a sponge, soaking up water when it’s around and holding onto it through the dry stretches instead of letting it drain straight past the roots. Working a couple of inches of compost into beds now – or just laying it on top and letting the worms drag it down – steadily builds that water-holding capacity.

Containers benefit even more, since potting mix dries out fast; mixing in compost or a handful of water-retaining granules, like these Miracle-Grow Water Storage Crystals, buys real time between waterings.

The best bit is that improving soil is not just a quick fix. A border improved this June will cope better every summer after, too.

4. Know Which Plants Suffer First

Not every plant is equally at risk, so it pays to know where the heat will bite first:

• Anything planted this spring tops the list – new shrubs and trees haven’t had time to push roots down deep, so they dry out and stall faster than established ones.
• Containers come next, drying from every side and holding only the water their pot can fit.
• Then the genuine water-hogs: hydrangeas can flop by noon, leafy vegetables sulk, and big soft-leaved plants can give up early.
• Established, deep-rooted perennials, on the other hand, can usually fend for themselves.

Sorting plants into rough tiers now means that when water gets tight in August, you already know exactly where to point the hose first.

5. Take the Pressure Off Now

A plant heading into a heatwave already stressed is starting the race ten yards back. Weeds are the obvious thing to clear – each one is drinking water and crowding out root space your plants need, and they multiply fast in warm weather. Pull them while the soil’s still soft. A long-handled weeding tool – like Grampa's Weeder, on Amazon – makes the job easy without straining your back.

A little light pruning helps too: snipping off spent flowers and weak, crowded growth keeps the plant from pouring energy into parts it can’t support once water gets scarce. Don’t get carried away, though – hard pruning in summer forces tender new shoots that scorch in a day.

While you’re in there, scan for early pests or disease, since a colony of aphids or a patch of mildew is a drain the plant really can’t carry into the worst of it.

6. Have Some Shade Ready

Some afternoons the sun just wins out, and even a well-prepped plant can use a break from it. Shade cloth is the simplest answer – a length of this Treevex shade cloth from Amazon rigged over a vegetable bed or a row of pots takes the worst of the midday glare off without cutting the light entirely, and most is rated by how much sun it blocks, so you can match it to what you’re covering.

For containers you don’t even need cloth – just shuffle them. Sliding pots into the shade of a wall or a bigger plant through the hottest hours spares them the brunt at zero cost.

The really sensitive things, newly planted or already showing scorch, are the ones worth fussing over when an actual heatwave is on the forecast.

7. Start Building a Garden That Needs Less

The longest-term move is to quit fighting your conditions and start working with them. Grouping plants by how much they drink – thirsty ones together, tough ones together – lets you water efficiently instead of soaking a drought-lover just to reach the fern beside it. It’s a small change, but it provides real water savings all season.

Every time you replace something or fill a gap, leaning toward plants that shrug off dry spells slowly tilts the whole garden toward looking after itself. Mediterranean herbs and ornamental grasses are easy picks, and deep-rooted natives ask for next to nothing once established.

You don’t have to rip everything out and start fresh. A garden that needs less water gets built one sensible swap at a time.

Summer is the time of year many of us look forward to – gorgeous skies, long days, and endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. But there's one thing nobody looks forward to: being swarmed by insects.

Unfortunately, this year is shaping up to be a particularly bad one for bugs, especially flying pests like mosquitoes, flies, and wasps. The good news? With a quality insect zapper like the GOOTOP Bug Zapper from Amazon, you can spend less time worrying about pests and more time making the most of the warm weather.

There's plenty to love about the GOOTOP Bug Zapper, making it one of the most standout Amazon Prime Day garden buys. And when Amazon's best-selling bug zapper is available at half price, it's hard to ignore. Here are just a few reasons why it's in my cart.

What is the GOOTOP Bug Zapper?

The GOOTOP Bug Zapper is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. It plugs into a standard three-prong outlet and uses a blue-violet light to attract flying insects. When insects come into contact with the electrified grid, they're killed instantly before falling into a removable collection tray for easy disposal.

You can place the zapper in a range of locations, including an entryway to catch insects before they make their way into your home. It's also well suited to patios, decks, and near front or back doors where bugs tend to gather.

Each zapper is designed to cover up to half an acre outdoors, helping protect a large area from flying insects.

Why Do I love It?

I really like the design of the GOOTOP Bug Zapper. Many models on the market can look quite unsightly, but this one has a discreet design that looks more like an outdoor lantern than a bug zapper, making it easy to blend in by a front door or on a patio.

I also like that it includes a removable tray, making it easy to dispose of dead insects. This is especially useful if you've mounted the zapper on a wall, as you won't have to take the whole unit down every time it needs emptying.

As someone who openly admits to being afraid of bugs, I find the half-acre coverage incredibly reassuring. And if you have a larger outdoor space, there's nothing to stop you from buying a second one to extend the coverage.

Customer Reviews

With a 4.5-star rating from more than 26,000 Amazon customer reviews, the GOOTOP Bug Zapper has earned plenty of praise from shoppers.

Reviewers describe it as "surprisingly effective", especially given its sub-$30 sale price. Many also appreciate that it starts working as soon as it's plugged in, eliminating the need to spray chemical insecticides or pesticides around the home.

Customers note that you'll likely hear a small zap when an insect is caught. Rather than finding it annoying, many say the sound reassures them that the zapper is doing its job, with some even saying it's convinced them to buy additional units.

The blue-violet light has also proved popular, with several reviewers saying it creates a pleasant ambience for evenings spent outdoors.

Shop More Insect Prevention Supplies

There comes a point in every houseplant lover's journey when the collection starts to look less like a carefully curated indoor jungle and more like you've accidentally opened a small garden centre in your living room. I should know – for the jury's consideration, please see Exhibit A: my bathroom windowsill.

If you know, you know. Shelves groan under the weight of pots, your houseplants have a definite Day of The Triffids vibe to them, propagations take over every available surface, and your once-stylish windowsill has disappeared beneath a sea of mismatched terracotta and nursery containers.

It's a very real problem, essentially, for anyone who has lived it. And that's why I was immediately taken with these stackable mini greenhouses when I stumbled across them during another late-night doomscroll session.

Stackable Mini Greenhouses? Sign Me Up!

Rather than simply housing plants, these stackable mini greenhouses from HB Life turns them into a display in their own right – creating a clean, contemporary look that feels more boutique hotel than chaotic plant parent.

Made from clear acrylic, the transparent walls mean light can still reach your plants, while the magnetic door provides easy access for watering, pruning, or simply admiring your latest leafy acquisition.

Measuring 14.1 x 8.6 x 10.6 inches, these stackable mini greenhouses are compact enough to sit on a desk, shelf, sideboard, or windowsill, making them ideal for small spaces. And, even better, ambitious plant parents can create a striking vertical display without sacrificing precious floor space.

The greenhouse is designed for seed starting and propagation, making it a particularly attractive option for anyone nurturing cuttings. It is also perfectly suited to small houseplants, too; think tropical plants such as begonias, ferns, baby alocasias, and philodendron cuttings, all of which could all benefit from the more sheltered environment.

"Only just put them together, but currently rating 5 stars! I needed a way to give my plants sunlight without my kittens knocking them over or eating them," reads one five-star review on Amazon.

Another adds that it did wonders for their humidity-loving houseplants, noting: "I like that it's plastic so I don't have to worry about accidently breaking it."

Shop Houseplant Essentials:

Still, let's be honest; practicality is really only half the appeal here, as what really elevates this greenhouse is its aesthetic potential. For renters, apartment dwellers, or anyone trying to bring a little more order to an ever-expanding plant collection (guilty as charged!), it could be an elegant solution to a surprisingly common problem: how to keep your houseplants looking chic rather than cluttered.

And with the greenhouse currently discounted for Prime Day, there's never been a better excuse to give your favourite plants the designer-worthy display they deserve.

As someone who owns quite a few bird feeders, I’ve grappled with indecision about buying another. My yard isn’t the biggest, but it’s one of the pleasures of my life to see birds darting past the window with tasty morsels clamped in their beaks. Trouble is, I already have a standard tube, a freestanding tray, a hanging globe, and one that says “Featherspoons” (if you’ve ever visited the UK, you’ll understand). And it’s hard to justify multiple feeders when you’re already struggling with planting space.

But I can’t deny I’m on the lookout for bird care goodies again this week, and Amazon Prime Day deals are everywhere we look. And even though I could possibly already open a shop devoted to bird feeders, I’m so very tempted by one particular purchase, and that’s the smart bird feeder. Truth is, smart feeder prices sometimes put me off. But this week, a certain “birdy cam” special is basically half price, which means a certain Amazon cart has been jiggling in anticipation. It’s a bird brand I trust, and it’s a genuine treat for beginners, because you can now grab the Birdfy Rookie Smart Feeder on Amazon for $84.59.

Trying to square an outlay of $150 is one thing, but scoring one that is currently 50% off is a bona fide birdy bargain. It’s got so much to recommend it, especially if you’re like me and have a genuine fascination with our backyard’s feathered guests. Could this finally be the week I make room for some very cool bird-friendly tech? Read on, to find out why this might be the best bird feeder camera you never knew you needed, and why now’s the time to get one while the getting is very good.

Why I Need This Bargain Feeder

I’ve been fascinated by the antics of garden birds at feeding stations ever since the pandemic. While the world slowed down and everyone became more aware of nature happening just outside their window, I impulsively hung a feeder outside my balcony window. Although I was living in a tiny apartment, I created a teeny-weeny bespoke bird sanctuary along that minuscule railing, and became fixated on the comings and goings of finches, sparrows, and even shy robins. But while I indulged in a very specific bird passion, it was clear that I could only catch brief moments.

Now, I have a backyard of my very own, but I have the same issue when attracting birds. Even with my many feeders dangling from trees and fences, I’m often teased by the very briefest glimpses of birdlife at the feeders, while listening to hedges vibrating with song and trees teaming with fluttering feathers. Trying to steal more glimpses of the private life of birds can often feel elusive. While I love those little glimpses, I wish I could enjoy more of those candid moments of bird activity when their guard is down and they think nobody is looking. This is why the lure of the smart bird feeder is so strong – and why the Birdfy Bird Feeder with Camera for Rookie set promises to be such a revelation (and at this price, such a steal) for my backyard birdwatching…

Why It’s Such a Bargain

Let’s just say it: for a long time, I’ve assumed that jumping into high-tech bird spotting meant grappling with tricky and complex setups. Happily, the Rookie is reassuringly straightforward to use. Because it comes from a trusted brand, backed by a community of over 650,000 birders, you know you are in safe hands and using something that feels like a labor of birdie love. It offers a streamlined walkthrough process that takes just minutes. You just download the intuitive app, scan a quick QR code on the camera frame, and sync it to your home WiFi.

What makes it such an unmissable bargain this week with Amazon Prime Day is how seamlessly it stuffs high-end specs into a budget-friendly (and bird-friendly) package. Normally, a continuous-charge, solar roof panel bundle like this would push towards the $170 mark. So snagging a clean 50% discount is so compelling. You’re scoring quality, zero-maintenance hardware for entry-level wonga.

Instead of standard landscape clips that require clumsy zooming, the Rookie captures footage in a modern 9:16 vertical portrait mode for smartphone viewing. Best of all, it shares the same crystal-clear 1080p camera sensor found in Birdfy's more expensive luxury lines. When you get birds flocking to your feeder, you can play back the action in a smooth 60FPS slow-motion mode. This is such a treat for candid birdy moments, letting you observe intricate textures and fleeting wildlife behaviors that would otherwise be hard to capture (and easy to miss).

What Shoppers Love

A glance through the Amazon reviews, and the overarching consensus from avid backyard bird lovers is clear. The Birdfy Bird Feeder with Camera for Rookie delivers an addictive, joyful user experience. Reviewers are vocal about how approachable the hardware is. From unboxing to syncing over WiFi, shoppers praise the ease of use and highly responsive app, confirming that even tech-phobes can have it running in minutes. One delighted five-star reviewer noted it is "so quick and easy to set up" and called it "a great feeder for both new and experienced birders."

Beyond the hassle-free installation, camera performance is a major win. Buyers love the crisp 1080p Full HD clarity, but it is the smooth 60FPS high-frame-rate playback that steals the show. Satisfied buyers repeatedly praise the visual output, with one shopper sharing that the "picture quality is great… you get clear, close-up views of the birds" without disturbing their natural patterns.

Reviewers also note how much fun it is to use the slow-motion feature to review early morning visitors. As one reviewer enthusiastically pointed out, "The 60FPS slow-motion clips look great: you can really see the little details when birds land and eat." This visual intimacy encourages a clear layer of respect among users for that extra detail, transforming the antics of local bird species into nature documentaries.

Crucially, the Rookie solves a long-term frustration that usually haunts smart feeder owners: battery anxiety. Shoppers who opted for this continuous-charge solar roof bundle report a genuinely hands-off experience, with battery levels locked at 100% week after week. Users who transitioned from older tech highlight the convenience of the new battery housing, with one buyer noting "it is very easy to remove the camera to recharge" if needed, though the solar hookup makes it entirely hands-off.

On a personal level, I also really like the subtle design and the earthy tones. This feeder effortlessly slips into a host of yard shapes and sizes (even small ones like mine). Several reviewers celebrate how easy it is to snap open the lid, top up the 1.3-liter seed chamber, and get straight back to feasting their eyes on the charming real-time avian movie.

Why Birds Love It

A critical part of a good bird camera feeder is how readily it is accepted by visiting birds. All that fancy tech is for naught if the birds don’t like it and keep away. One of the core aspects of this type of unit is to take care of birds through summer (and beyond), not scare them away. On that score, this feeder also rates highly. Happily, the Rookie is an inviting, practical bird feeding station. The architecture features a thoughtful layout, with a wide wrap-around perch that offers easy-grip points for a variety of species, from lightweight, fluttering goldfinches to heavier blue jays.

Delighted buyers note that local birds adapted to the unit almost instantly, with many reporting their first feathered visitors landing to eat within just 30 minutes of securing the feeder. Because the housing uses an easy-access, flip-top roof, the 1.3-liter seed chamber is easy to clean out. This avoids the deep, tight moisture pockets that plague standard tube feeders, protecting birds from mold and stale bacteria build-up. It feels safe, stable, and natural to them, ensuring they return day after day.

To fill your feeder, you can buy Kaytee Ultimate Nut and Fruit Wild Bird Food from Amazon. It is 35% off for Amazon Prime Day and is a great all-round summer mix for your new Rookie feeder. You can also get 43% off the C&S Suet Variety Value Pack (Peanut and Berry Bundle) from Amazon as part of Prime Day deals to attract clinging species like woodpeckers and nuthatches in supporting feeders.

Is It Right for Your Yard?

One thing to bear in mind with the Birdfy Rookie is its camera housing. More expensive bird feeder cameras offer a manual or motorized lens swivel, but the Rookie’s 1080p camera lens is locked firmly into a single wide-angle position, focused on the perch. While a few reviewers say they initially wished for a bit of horizontal adjustability to track birds approaching from the wings, the sheer panoramic scale of the integrated lens clearly compensates for it, ensuring you rarely miss a visitor. It is also worth noting that while the lightweight construction makes the unit easy to mount, it lacks the heavy, ornate presence of a larger wooden station.

However, when you weigh these minor physical trade-offs against the sheer volume of high-end features, the Rookie is a real delight for beginners. It’s easy to lift, unlatch and clean the feeder. Furthermore, while the device requires a 2.4GHz WiFi connection to stream, the signal stability inside the app is highly resilient. It provides seamless instant alerts the second a little beak crosses the frame. This is such a rewarding, entry-level leap into the world of bird feeder tech, and the Prime Day deal is a genuine gift that will bring endless joy and appreciation to your bird care. It’s highly likely you'll become a tiny bit addicted with your backyard birdies.

Other Smart Bird Feeders

While the Birdfy Rookie offers an unbeatable entry point for beginners this Prime Day, there are some fascinating variations designed to cater to specific backyard goals. Depending on your budget, yard layout, and the birds you hope to attract, your choice ranges from species-specific models to wildlife encyclopedias. So depending on your needs, these standout Prime Day bargains are also worthy of consideration.

Need more ideas for getting the most from your plants, indoors and out, and looking for the best seasonal expert advice delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free Gardening Know How Newsletter!

June is a critical time for apple trees, as they shift from spring blossoms to fruit development. The trees are putting a lot of energy into growing fruits, but also into healthy foliage and strong roots. A few simple care tasks improve overall tree health and fruit size and quality while also minimizing the risk of typical problems.

Growing apple trees successfully depends on understanding growth timelines, ideal growing conditions, and potential problems. In June, most apple trees are in the early fruit development stage. Pollination has led to the production of small apples that will grow in size over the course of the summer.

During this crucial growth period, you might encounter a few issues, like pests, fungal infections, or overburdened branches. A fruit tree spray from Amazon can help manage pests and diseases. You might also see some fruit drop, which is normal. Apple trees drop some fruits early to prevent branches from getting too heavy. Some loss now is normal.

By following these essential June chores for apple trees, you can maximize your harvest and enjoy healthy trees for years to come.

1. Hand Thin the Fruits

June fruit drop is normal, but you can also aid this natural process by hand thinning some of the apples. By selectively removing some of the developing fruits now, you’ll get bigger, better-quality apples later in the season.

Apple trees produce more fruit than they can actually bring to healthy maturity. If some do not drop, or if you don’t remove them, the crowded apples won’t develop to full size and might have less flavor. Also, the overburdened branches can break under the weight of too much fruit.

To hand thin your apple tree, start by removing any fruits that look damaged, misshapen, or infested with insects. Then, thin out fruit with the goal of leaving one apple every six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) along a branch.

2. Water During Heat and Drought

The weather in June can be unpredictable in many places. If you experience dry, hot periods, you’ll need to water your apple tree to keep it healthy and happy. Inconsistent moisture is a typical reason apple trees don’t produce well in a given season.

Ensure your apple trees get about an inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. If it isn’t raining, water deeply at the root zone about once a week. Water more frequently during very hot, dry weather and for younger trees.

3. Look for Signs of Pests or Disease

Apple tree pests and diseases can quickly ruin an apple harvest, so it’s best to look for signs early and often. The sooner you catch and manage these issues, the more likely you are to still get a good number of quality apples later.

Codling moths are the proverbial worm in the apple. Look for holes in the fruit. Apple maggots leave little dimples on the surface of fruits where they lay eggs. Spider mites leave behind silk webbing and cause leaves to look scorched. Aphids leave sticky honeydew behind, attracting ants and causing leaves to curl. Woolly aphids also leave behind a cottony material.

Common diseases on apple trees include apple scab and powdery mildew. Scab causes dark green spots on leaves and fruit. Mildew looks like a white or gray powder on leaves and new shoots. You can manage or prevent diseases like these by trimming your trees for airflow and avoiding watering from above. Remove infected growth or use a recommended fungicide, like Captain Jack's Fruit Tree Spray from Amazon, as needed.

4. Light Summer Pruning

Your apple tree needs to direct its energy into fruit development right now, not new growth. June is a good time to do some light pruning to trim back aggressive new shoots that drain energy. This trimming will also open up the canopy to improve airflow and sunlight penetration.

Use sharp, clean shears to trim off water sprouts and suckers. Water sprouts are the new shoots that grow out of main branches on the tree. Suckers are similar shoots that grow from the base of the tree.

5. Fertilize if Needed

Healthy, older trees probably don’t need feeding right now. On the other hand, younger trees can benefit from some June feeding. Trees of any age showing signs of nutrient deficiency, like pale leaves or minimal growth, can also use a light feeding now.

If you feel like your tree could use some extra nutrients, use a balanced product. Avoid products higher in nitrogen, which will encourage leaf growth at the expense of fruit. If you’re not sure your tree needs feeding, do a soil test or check in with your local extension office for guidance.

6. Support Heavy Branches

Even with fruit thinning, some branches can become very heavy as the apples develop. They can crack or even break all the way through. If you see branches that look too weak to hold up their load of fruit, you can use a sturdy stick or post under it to prop it up. You can also use soft ties to anchor it to the trunk or a sturdier branch. Keep monitoring these questionable branches throughout the season.

June is one of the most important months in the apple-growing season. By thinning fruit, watering and feeding as needed, and staying on top of issues like pests and diseases, you can enjoy bigger, better apples and healthier trees both this season and many more.

Houseplants are not all the same. Some decorate a side table or sit quietly near the kitchen window. Others have star quality and light up a room. Fiddle leaf figs (Ficus lyrata) fall squarely in the “star” category with their huge, shiny, violin-shaped leaves and proud, upright carriage. I happen to share my San Francisco apartment with three of them and consider them part of my family.

But every houseplant needs some care, no matter how strong and magnificent they look. And in June, as spring turns to summer, it’s time to focus on fiddle leaf fig care. Generally, these houseplants need bright indirect light, humidity and consistent watering. But in June, it’s time to go a little further.

Here are five tasks to put on your fiddle leaf fig list for the month.

1. Check Sun Exposure

When I first adopted a fiddle leaf fig plant, I associated it closely with a fig tree. I have planted a few fig trees in my garden in France, so I know their growth requirements very well. Fig trees I like sun, direct sun. My plants get sun 8 hours a day. As a word smith, I latched onto the word “fig tree” in my fiddle leaf’s common name and just went with it, placing my houseplant by a southern facing window.

But fiddle leaf fig plants are not closely related to fig trees and their light needs are different. Those gorgeous fiddle-shaped leaves need indirect light, not direct sunlight. Mine came in with large, lush, leathery leaves but these quickly turned crispy in full sun.

Even if you didn’t make the same mistake that I did, June is the moment to check your plant’s sun exposure. As spring matures into summer, the sun’s path across the sky changes and its intensity increases. One June day when you are spending the day at home, monitor the sunlight on your fiddle leaf every few hours. A tad of morning sun isn’t so bad, but if the rays of afternoon sunlight touch the leaves of your houseplant, move it to another location.

2. Figure Out if the Temperature is Spiking

Fiddle leaf figs are picky about a variety of things, but they are fairly tolerant when it comes to temperatures. They will thrive in average household temperatures (as low as 60 degrees F and as high as 85 degrees) as long as there are no temperature swings. Too big a temperature swing can cause drooping leaves.

As the sun exposure shifts in June, the temperature of the room in which your fiddle leaf is located may change too. You can combine this task with the previous one. Every time you check on sun exposure, check the thermometer too. A simple combination thermometer/hygrometer from Amazon will help immensely when caring for your houseplants.

A swing upward may result from too much direct sunlight entering the room, and a swing downward may result from extra air conditioner time. If that’s the case, it’s time to move the houseplant to a room without temperature swings.

3. Dust Those Beautiful Leaves

Dusting fiddle leaf fig leaves should not be restricted to June, but June is a good month to restart this every-other-week task if you have neglected it. Dust on the leaves impedes the process of photosynthesis. And it also lessens the beauty of the iconic foliage.

How to dust? Use a damp cloth and gently wipe both sides of every leaf. Microfiber cloth works well. Be sure to hold the leaf with one hand while you wipe it with the other. It’ll break your heart if you accidentally crack off the leaf.

4. Review Your Watering Habits

Fiddle leaf fig houseplants need regular irrigation, but they are somewhat picky about how much. They prefer moist soil but object to excess water. They’ll let you know by dropping their leaves and, if the condition continues, developing root rot. They will signal too little water, the leaves wilt and the color dulls. Generally, you want to water when the top two inches of soil are dry. You don’t have to use a tape measure. Just poke a finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. Or purchase a small moisture meter from Amazon.

If you keep your houseplant in a clay pot, you’ll have to worry about high salt levels in the soil. Salt can accumulate in the soil from the clay pot, or from watering with treated water. June is the perfect time to flush out the salt buildup. Run tap water into the soil until it pours out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the container. If the tap water is fluorinated, use filtered water instead.

5. Repot Your Fiddle Leaf Fig

June is the perfect time to check whether it’s time to repot your fiddle leaf fig houseplant. You don’t want it to be short of soil with summer rolling in. How can you tell if it’s time?

The plant’s leaves are a good thermometer of distress. If the leaves are yellowing or falling off, it may be a sign that it has outgrown its pot. Another indication is that the plant's roots are growing up and out of the pot or down and out of the drain holes. Finally, if there are no new leaves or growth, or the soil pales, it’s time to repot. Get a container just size bigger than the old one and put a base layer of fresh potting soil into the bottom.

The key to repotting your houseplant is to water it well a few days earlier. When it’s repotting day, turn the container on its side and wiggle out the plug of soil and roots. Trim off any dead or damaged roots. Sit the fiddle leaf fig in the new pot and add a 1:1 mix of old soil with new potting soil to fill the pot.

A chewed leaf is usually a clue, and not just an eyesore. The shape of the damage and where it shows up usually point straight to whoever’s responsible, and naming the culprit is most of the battle.

You put in the work all spring, and then one morning the leaves look like someone went at them with a hole punch. It is common to happen, and it’s rarely a mystery for long. Most of the bugs that eat plants leave a calling card—a particular style of damage that gives them away. Once you learn the signs, the rest is mostly follow-through.

This isn’t about reaching for the strongest spray on the shelf, either. Half of identifying garden pests is just looking closely—at the holes, sure, but also the leaf undersides where things hide, and the little black specks they leave behind. Match the damage to the bug, and the fix usually turns out simpler and gentler than you’d expect.

Match the Damage: 7 Common Culprits

None of this needs a lab. Most damage falls into a handful of patterns, and once you’ve seen each one a couple of times, you’ll start spotting the culprit at a glance. Here’s how the usual suspects sign their work.

1. Slugs and Snails

If the holes turn up overnight and there’s a silvery trail glinting nearby, you’re looking at slugs or snails. They go for soft, low growth—seedlings especially—and they’re at their worst after rain. Heading out after dark with a flashlight to pick them off works, though it’s not everyone’s idea of a good evening.

A few slug hacks gardeners swear by include beer traps, copper tape, and trap boards. Beer traps sunk level with the soil pull them in, and copper tape around a pot gives them a jolt they won’t cross. For a real infestation, an organic slug bait from Amazon (currently 20% off for Prime Day) uses iron phosphate is safe around pets and wildlife, unlike the older pellets. Mostly, though, clearing the damp boards and pot rims they shelter under does more than any trap.

2. Caterpillars

Look for the droppings. Large, irregular bites out of the leaves, plus a scatter of dark frass pellets on the foliage below, almost always means caterpillars. They like to hide on the undersides by day, so flip a few leaves over. A tomato hornworm can strip a plant in a day or two if you miss it.

Hand-picking honestly works if you keep at it; drop them in soapy water and move on. When there are too many to chase, a spray of Bacillus thuringiensis from Amazon (Bt) hits caterpillars only and leaves the bees and everything else alone, which most sprays can’t manage to do. Netting over the crop stops the moths laying eggs to begin with.

3. Japanese Beetles

You’ll usually catch Japanese beetles in the act. Fat, metallic green-and-copper beetles clustered on a rose in the afternoon sun, the leaf behind them eaten down to a lacy net of veins. They’re among the showiest bugs on garden plants, and among the most maddening. Knock them into a tub of soapy water early in the morning while they’re still sluggish; it thins a group fast.

Skip the pheromone traps, whatever the box promises—they pull in more beetles than they catch. Neem oil from Amazon makes the leaves less appealing, and since the grubs spend winter in the lawn, treating that breaks next year’s cycle. Plan on staying after this one all season.

4. Flea Beetles

It looks like someone fired birdshot at the foliage. Dozens of tiny round holes peppering the leaf. That’s flea beetles, and they live up to the name, springing away the second you lean in. Seedlings take it hardest; young brassicas and eggplant can stall out completely under a heavy attack.

The surest answer is keeping them off from the start. A floating row cover from Amazon dropped over the bed at planting lets in light and rain while shutting the beetles out. Sticky traps catch the adults, and once a plant is big and growing strong, the damage isn’t near as noticeable.

5. Earwigs

No slime, but soft leaves and flower petals chewed into ragged holes, and nothing in sight during daylight? Suspect earwigs. Dahlias and marigolds are favorites, along with any tender seedling. They feed at night and tuck into tight, dark crevices by day, which is exactly how you beat them.

Set out a loosely rolled damp newspaper, or an upturned pot packed with straw, and empty the hideouts come morning. One catch worth remembering: earwigs also eat aphids and other small bugs eating plant leaves, so a few around the garden actually earn their keep. Step in only when they’re wrecking blooms you really care about.

6. Sawfly Larvae

Sawfly larvae get mistaken for caterpillars all the time, which sends people reaching for the wrong product. They graze the surface off a leaf and leave a thin, translucent windowpane – green veins showing through where the tissue’s been scraped away. Rose slugs are the common version.

Because they aren’t true caterpillars, Bacillus thuringiensis does nothing here, so you have to go at them directly. They gather on leaf undersides, often in tidy rows, so a hard blast of water knocks plenty off, and insecticidal soap or neem mops up the stragglers if you hit where they feed. Get on it early. Five minutes of squishing now spares you a skeletonized bush in July.

7. Vine Weevils

The notched leaf edges are the obvious part of vine weevil damage. The neat little scallops bitten out of the margins almost look decorative, but the real trouble is out of sight. Cream-colored grubs chew through the roots underground, and the first you know of it is often a potted plant that wilts and topples over for no clear reason.

Container heucheras and primulas are prime targets, strawberries too. The adults can’t fly and wander at night, so hand-picking or a sticky barrier handles them. The grubs are the harder problem. An application of beneficial nematodes in late summer, while the soil’s still warm, is the one thing that reliably reaches them down there.

When I moved into my house, I knew I’d have to invest in raised beds if I ever wanted to grow edible plants. My soil was full of weeds, broken glass, trash, and a whole host of other unappetizing and unsafe items. Plus, there is a black walnut tree growing right next door in my neighbor’s yard. So I started looking for the best budget raised beds.

My search brought me to Amazon, of course, where I found a fantastic deal on these FOOWIN Galvanized Raised Garden Beds. I was on the hunt for a high-quality, yet low-cost dupe of the beloved Vego Garden raised beds, which our Senior Editor Liz added to her own front yard a few years ago. And I found just what I was looking for in this 2-pack of metal raised beds from Amazon.

I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about these affordable raised beds before buying, from the pros and cons to installation tips. But don’t take too long to make your decision because these beds are on sale right now for Amazon Prime Day!

Price & Availability

This 2-Piece FOOWIN Galvanized Raised Garden Bed Kit is available on Amazon for $127.79 for Prime Day, which is a 33% discount off the regular price. You can also get this raised garden bed kit on sale from Walmart now for $128. It is only available online.

One of the biggest benefits of this raised garden bed is the price. Each bed costs less than $65, which is an incredible price for a metal raised bed of this size.

Setup

The setup wasn’t that difficult, but it did take quite a bit of time to complete. I did the first bed on my own and it took about 2-2.5 hours to put together.

The instructions were very limited. They didn’t include any images other than for a list of the parts and had very brief, unclear written descriptions for the setup process. But these beds are fairly simple to put together just using your own logic.

However, I still made a couple mistakes that I had to fix on the first bed. I wasted quite a bit of time undoing one of the ends of the first bed after I screwed it on because I thought I did it wrong. It turned out I did it right and ended up redoing it again.

It also took extra time putting together the first bed because I did it by myself. I was able to put the bed together just fine, but I enlisted the help of my sister and dad to assist with the second bed. That ended up going faster because I had another person helping to screw all the pieces together while I worked on other parts of the bed. It also helped to have someone hold the sides up while I screwed them together.

Thankfully all of the parts, including screws and nuts, were included in the packaging. There were even extra screws and nuts, which came in handy when a couple screws were damaged and I couldn’t use them. However, you do need to provide your own tools, which include a ratchet and wrench.

Design

These raised beds are 8 feet (2.4 m) long, 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, and 2 (0.6 m) feet deep. They are really quite large, which is exactly what I was looking for when I chose these beds. I wanted to fill as much of my yard as possible with these beds. I even put the one bed over top of an old tree stump. I’m hoping that turning these planters into hügelkultur beds filled with logs, sticks, compost, and plants will suppress the suckers that keep sprouting out of the tree stump.

I will easily be able to grow vining plants like pumpkins, butternut squash, and cucumbers in these beds as well as tons of tomatoes, herbs, and even some flowers for cutting. I plan on adding a trellis to the one raised bed as well to create a privacy screen on the patio that doubles as usable vertical growing space.

These metal raised garden beds are made of steel with a zinc alloy coating and non-toxic paint finish. They come in six different colors: silver, brown, yellow, navy, dark green, and black. I opted for the black powder-coated finish. The beds also come with plastic covers for the corners to prevent any accidental cuts or scrapes while you’re working in your garden, which is a nice touch.

These raised beds have an open bottom, so I recommend laying down cardboard at the base before filling with your growing medium to prevent weeds from coming up from the ground. They also have three turnbuckles in the center of the beds to help stabilize the sides and prevent them from bowing out when you fill the beds with soil.

User Reviews

The FOOWIN Galvanized Raised Garden Beds have over 700 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.3 stars. Reviewers frequently mention the good quality and sturdiness of these beds, which I noticed as well when I put these beds together. Other reviewers on Amazon also had difficulty assembling these raised garden beds, which I did a bit at first as well.

Our Verdict

All in all, I’m impressed by these metal raised garden beds. I have not filled them or planted in them yet, so the real test of durability and usefulness is still yet to come. But I have high hopes. Because the beds are so large, I intend on filling the bottom half to two-thirds with old logs, dead brush, and finally compost and soil before planting.

I think the height of these beds will make them great for planting and tending to my garden. I won’t have to crouch all the way down to the ground like I have in the past with my in-ground beds.

These raised beds also look great around the perimeter of my patio at the back of my house. Even with nothing planted in them yet, they add privacy and make the space feel more intentional. Once they’re filled with tall green plants and vine-covered trellises, they will be absolutely beautiful.

Also Consider

I’m spending time on my mountain in France, waiting for the canicule the radio is predicting, with temperatures rising to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7°C). Here in Basque Country, the weather can top out at 70-75° (21-24C) during June. But the climate has warmed and I, for one, am grateful for all the trees I’ve planted. With my land full of mature trees, I feel sheltered from the worst of the heat. Oaks, chestnuts, and beech all provide excellent shade. That said, small shade trees are also useful, creating a mid-tier pocket of cooling shelter in areas of partial shade.

You might wonder, if an area is already cast in shadow, why on earth does it need a tree for cooling shelter? Well, while a high house wall or an overhanging neighbor’s roof can block direct sunlight, they can also trap radiant ambient heat, turning small courtyards and dark corners into stagnant, stuffy pockets. Introducing a mid-tier understory tree for shady areas breaks up this dead air. The process of transpiration (where leaves release moisture into the atmosphere) acts as a sort of natural air conditioner, lowering ground-level temperatures right where you sit.

If you seize the June planting window, you’ll get an immediate head start on reclaiming these underutilized areas of your yard, before any heatwaves bake the soil solid. There are a host of lovely smaller trees you can consider. These hand-selected small trees are adapted to limited sunlight, transforming parts of your yard you probably never thought were good for growing. These lovely small trees that grow in shade can filter breeze, offer visual privacy, and provide majestic shape and color that shifts gracefully from summer through to winter. These special trees are really cool, and they will help you stay cool, too.

Small Shade Trees for Color and Structure

Successfully integrating a small shade tree into a compact and partially shaded yard just requires a quick assessment of your available vertical space and soil condition. Understory trees naturally grow beneath a larger forest canopy, meaning they are hardwired to thrive on limited sunlight. However, small yards often suffer from soil compaction due to construction. Depending on your local climate, hardiness zone and nearby buildings, your yard can also suffer from dry shade, a common issue where dense overhead structures block natural rainfall from hitting the ground.

To guarantee your new tree establishes itself rapidly with a June planting, you must cultivate a loose, highly welcoming root zone. Before planting your tree, make sure your soil is in good condition. Use a comprehensive soil diagnostic tool like the Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Tester from Amazon to check pH and nutrient levels. That way, you won't inadvertently plant an acid-loving specimen into highly alkaline concrete-adjacent earth before you have made necessary amendments.

If your soil is dense, heavy clay, or stripped of vital nutrients, mix a mycorrhizal-infused amendment, like Wakefield Biochar Premium Compost with Mycorrhizal Fungi from Lowe's, into the wider planting hole. Organic biochar will stimulate root branching in young small trees for shade. It’s great for June planting, helping to lock in the moisture needed to carry your tree through its first summer.

Here are seven small shade trees that grow fast and are lovely in a small landscape. Don’t procrastinate! Add these dinky shade-friendly beauties now for years of cooling shelter and transform the smallest courtyard into a multi-dimensional retreat.

1. Japanese Maple (Bloodgood)

Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are beautiful small trees that grow in shade. They are among the trees with four-season appeal, offering blossoms in spring, lush green or burgundy foliage in summer, fiery fall foliage, and eye-catching bark in winter. Yes, they will grow in sunny spots too, but do best when you give them protection from hot afternoon sun. There are as many Japanese maple trees as there are stars in the sky. One we particularly like is the ‘Bloodgood’ cultivar. It grows rapidly and matures to about 20 feet (6m) tall and wide. The cultivar name refers to the bright red leaves in springtime. Plant in dappled shade with well-draining soil. These diminutive beauties thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5-8.

The 'Bloodgood' cultivar holds its rich wine color through the blistering heat of midsummer. From April through October, this tree behaves like a living stained-glass window, beautifully filtering soft understory light. Just ensure it is protected from harsh winds that can scorch its delicate, palmately lobed leaves. For a texturally diverse layout, underplant with low-growing Japanese forest grass or blue hostas. Buy ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese Maple Trees from Fast Growing Trees for exquisite foliage all summer long and excellent cold-hardiness.

2. Pagoda Dogwood

Got a shady spot in the landscape? Plant a pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)! This easy-going, easy-growing species grows fast, but stays small enough for smaller landscapes. Pagoda is particularly lovely with its alternating tiered branches. In its preferred partial shade location, it will top out at 15-25 feet (5-8m) tall. The new foliage grows in a shade of purple-red. Spring brings flattened clusters of pale yellow flowers. These are followed by bluish-black berries that hang on the trees through winter, providing winter interest. This dogwood grows up to 2 feet (60cm) per year. It grows best in dappled sunlight in understory conditions in zones 3-7.

I love this tree’s tier-layered branching structure. Its open horizontal habit allows filtered light to pass through gracefully, creating an eye-catching sculptural focal point in dim courtyards. Apply a 3-inch (8cm) layer of organic mulch across the root zone to keep its shallow root system cool and damp. Underplant with native woodland ferns or wild ginger for a serene, low-maintenance shade sanctuary. You can buy Pagoda Dogwood Trees from Amazon for striking structural elegance.

3. American Hornbeam

This small hardwood shade-loving tree (Carpinus caroliniana) is native to the east coast of North America. It is also known as musclewood, because its fluted trunk and branches resemble muscle tissue. It’s an appropriate nickname, since the wood is very strong. Hornbeam grows slowly and tops out at 25 feet (8m) tall. Its foliage is dark green until fall, when the leaves blaze orange before falling. It thrives in zones 3-9.

American Hornbeam is great for urban environments, demonstrating glorious resilience even in heavy clay soil, occasional pooling water, and deep structural shade. Its summer canopy is dense and crisp, providing a superb privacy screen as well as cooling relief. Give it plenty of space to exhibit its smooth, fluted bark, which provides architectural interest even in winter. It pairs brilliantly with spring ephemerals like bleeding hearts or native columbines. Buy American Hornbeam Trees from Fast Growing Trees for impeccable structural growth.

4. Common Serviceberry

The name “serviceberry” makes this species sound like a short bush, but it’s not. Common serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is one of the small shade trees that grow to about 25 feet (8m). It offers year round interest with snowy white spring blossoms, dazzling late summer and autumn foliage, tasty fall berries, and lovely winter bark. Serviceberry is native to North America and makes a great garden tree. The fruits are delicious and can be eaten right off the tree. These multi-season beauties grow in zones 5-9, and can also grow in full sun.

Don’t neglect annual pruning, since good airflow is crucial. It’s a good idea to selectively prune out crowded inner branches during late winter to protect against rust and powdery mildew. Surround its base with a soft carpet of creeping phlox or bunchberry to catch any falling fruit and create a lush, edible garden aesthetic. You can buy Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Trees from Fast Growing Trees.for glorious disease-resistant foliage and many years of refreshing pleasure.

5. Fringe Tree

You won’t see the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) in many of your neighbors' yards. It is uncommon outside of its native range tree in the eastern United States, but it is utterly lovely if you can track one down. This small tree offers showy white flowers in late May and June which are extremely fragrant and look like clouds of hanging lace. Fringe tree leaves turn bright yellow in autumn. When they fall, you can enjoy the tree’s striped bark. The fringe tree tops out at 20 feet (6m) tall and makes a great specimen tree. These trees are hardy in zones 3-9.

This tree adapts flawlessly to partial shade understories and can easily tolerate tricky, damp soils. Look for female trees for the added benefit of its late-summer navy blue fruits, which local songbirds adore. Frame your fringe tree with deep green evergreens like rhododendrons or yews, to give those luminous white blooms a dramatic backdrop. You can buy White Fringe Trees from Amazon for a plentiful fragrant, flowering display and effortless cooling shade.

6. Vine Maple

Vine maple (Acer circinatum) is native to northern California and southern Oregon, a small deciduous tree that prefers shady settings. This little maple grows to 20 feet (7m) tall, often in the understory of taller trees, and can also grow in open sites. Planted in part-sun settings, vine maple turns into an upright, bushy tree, but when it grows in deep shade, it sprawls close to the ground. In early spring, tiny but beautiful red and white flower clusters appear. Foliage is tinged with red in spring, but matures to vibrant green. In the fall, trees that get some sun develop fiery tones. Check out ‘Pacific Fire’ with its bright red stems, or ‘Sunglow’ with peachy spring leaves that fade to chartreuse in fall. These trees are hardy to zones 6-9.

This maple shows great versatility in shaded urban spaces. In dense shade, its branches twist and drape, creating an artistic shape. You can take advantage of its sprawling habit to soften harsh structural fence lines or heavy stone retaining walls. Pair it with shade-loving companions like Western sword fern or bunchberry to create an authentic woodland vibe. You can buy Vine Maple Trees from Wilson Bros Gardens for gorgeous multi-seasonal interest, which includes bright winter bark.

7. Pawpaw

The pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) is another North American native. It looks like a tropical tree and bears tropical-looking fruit: large, edible pawpaws that taste like a blend of banana and mango flavors. You aren’t likely to see pawpaw fruits in your local grocery store, since they don’t last long once picked. That makes planting one in your yard a special joy, but you’ll need two different trees for pollination. Pawpaw trees grow to 25 feet (8m) tall and 15 feet (5m) wide. In the wild, they grow as small shrub-like trees in a shaded forest understory, but they get taller and straighter when grown in dappled shade. They thrive in zones 5-8.

Pawpaw brings a lush tropical aesthetic, showing off huge, drooping, foot-long leaves that create a dense canopy of cooling shelter. In mid-spring, branches produce velvety maroon blossoms before the leaves emerge, followed by clusters of custard-like fruits that ripen in September and October. Plant your pawpaws near a shady patio edge, alongside big-leafed caladiums or golden creeping Jenny, for a dramatic jungle theme. Buy Pawpaw Nursery Pots from Amazon for huge tropical leaves and (if you are lucky) those delicious banana-mango fruits.

Shop Shade Superstars

Introducing understory trees is an amazing long-term investment to help lower local temperatures and transform tricky, light-deprived zones into stunning focal points. These highly resilient varieties offer incredible structural diversity, encompassing everything from delicate white flowers to bold, tropical canopies. But they are really easy to manage once their roots anchor. Try these curated picks to add impact, beauty, and breezy relief to your yard for decades to come.

Need more ideas for getting the most from your plants, indoors and out, and looking for the best seasonal expert advice delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free Gardening Know How Newsletter!

Crikey it's hot in the garden – which is why you should make a mini water feature for your patio or deck this weekend. Moving water brings soothing sound and movement to any backyard design, adding a tranquil element to your outside space. And a floating solar fountain powered by the sun doesn't require plumbing or electricity, cutting the hassle as well as the cost of this quick garden project. Installing a DIY water feature yourself couldn't be easier and, with so many great Amazon Prime Day deals on solar fountains, there's no better time to add one to your backyard.

A floating solar powered fountain, like this top-rated Outdoor DIY Solar Bird Bath Fountain with Multiple Nozzles from Amazon, makes it feasible to have a small body of water in your garden as mosquitoes – who prefer still water – are discouraged. This means you can squeeze a stylish micropond into a tiny garden as well as add a beautiful detail to a bigger backyard. Making a container micropond is a huge garden trend for 2026, and no wonder: the rising quality and dropping prices of solar fountains means you don't have to spend much to get a sleek finish, especially when they're on sale!

You could simply drop a floating fountain into a tub of water – honestly, that would be fabulous by itself. But you could also enlist your imagination and use a solar fountain to make a striking water feature that suits your garden style perfectly. Got a cottage garden? Then set up a splashpark for birds or a drinking bar for pollinators, or upcycle a vintage container. More of a modern mood in your yard? Then a water feature in a sleek bowl planter is a must, or how about a rain chain micropond or a chic stone fountain? Whichever you choose, creating such an eye-catching focal point will have the effect of making your garden feel bigger, as well as adding a soothing soundscape.

Take your pick from these 10 inspirational ideas, and enjoy the calming joys of a garden water feature without spending a fortune. As far as container gardening ideas that you can DIY on a budget go, this is a no-brainer!

1. Upcycled Container Pond

Any container can be repurposed into a micropond as long as it’s watertight, and reusing a vintage vessel will add heaps of character to your garden. Drainage holes in old plant pots and small areas of damage are easily fixed with a silicone sealant. Just ensure you use an exterior marine sealant that’s suitable for submersion such as this silicone sealant from Amazon.

Have a look in your shed to discover a forgotten tub that could become your new micropond, or head to the global Salvo directory to find your nearest salvage yard.

2. Birdbath Splash Park

Add a solar fountain to a birdbath and your garden birds will get up to all sorts of bathtime fun for your patio amusement.

The combination of a solar fountain and splashing birds means water will inevitably be lost, so choose a low-powered fountain (under 2W) and a birdbath with as wide and deep a bowl as possible. A pedestal birdbath with a sturdy base will stand firmly on patio paving, and this polyresin design from Amazon with a 20” bowl will accommodate a fair flock of your feathered friends. On a lawn, a design with a pronged base such as this bird bath with a deep 17.4-inch bowl from Amazon is better.

3. Rain Chain Micropond

Floating solar fountains without a battery only work when the sun is shining on the panels. Add a rain chain to your container pond, however, and you'll nearly always be able to enjoy the soothing sight and sound of moving water. Rain chains are fixed in place of a downpipe to guide rainwater to ground level, so in rainy weather, water will cascade down into the container. Then when the sun reappears, the solar fountain will take over, bringing a bubbling stream of water to the container instead.

For a stylish result, match the tone of your rain chain to your watertight container. This copper rain chain with metal hummingbirds from Amazon would work so well with this galvanised copper ice-bucket tub, also from Amazon. Or how about pairing this pretty rain chain with metal leaves from Amazon with this stone-look composite no-hole planter, also from Amazon?

Great Prime Day Deals on Floating Solar Fountains

4. Bubbling Border Pool

Installing a water feature in a border not only brings sound and movement, but the change in texture provides a backdrop to highlight planting. The visual depth it creates will also make the bed appear bigger, and the rippling water will reflect any overhanging plants, especially if you add a few drops of black pond dye such as this from Amazon.

Planters are typically far cheaper than water bowls and, if you look for containers intended for succulents, you’ll find plenty that don’t have drainage holes. Products made of composite materials – often a blend of recycled plastic and stone powder – will give you the look of expensive materials at a budget price. This 16-inch round planter from Amazon comes in four fabulous faux finishes including terracotta and concrete, and has a curved rim that would work so well in a water feature. For a modern square container, this 16-inch planter is available from Amazon in the same materials.

5. Modern Bowl Micropond

A bowl fountain couldn’t be easier to make, or more lovely to look at. Shallow bowl planters are a huge trend this year so there are plenty to choose from, and if you choose one that’s intended for succulents, it typically won't have a drainage hole. This 12-inch recycled bowl planter from Amazon in four faux-natural finishes would fit the bill nicely, or there’s a slightly deeper 15.8-inch model.

Pop in a rock for a Zen vibe, fill with water, add your solar fountain and you’re done!

6. Bee Bar

If you're already growing nectar-rich flowers for pollinators, then providing a safe drinking place for them to rehydrate is one of the best ways to support wildlife in your garden, and it’s so easy to do. Put rocks and pebbles in a shallow container and keep filled with water to a level that leaves the stones semi-submerged. This gives bees and butterflies a safe place to land and drink from without drowning. Why not make a puddling pool for butterflies alongside, too?

Ensure you choose a low-powered solar fountain suitable for use in shallow water. It's best to keep your pollinator drinking station topped up with harvested rainwater rather than tap water, which is easily collected with a water butt.

More Great Prime Day Deals on Solar Fountains

7. Dog Drinking Fountain

Do you share your outside space with your dog? Then make your pooch a backyard drinking fountain. Most dogs prefer drinking from moving water as it signals it’s safe and clean, so this is such an easy way to encourage your dog to drink more during the hot summer months.

You'll need a deep plant-pot saucer such as this from Amazon, as well as a floating solar fountain. If your dog is elderly and you plan to position the drinking fountain on a low stool or plant stand, adding a couple of stones for stability is a smart move.

8. Chic Stone Fountain

Submerge most rocks and they'll reveal a rich range of colors, so a container filled with stones makes a stylish patio feature. Using multicolored rounded stones such as these river pebbles from Amazon bring a dynamic yet natural look.

Any strong watertight container will work, but a dark-colored vessel will leave the limelight to the stone tones. It's worth visiting your local hardware store in your search for a well-priced container: this black three-gallon livestock feeder pan from Ace Hardware would give you a sizeable water feature for minimal outlay, as would this half-barrel planter, also from Ace Hardware. If you need to seal any drainage holes, use a marine-grade exterior silicone sealant such as this from Amazon.

9. Rainwater Dipping Tank

Another way to get creating with alternative containers is to make a dipping tank from a livestock watering trough such as this galvanised steel tank from Lowes. Garden dipping tanks are a big trend in Europe, and deep troughs positioned beneath downpipes to harvest rainwater. Because the troughs are big enough to dunk a watering can in, this is a fast, easy way to irrigate with harvested rainwater.

Add a floating solar fountain and the rainwater dipping tank becomes a pretty garden feature as well as a practical solution.

More Great Prime Day Deals on Solar Fountains

10. Sunken Pond

Creating a micropond can be as simple as digging a hole in your backyard and sinking a sturdy tub so its rim sits at ground level. Disguise the edges with plants or create an appealing border with reclaimed clay bricks; this pond edge has been hidden with flat stones planted with low-growing evergreen perennial, heath pearlwort (Sagina subulata).

As well as adding the floating solar fountain, do fashion a ramp over the pond rim to provide a way for wildlife to exit safely from your pond. It's easily done with a log, a stack of stones, or a small pond ramp such as this from Amazon.

Is there anything more dazzling, more spectacular, more pinch me, I must be dreaming, than the sight of a hummingbird flitting from flower to flower? Why, the knowledge that you’re watching your birth month hummingbird in action, of course!

From birth month birds and birth month animals to the more whimsical world of birth month bugs and even birth month trees, there’s something irresistible about the idea that nature quietly mirrors who we are.

Among all of them, though, hummingbirds feel particularly fitting for personality pairings. Fast, bright, and endlessly energetic, hummingbirds forever hover between stillness and action, reminding us that even the smallest creatures can carry huge amounts of energy and purpose.

It makes sense, then, that they carry a kind of symbolic magic that makes them perfect candidates for zodiac-style interpretation.

All 12 Birth Month Hummingbirds

As if you needed yet another reason to turn your backyard into a true hummingbird hangout and help support these remarkable pollinators, it’s easy to see why we might fall over ourselves to meet our very own birth month hummingbird.

After all, they’re bold without being aggressive, delicate yet resilient (a balance many of us are constantly trying to strike) and wholly symbolic of spontaneity, joy, and adaptability. They are, essentially, nature’s reminder not to stand still for too long.

So, whether you’re curious, sceptical, or just here for a bit of fun, here’s your birth month hummingbird, and what it might say about you...

January – Sword-Billed Hummingbird

Unusual, striking, and impossible to ignore, you start the year with a slightly unconventional energy. Like the extraordinary sword-billed hummingbird, you don’t quite fit the expected mould, and that’s exactly your strength. You tend to see things differently from everyone else, and while it may take others a moment to catch up, they usually get there in the end.

Whether you buy it pre-made or use this DIY nectar recipe, it is always a good idea to keep hummingbird feeders topped up for these little beauties.

Shop Hummingbird Feeders:

February – Anna’s Hummingbird

Bold, charismatic, and not remotely interested in blending in, you thrive when life is colorful. Anna's Hummingbirds are known for their spectacular courtship displays, which feels fitting for someone who secretly enjoys being the center of attention.

If you want to keep yours happy and flitting, try planting this non-invasive honeysuckle that hummingbirds love.

March – Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Spring babies are all about fresh starts. Like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, famous for its epic migrations, you're constantly reinventing yourself and rarely stay still for long.

Shop Hummingbird Essentials:

April – Rufous Hummingbird

Tiny but absolutely fearless, your birth month hummingbird never backs down from a challenge, and neither do you. Honestly, Rufous Hummingbirds are renowned for aggressively defending their territory, making this the perfect match for anyone whose motto is, "Actually, I will argue about this" (in the best possible way!).

It's not just about planting nectar-rich flowers; it's also worth considering which trees are the best nesting options, too. Personally, we favor this low-maintenance shrub that hummingbirds love to nest in.

May – Calliope Hummingbird

The Calliope Hummingbird may be tiny, but it has no trouble holding its own. If you're a May baby, chances are you're similarly determined, proving that confidence and charisma come in all sizes. Seriously, there's a reason so many people notice when you're around.

Shop Hummingbird Nesting Materials:

June – Marvelous Spatuletail

Peak summer suits you, June babies! Bold, expressive, and a little bit spectacular, you don’t do anything halfway. Like the Marvelous Spatuletail, you have a flair for making an impression, whether you mean to or not. There’s a sense of theatre about you that draws people in, not to mention a tendency to turn even ordinary moments into something truly memorable.

July – Costa's Hummingbird

Much like your birth month hummingbird, you have undeniable flair. Costa's Hummingbirds are famous for the males' extravagant purple plumage, and if you're a July baby, chances are you appreciate a little drama, glamour, and making an entrance.

If you want an easy way to keep hummingbirds happy in your yard, try planting something like these Red Sage Seeds.

August – Broad-billed Hummingbird

Confident and impossible to ignore, you tend to leave a lasting impression (exactly like your pretty birth month hummingbird does). Vibrant and energetic, too, you're often the person organising the plans – or at least enthusiastically suggesting them.

September – Violet-Crowned Hummingbird

Thoughtful and observant, you prefer depth over chaos. You're not the loudest person in the room, but people value your insight and calm perspective. And, much like your birth month hummingbird, that is more than enough to make a long-lasting impression.

October – Buff-Bellied Hummingbird

Confession time: your friendly neighborhood author is an October baby, so I have a vested interest in this particular birth month hummingbird. If this is also you, you are independent, a little mysterious, you like doing things your own way.

You're warm once people get to know you, but you don't give your energy away freely. Never a bad thing (fine, I'm biased).

November – Magnificent Hummingbird

Intense, loyal, and quietly impressive, you have a habit of exceeding expectations. You may not seek recognition, but somehow it finds you anyway... and, just like your birth month hummingbird, you do all of this calmly and methodically. Go you!

December – Tufted Coquette

Festive, imaginative, and just a touch whimsical, you have a gift for bringing joy to those around you. Like the dazzling Tufted Coquette, you're unafraid to express yourself and tend to make a splash wherever you go. Beneath the sparkle, though, lies a thoughtful side that helps you see the bigger picture when others get lost in the details.

Shop Hummingbird Nesting Essentials:

Whatever your birth month hummingbird says about you, the real joy is in the imagination of it all: turning real wildlife into tiny mirrors of personality, even if just for fun. And hey, if it makes you look up a few hummingbird videos afterwards, consider it a win for everyone involved.

Amazon might not seem like the most natural destination for buying plants, but it's quickly become an unexpected hub for quality garden finds. As more reputable nurseries and specialist growers begin selling through the platform, shoppers can now access a much wider range of plants without having to visit a garden centre. Choosing trusted sellers is key, but many established growers now use Amazon to reach a broader audience, making it easier than ever to find something special for your home or yard.

Whether you've had a vision for your garden for the longest time and want to create that Pinterest-worthy outdoor space, or expanding your planting scheme has been sitting on the back burner, there's no better time to bag a bargain.

Here are some of the best plant deals available during Amazon Prime Day, along with the varieties I think are most worth adding to your garden or living space.

Houseplant Deals

Deals on Perennials

Rose Deals

Deals on Edibles

Some say it is good luck when a bird poops on you, but what about if a whole flock has pooped all over your patio? Sounds like bad luck to me. Birds and their lovely songs are wonderful to welcome to your yard, but finding their droppings all over your porch furniture is an annoying, and possibly dangerous, consequence.

Even though your goal might be to stop birds from pooping on your patio, you still might end up with a stray doo drop here and there. It is important to clean up the mess safely and before it leaves any permanent marks on light-colored wood or furniture. This bird poop remover from Amazon uses enzymes to break down droppings easily or you can use a few household items you probably already have.

First, you need to put on some protective gear and wet the droppings with your cleaning solution. Bird poo carries fungi that cause Histoplasmosis and Cryptococcosis and bacteria that causes Psittacosis. Protective goggles, a mask, and gloves will go a long way to protect you from developing one of these nasty infections. And gently wetting the droppings with water or a cleaning solution will prevent the fungal spores and bacteria from becoming airborne and inhaled. Let's dive in an explore how to safely clean bird poop off your porch.

Safety First

Supplies

Step-By-Step

1. Mix your cleaning solution in a spray bottle with a gentle mist. It is important to gently moisten the bird poop so that particles don’t become airborne and inhaled.
2. Don your personal protective equipment. Safety goggles, nitrile gloves and a well-fitting N95 mask will keep you safe while cleaning and disposing of the bird doo.
3. Gently spray the bird droppings with your bleach and water mixture and let it soak for 5 minutes. This will prevent aerosolization of the droppings and also allow the bleach some time to neutralize bacteria and fungi. (If using bleach, you should test for colorfastness in a small and inconspicuous area first).
4. Use a sponge or rag dipped in your cleaning solution to wipe away the bird droppings. Work slowly so you don’t splatter bird poop all over yourself.
5. Once you have cleaned the bird droppings off the patio and furniture surfaces, dispose of the sponge or rag in the trash.
6. Gently rinse the area with water from your garden hose or a watering can to remove any residual cleaning solution.
7. Remove and dispose of gloves, and wash hands before removing your goggles and mask.
8. Enjoy your freshly cleaned patio, poop free!

As I write this, the sun is beating down on my yard and I’ve got a fan pointing at my face as I listen to the birds singing outside. Meanwhile, backyard birds also need a few things urgently in summer – specifically, to help take care of their babies, stay hydrated, clean their feathers, and rest. And as summer really heats up, they need our help more than ever. So if there’s a gap in your bird care setup, this week is a perfect time to do something good for your birds, and save money while you’re at it.

This year’s Amazon Prime Day Deals offer the ultimate opportunity to save big while quite literally saving a life. Providing safe and well stocked feeders, shelter, and clean water are your gift to your feathered pals, to keep them happy and healthy during these stifling midsummer months. And guess what? Once their fledglings settle into your yard to enjoy the perks, this really is the gift that keeps on giving!

Bird care design (and tech) has made some amazing advances in recent months, so we combed through some of the key Prime Day highlights for bird lovers to help you find the best deals. Whether you’re after a fresh bath, a cozy house, a quality feeder or some hummingbird treats, these deals can help you encourage more birds to come to your yard, and stick around for joy. The ultimate songbird sanctuary or hummingbird hangout is just a few scrolls or mouseclicks away. This is the perfect time to stock up, so check out some of the deals sitting in our shopping cart.

Smart & Squirrel-Proof Feeders

When kitting out my own yard, I’ve always believed that bird feeders should be as beautiful to look at as they are practical. This year's Amazon Prime Day deals perfectly capture that balance, offering a variety of elegant, multifunctional designs that elevate your outdoor space while keeping your feathered friends happy (and key pests from guzzling the goods). From high-tech gadgets that double as personal wildlife cams to stunning decorative lanterns, bird feeding has evolved and diversified. This is the perfect excuse to score deep discounts on gorgeous, high-performing gear that brings both style and function to your backyard.

Cozy Houses for Summer Broods

We tend to associate nesting with spring, but June and July are prime time for backyard bird families. Songbirds like eastern bluebirds, house wrens, and northern cardinals are actively kicking off their second (or even third) broods of the season, while late-bloomers like goldfinches are just getting started on building nests in mid-to-late summer to align with thistle down availability. These functional, stylish Prime Day deals are the perfect excuse to add fresh, safe shelter to your yard just in time for the midsummer baby boom, creating a real bird sanctuary.

Beautiful Bird Baths & Fountains

When an intense summer heatwave strikes, providing a reliable source of moving water is the single most important thing you can do for your neighborhood wildlife. Songbirds desperately need a place to rinse dust, pollen, and stifling heat from their feathers to keep their natural cooling systems working perfectly. It’s also important to think about the quality of your water, as it can attract breeding mosquitoes in June. These durable, highly-rated Prime Day picks make it incredibly easy to establish a safe, refreshing oasis for birdies in need of refreshment, hydration, and play.

Ultimate Hummingbird Hangout

Hummingbirds are the jewels of the summer garden, but keeping these high-energy guests buzzing around your yard requires the right setup. Because they are lightning-fast and have highly specific feeding habits, you need brightly colored gear that can withstand the intense summer heat, which can cater to tiny beaks and service their need for comfort and security as well as flamboyant colors and the finer things in life. Here are the top-tier Prime Day upgrades that can keep those little vibrating dynamos darting hither and yon through the dog days of summer.

Don’t forget to keep your eye out for any Clip Coupon boxes as part of these deals. A lot of garden brands stack an extra 10-20% off coupon on top of official Prime Day discounts to stand out in the crowd – so you might bag an even bigger bargain.

Need more ideas for getting the most from your plants, indoors and out, and looking for the best seasonal expert advice delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free Gardening Know How Newsletter!

I've been growing plants indoors for nearly two decades, and during that time I've learned that the right equipment can make all the difference. From raising seedlings under lights to growing herbs, vegetables, and tropical plants year-round, I've spent countless hours testing products to find out which ones genuinely improve results and which are all marketing hype.

Grow lights have probably seen the biggest transformation over the years. I've used everything from old fluorescent tubes to bulky HID systems, but modern LED technology has changed the game. Today's full-spectrum LEDs are more energy-efficient, longer-lasting, and capable of producing impressive growth without generating excessive heat.

I've taken a similar trial-and-error approach with fertilizers, potting mixes, hydroponic nutrients, and smart gardening gadgets. Thanks to my background in plant and soil science, I'm always looking beyond the marketing claims to understand what actually benefits plant growth. The products that make this list aren't just popular – they're tools I'd happily use in my own indoor garden.

Amazon Prime Day is one of the few shopping events where I actively look for gardening deals. It's often the best time to pick up premium grow lights, hydroponic systems, seed-starting equipment, and other indoor gardening essentials at prices that are significantly lower than normal.

My Amazon Prime Day Indoor Gardening Deal Picks

To help separate the worthwhile discounts from the hundreds of mediocre offers, I've rounded up the Prime Day deals that stand out for indoor gardeners. Whether you're setting up your first grow space or upgrading an established collection, these are the products most deserving of a spot on your shortlist.

Every recommendation below has been selected with performance, value, and long-term reliability in mind. They're the kinds of products that can make indoor gardening easier, more productive, and ultimately more enjoyable long after Prime Day has ended.

Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to upgrade your indoor garden without overspending. After nearly 20 years of growing everything from seedlings and vegetables to tropical houseplants indoors, I've learned which tools are genuinely worth investing in – and Prime Day is often when those products see their biggest discounts.

Whether you're looking for full-spectrum grow lights, premium potting mixes, or smart growing accessories, these deals can help you build a healthier, more productive indoor garden for less. If something catches your eye, it's worth acting quickly, as the best Prime Day gardening deals often sell out before the event ends.

Having a garden that's low maintenance as well as lovely isn't just about choosing the right plants that thrive on neglect – you need to get smart with a few time-saving gardening tools, too. The best gadgets are those that not only help you get a job done more quickly, but make it more fun, too: a nifty ergonomic blade that slices satisfyingly through weed roots or a hose that never kinks can turn a garden chore into a garden joy.

Now, I won’t be the first to say that plenty of gardening gadgets don’t deliver on the time- and stress-savings they promise. But some really do. As a self-confessed lazy gardener who's also a gardening editor, I rely on a few tried-and-tested tools that actually make a difference. Because yes, while I love gardening, I also love sitting on the patio, glass in hand, gazing at all the easy-going plants bringing maximum reward for minimal effort.

So in the name of low-maintance gardening, let's save time and cut straight to the good bit, shall we? These are my ride-or-die garden tools and accessories that make the biggest difference in my backyard.

1. Expandable Hose for Easy Watering

Does your hose continually kink and interrupt the water supply, and resist your efforts to wrestle it back into a tidy pile after every use? Because you seriously need to trade it for an expandable garden hose. These stretchy hoses grow with water pressure, then shrink back to a tiny size once you turn the tap off. They're really lightweight and don't kink, too, so are so much easier to use. But the best bit? These super-flexible hoses can simply be dumped in a bucket to store, though many come with a bag and hook for storage.

You do have to be careful not to over-stretch expandable hoses, so it's important to get one that's plenty big enough for your garden. They're available in all sorts of lengths from 25 to 100 feet so, whatever the size of your backyard, there's one that'll easily reach the far corners.

2. Japanese Hoe for Fast Weeding

If you don't have a Japanese hoe then it's about time you did. I find it makes short work of weeding my raised beds, both those full of perennial flowers and in my veggie patch. The blade is big enough to work quickly but small enough to safely manoeuvre around plants, and its angle lets you slice through roots below the soil surface. For annual weeds, a quick pull through the soil is all it takes and, for more persistent, deeper-rooted perennial weeds, the pointed tip is a pretty effective digging tool.

I pack far too many plants into my raised beds, paying zero heed to planting distances, so I find a handheld hoe is so useful to get rid of the weeds without disturbing the soil – and so the roots of the plants I want to keep – too much. Second only to my trusty Japanese hand pruners, which I love to bits, my Japanese weeding hoe is my favorite gardening tool.

3. Garden Scissors for Efficient Deadheading

I'm a big fan of Fiskars' gardening tools, and these pruning scissors make deadheading so quick and easy, compare to using a regular pair of hand pruners. They’re only 6 inches long with ergonomic, soft-grip handles so they fit very comfortably in my hand, and the spring design makes snipping off faded flowers almost effortless – and no-one likes wrist fatigue. But the clincher is the resin-resistant, non-stick stainless steel blades that mean you can keep snipping without stopping to unclog.

My garden is a tangle of cottage-garden blooms that require endless deadheading, and I usually head out into the garden with my scissors and a strong coffee for a 10-minute snip every morning before I start work. And while garden scissors are best for slim-stemmed plants such as cosmos and bachelor’s buttons, these beauties also happen to be the plants that need the most deadheading.

Why do you need two pairs, I hear you ask? Well, gardening law dictates that you will put one pair down somewhere in a border and it will miraculously disappear, only to magically reappear when you somehow lose the second pair!

4. Auger Drill Bit for Planting Bulbs

I love bulbs, but I absolutely hate planting them – or at least, I did until I discovered auger drill bits. Bulbs are an essential part of any low maintenance garden so, if you fancy adding a drift of daffodils to your front yard or a sweep of alliums across a border, then you need to know that an auger drill bit will save you hours of digging and backache too.

There are various sizes of spiral auger to suit different bulbs, that fit a standard drill with an adjustable chuck. Water compacted soil before you drill to make the job even faster, and do wear gloves and safety glasses.

5. Mini Chainsaw For Effortless Pruning

A mini chainsaw may be small but believe you me, a 4-inch blade can still power through those bigger branches that are a struggle to cut with loppers. So, if you’ve got trees or shrubs in your garden that need regular pruning, a mini cordless chainsaw will do all the hard work for you. I use mine for chopping up logs for the fire pit, and all sorts of DIY projects, as well.

While it still gets the job done without any fuss, a mini chainsaw is so much easier to use than a full-size model, too. Designed for one-handed use, it's pretty light and mine weighs a fraction over a kilogram, and that's with the battery fitted. You don’t need any strength to operate it as the chain is designed to cut through wood without any pressure applied. It's true that the battery time isn't as long-lasting as that on a bigger model, but the recharge time isn't as lengthy either.

Out of all the pruning mistakes to avoid, I reckon not having a mini chainsaw to tackle bigger stems should rank pretty highly!

6. Velcro Plant Ties That Are Endlessly Reusable

Whether you’re staking tomatoes or tying a climbing vine to a trellis, Velcro plant ties are so quick and easy to use. Just cut the roll to whatever length you want to make reusable, adjustable plant ties that are soft for stems yet strong enough to stay firm, whatever the weather throws at them.

Made from 65% recycled plastic and durable to re-use time and time again, these are a sustainable alternative to standard plant ties. I find I make lots more small adjustments as the plant grows when I use them in place of regular ties, too, which means I now avoid those heartbreaking calamities such as when an entire tomato plant keels over under the weight of its fruit.

For climbers that you regularly chop back, such as passion flower and most clematis, these touch-and-fasten ties also make the chore of re-tying new growth far less tedious. I use it for all sorts of garden tasks from temporary fence-mends to securing bundles of bamboo canes for storage, too. If you're a fan of easy gardening, you'll be a fan of these ties.

7. Crop-Boosting Automator Trays

If you’re raising tomatoes outdoors and want to keep plants producing all summer, then an automator tray is a really simple yet effective way to boost your harvest by as much as 40%. There’s no magic here, just good ol’ common sense. A tray fits around the stem of a plant and holds water whenever you irrigate, the holes directing moisture to the roots. The more consistent soil moisture level this creates helps to reduce splitting and cracking and, if you're using soluble plant feed, makes sure the nutrients reach the roots rather than being washed away.

You can buy automator trays in all sorts of sizes, from simple stem rings to larger moats. The larger trays are particularly useful in zones with extremes of temperatures. In cooler climates they will warm the soil early in the season and, in hotter climes, reduce evaporation. They help to suppress weeds, too.

8. Watering Spikes to Keep Potted Plants Hydrated

I have no idea why I find it easy to remember to water all the plants outside but am forever forgetting that my houseplants might like a drink, too. And as I adore the luscious fronds of ferns indoors, they need regular irrigation to stay lush. Watering spikes are my solution, and they couldn't be easier to use. You simply pop a spike over the neck of an old wine or beer bottle filled with water, then push into the potting soil, and you have yourself a drip-irrigation system to keep plants hydrated. As an easy way to halve the time you spend watering, it's a winner.

I prefer terracotta watering spikes as the porous clay releases water really slowly, so a litre bottle of water lasts for around 7–10 days. As well as using them for houseplants, they're useful for keeping patio pots watered while you're on holiday, too.

9. Cordless Foliage Trimmer for Shaping Shrubs

As a kid, I used to give my Barbie dolls some pretty barbaric haircuts, and I get just the same joy using a pair of cordless trimmers in the garden now. Hopefully, the result is a little more presentable. With the grass cutter blades fitted, I tidy up the lawn edges alongside the raised beds where the lawnmower blades never quite reach, however hard I try. And while the shrubbery trimmer blade isn’t big enough for any serious hedge action, it does a good job of shaping finer foliage such as buxus and hebe.

A cordless trimmer also makes short work of clearing dead stems and clumps of ornamental grass and perennials after winter, so it's one of the best gardening gadgets money can buy.

10. Stand-Up Lawn Weed Puller

I always skip the weeding when I do my spring lawncare routine to leave a few dandelions in the lawn to provide nectar for early-flying bees when there's not much else blooming. But boy, do I pay for it! I'm not terribly efficient at removing the spent dandelion heads and each one produces around 150 seeds, which keeps me busy weeding the lawn for the rest of the summer.

Since I bought a stand-up weed puller, though, I don't mind this chore at all. It takes all the sweat out removing unwanted plants – even pernicious perennial weeds with long tap roots like dandelions – because you don't need to kneel down to use it. Just step on the foot platform to push the four serrated stainless steel claws over the weed, then tilt to pull the plant out, no bending down necessary.

I do hope you find some of these gardening tools and gadges make life a little easier in the garden for you, so you have time to sit down and enjoy the paradise you've created.

For years now, I’ve thought of robot lawn mowers as the equivalent of owning a private jet; truly life-changing but expensive and very much not in my budget. The earliest models were quite finicky and often required burying a wire perimeter around your entire lawn. Plus, it cut grass in random patterns that looked like it had been drinking – not ideal.

But now we’re in the year 2026, and all of that has well and truly changed. Wire-free navigation using RTK GPS and LiDAR has replaced the trench-digging setup. AI obstacle avoidance means it won't mow over your dog's favourite ball or, worse, your dog. Systematic mowing patterns mean actual clean lines rather than chaotic random passes. And Amazon Prime Day has finally pushed those outrageous prices into a territory that’s actually affordable.

The One That Finally Convinced Me

The ECOVACS Goat O1000 RTK Care Kit is the robot mower that finally made sense to me, and the fact that it's Amazon's current best seller in the category tells you I'm not alone.

Now, out of all of the Prime lawn care deals available right now, you’re probably asking what really makes this worth it to you. Well, first of all, the setup takes five minutes, which means no wire, no digging, and no RTK beacon installation headaches that plague the cheaper models. Basically, it means you have more time to kick back with a beer while your robot mows the lawn; now that’s a win!

The automated mapping system drives itself around your yard once and creates a precise boundary map with 0.8-inch positioning accuracy, receiving signals from up to 45 satellites. That number matters: it means it keeps working reliably even when you're mowing under trees or near fences where cheaper GPS mowers completely lose the plot.

The AIVI 3D obstacle avoidance is the feature that genuinely impressed reviewers. It detects and navigates around over 300 types of objects, including garden hoses, furniture, children's toys, pets, and even small wildlife like hedgehogs.

The TruEdge zero-edge cutting means it mows right up to the boundary of your grass rather than leaving a ragged perimeter strip you have to go back and trim (which is awful if it’s a hot day). The ultra-slim 1.31-foot body lets it squeeze through narrow garden passages as tight as 2.3 feet. It handles slopes up to 45% and has an IPX6 waterproof rating, so rain won't send it back to its dock in a depressed mood.

The Care Kit version includes 36 replacement blades, an RTK extension cable for optimal antenna placement, and everything you need out of the box. Reviews are strong across the board, with many buyers specifically loving the obstacle avoidance and the clean, systematic mowing lines it makes.

One honest caveat: it's best suited to yards up to ¼ of an acre. If your lawn is close to half an acre, look further down this list (we have robot mowers for you guys, too!)

6 More Prime Day Robot Mower Deals Worth Considering

A summer heat wave can make for a great day at the beach or pool, but might leave your garden struggling. If you tend to have very hot summers where you live, choose heat-tolerant shrubs. They are naturally adapted to hot, dry conditions and continue looking attractive even when temperatures soar.

The best low-maintenance shrubs are those that are native to your region, but there are other plants from other warm regions of the world that work well, too. A heat wave doesn’t have to leave your garden looking wilted and sorry for itself, even if that’s how it leaves you. Check out the heat-tolerant shrubs on this list that thrive in hot conditions without ever losing their sparkle.

The options below are great choices for summer heat. But you can also check with your local extension office to learn more about other shrubs that will support local wildlife and thrive in your garden with little effort – no matter the weather.

Heat-Proof Your Garden

1. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)

Appropriate for zones 8 through 11, Texas sage is an evergreen native to the south central and southwestern US. Its silvery-gray leaves help it reflect light and conserve moisture during droughts. It grows 5 to 8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) high and wide and flowers after periods of rain or humidity.

Texas sage thrives even in poor soil and intense sun without showing any signs of heat stress. The silvery foliage will remain attractive throughout even the hottest, driest summer. Just be sure you give it a spot with well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.

Get a stunning Texas sage bush from Fast Growing Trees online.

2. Rockrose (Cistus spp.)

Rockrose is a Mediterranean shrub that's well-adapted to dry, hot summers. It is hardy in zones 7 through 10 and grows 2 to 5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) tall. Rockrose has gray-green leaves and papery flowers that bloom in summer in pink, white, purple, or yellow. As a bonus, the leaves that won’t wilt in the summer give off a pleasant smell.

Give rockrose shrubs a spot in full sun. Avoid rich soil that doesn’t drain. This shrub actually thrives in poor, rocky soil that drains fast. There is no need to fertilize this shrub.

Get a 2-pack of white rockrose shrubs from the Home Depot.

3. Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

For a taller option, consider wax myrtle, which is hardy in zones 7 through 10. Wax myrtle quickly grows up to 15 feet (4.6 m) tall and is evergreen, so if you need a heat-tolerant shrub for privacy, this is a great option. Wax myrtle has dense green foliage that won’t wilt in summer and small berries that attract birds.

Wax myrtle can grow in full sun or partial shade. Water deeply and regularly as the roots establish and this shrub will reward you with low-maintenance growth that tolerates summer heat and drought. Wax myrtle takes well to pruning and shaping, but you can also let it grow naturally.

This wax myrtle shrub from Fast Growing Trees makes a perfect living privacy fence.

4. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Oleander can be grown as a large shrub – up to 18 feet (5.4 m) tall – or a small tree if pruned with a leading stem. Hardy in zones 8 through 11, it has long, leathery foliage that is evergreen. Beautiful flowers appear in spring and summer in shades of white, pink, yellow, or red. Oleander tolerates heat and drought very well and will even continue to flower through intense summer weather.

Oleander grows best in full sun. You should water it regularly as it gets established, so the shrub can develop strong, deep roots. Please be aware that all parts of oleander are highly toxic to humans and animals. Avoid using this shrub if you have pets or small children.

This pink oleander shrub from Home Depot adds instant tropical color to your landscape.

5. Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.)

Bottlebrush is a large shrub or small tree native to Australia and hardy in zones 8 through 11. It has evergreen foliage and is known for its unique, brush-like flowers in shades of red or pink. Although not native to the US, these attractive flowers attract pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Bottlebrush is highly tolerant of heat and drought, especially if you water it regularly as it gets established. It needs a full sun position and very good drainage in the soil. You’ll get plenty of flowers even in the hottest weather.

Get a bottlebrush shrub from the Southern Living Plant Collection at Walmart.

6. Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)

For cooler climates – zones 3 through 7 – that can still get some hot and dry spells in summer, a panicle hydrangea is a great option. Other types of hydrangeas need a lot of water, but the panicle types are more drought-tolerant. These heat-tolerant hydrangeas will reward you with large, cone-shaped flower clusters that transition from light green to white to pink and burgundy.

It takes a pretty serious heat wave and drought to cause panicle hydrangea to wilt. However, it is not as tolerant as some of these other options. When faced with an extreme dry spell, it will appreciate a deep soaking. You can also add mulch at the base to keep moisture in the soil.

Explore dozens of gorgeous panicle hydrangeas from Wayside Gardens.

If you're looking for the best Amazon Prime Day lawn care deals, you've come to the right place. Creating a lush, healthy lawn takes more than regular mowing – from choosing the right lawn mower and spreading fertilizer to tackling weeds and overseeding bare patches, maintaining great grass can quickly become an expensive hobby.

Fortunately, Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of year to stock up on lawn care essentials for less. Whether you're starting a lawn from seed, upgrading your toolkit, or simply looking for ways to keep your grass greener throughout the season, there are thousands of garden deals available across everything from mowers and trimmers to fertilizers and lawn treatments.

To help narrow down the options, we've rounded up the very best Amazon Prime Day lawn care deals worth shopping – all on products we'd buy ourselves. Prime Day runs from June 23 to 26, so it's the perfect opportunity to save on the products you need to grow a lawn that's the envy of the neighborhood without overspending.

Lawn Fertilizer Deals

Turf Building

Garden Sprinkler Deals

Sprinkler Controllers

Weeding Tool Deals

Cordless Lawn Mower Deals

Robotic Lawn Mower Deals

I have a long-standing issue with slugs. Specifically, their complete lack of respect for my garden and their unwavering commitment to treating my precious lupins like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Every year it becomes a familiar cycle: I plant something I love, it looks promising for a while, and then one night the slugs arrive en masse and reduce it to tatters. I’ve tried ignoring it, I’ve tried relocating them (an exercise in futility), and I’ve even considered my neighbour’s approach of standing outside at night with a torch like some kind of vegetable vigilante. And my husband’s very boring advice (why don’t you just plant the sort of things that slugs won’t eat?) doesn’t even bear thinking about.

I won’t use chemicals, because I know they’re terrible for the entire ecosystem, so I am entirely restricted to environmentally friendly options to remove slugs and snails. When I came across a ceramic slug trap disguised as a pretty garden ornament, then, you had best believe I was intrigued.

A Slug Trap in Disguise

The Esschert Design snail-shaped slug trap is exactly what it sounds like: a small ceramic ornament designed to sit in your borders and quietly deal with slugs without shouting about it. From a distance, it just looks like a slightly whimsical garden decoration. Up close, it’s doing something far more practical.

So how does it actually work?

The idea is simple. You fill the base with a liquid attractant (most commonly beer, although some gardeners use yeast mixtures) and place it at soil level in your beds or pots. Slugs are drawn to the smell, climb inside, and are trapped. The ceramic lid helps protect the bait from rain and keeps everything discreet, which is part of the appeal if you’d rather not scatter beer traps across your flowerbeds.

It’s a passive system, which means no chemicals, no electricity, no late-night slug patrol required. Just set it, place it, and check it every so often. And gardeners are singing its praises as a result.

Yes, reviews consistently mention that it blends into planting schemes far better than makeshift solutions like old yoghurt pots or metal tins. One gardener said they caught 11 slugs overnight using beer as bait, and described the trap as durable and easy to clean and reuse.

Another simply called it “darling,” which is not usually a word you associate with pest control, but here we are.

Others compared this slug trap directly to traditional beer traps in tins, saying it performs just as well but looks significantly better doing it. And hey, I think we can all agree that there’s something deeply satisfying about pest control that doesn’t make your garden look like a science experiment.

Does it completely solve a slug problem? Probably not. Most gardeners will tell you that slug control is about reduction, not eradication. But as part of a wider approach, alongside planting choices and a bit of persistence, it seems to make a noticeable difference.

Shop Slug Control Essentials:

At the very least, it replaces the slightly grim ritual of beer traps in random containers with something that actually looks like it belongs in the garden.

And if you’re anything like me, that alone is worth it.

Good garden lighting is a vital addition to any backyard, turning it into a welcoming evening haven as well as adding safety and security. Solar lighting is a cheap, sustainable and easy option over wired-in or battery-operated lighting when creating a nightscape garden but boy, do you need to know a few facts before you shop, if you want to skip past a heap of sub-standard, short-lived and over-priced products. And that's what this guide is here to do.

As a gardening editor for well over a decade, I’ve tried and tested more garden solar lights than I care to remember. Some have lasted for years and are still brightening up my backyard; others barely lasted half a summer. I soon realised that what products died and what survived had nothing to do with the pricetag, but that their performance was entirely predictable – once I figured out what all the ratings in the packaging fine print meant.

These solar lighting ratings can tell you precisely how much light the product will throw out, so you can choose the exact right spot on the spectrum from inviting glow to can-see illumination. They also tell you how weatherproof – or otherwise – the product is, which is a pretty good indicator of where you can use it, and how long you can expect it to survive. Understand the very basics of materials used to make solar panels and batteries, too, and you'll know how efficient and long-lasting the light will be.

Armed with these basic facts, you'll be able to buy solar lighting far more wisely – and that's a gamechanger because, while there are loads of great products on the market, there's also a lot of tat that's not worth your money. Ready for the low-down before you get started on putting your outdoor lighting ideas into reality? Here’s exactly what you need to know to get yourself a great deal on solar lights for your garden.

The 5 Solar Lighting Facts You Need To Know

Sure, we all buy solar lights because they’re pretty. But if you want them to be practical, too, here are the facts that should guide your buying decision, too.

1. Weatherproof Rating

How long garden lights will last outside, subjected to everything the weather can throw at them, depends on the Ingress Rating (IP). This measurement shows how well protected an electrical or mechanical product is in its environment. An IP has two figures: the first relates to solid matter, such as dust, on a scale of 0–6; the second relates to liquids, scaling 0–8.

Many solar lights are rated IP44, and the first number indicates that solid particles smaller than 1mm can’t penetrate, and the second number shows it’ll cope with splashes of water. So, an IP44 lantern such as this Boho Wicker Lantern from Amazon will be fine in the garden in dry weather, but leave it outside permanently and it’ll quickly fail once fall arrives. An IP54 rating, like this Handwoven Wicker Lantern from Amazon has, sounds like a much higher rating, but while it's a little more dust-proof, it's only as water-resistant as the last lantern.

If you want a product that's rain- and dust-proof, that you can leave outside more permanently, you need to look for a minimum rating of IP65, like this similar Solar Rope Lantern from Amazon has. There's not a huge difference in style or price between these three products, but I know which one I'd buy.

For long-term use, a second digit of 6 means it’ll withstand the heaviest rain, 7 indicates it’ll cope with temporary submersion, while 8 shows it’s fine to be permanently submerged. Even if you’re not planning to submerge a lamp, a maximum IP rating of 68 is a real asset for a permanent light in an exposed position. So, these IP68-rated Nymphy Pathlights from Amazon and these IP68-rated Solar Deck Lights from Amazon would both a good buy. No rating? You can safely presume it's IP44.

If you simply want a product to style up your garden for the summer, and turn your patio or deck into an outdoor living room, however, don't waste your dollars on durability you don't need.

Best Prime Day Deal Lanterns Rated IP65

2. Light Output

The other figure you’ll spot when you’re shopping for solar lights is the number of lumens (LM), and this is a measure of how much light the product puts out. If you want to add some garden ambience with a soft glow, then look for a light with a rating less than 100 lumens. However, if you want enough light to enable you to actually see your way around the garden after dark, you need a product with at least 200 lumens.

Say you want to buy some path lights. If you wanted to simply pretty up the path after dark, these Dimmable Solar Pathway Lights from Amazon with a rating of 10-40 lumens would be a great buy. But if want to illuminate that path so you don't break a leg carrying the shopping in after work? These Bobcat Solar Pathway Lights from Amazon with 300 lumens would be a better buy.

Some solar lights carry a super-high lumen rating, like these Motion Sensor Floodlights from Amazon boasting 3,000 lumens. If you're looking for security lighting, these would do a brilliant job – but if you're simply wanting to light your patio post-dusk? You'll be wearing sunglasses as you sip your sundowner.

Bear in mind, too, that this lumen rating is dependent on how much energy those solar panels are able to generate. So, if you're looking for a high lumen output, solar panels that you can adjust to point towards the sun's position at midday will be better able to deliver the top end of that rating.

Best Prime Day Deals With Lots of Lumens

3. Bulb Warmth

As well as the lumen rating showing how much light a product is capable of delivering, the bulb color also matters. Light is delivered along a spectrum from warm to cool and while warmer yellow-toned white light delivers a welcoming, cozy ambience, cooler, blue-toned white light illuminates better. So, choose a bulb color to match the light's intended purpose.

If you were shopping for a lantern to bring a warm glow to your patio coffee table, you'd want to look for a warm white light like that given by these Nfever Lanterns from Amazon. If you wanted a lantern to hang outside the back door so illuminate the step, however, you'd be better off looking at products with blue-toned white light like this UBright Lantern, also from Amazon. Using cool-toned lighting around your boundary and warm-toned lighting on your patio to create a focal point is a great way to make a small garden feel bigger as well.

If you enjoy sharing your garden with wildlife, then it’s good to know that a warm-toned light distracts critters far less than cold-toned light. There's plenty you can do to limit the effect of lighting on wildlife, too.

Best Prime Day Deals With Warm Tones

4. Solar Panel Material

Don't worry, we're not going to delve deep into the complexities of solar panel mechanics – but there are a couple of facts that are well worth knowing, if you want bright solar lights that will still work well in cloudy conditions or on short winter days, or to position one in partial shade.

Solar lights work by using a solar panel to harness the power of sunlight and convert it into electricity. These panels are typically constructed from silicon-based photovoltaic cells – but not all are created equal. You’re likely to find polycrystalline panels on cheaper products, and these absorb less sunlight than more expensive monocrystalline panels. If you live in a sunny climate, or if the product isn’t emitting a high level of lumens, then a polycrystalline panel is perfectly adequate. But if you want lights with a high lumen output to work well when there's less sunlight available, it’s worth paying the extra for a product with a more efficient panel made from monocrystalline.

If you're planning to position the solar light where it only gets sun for part of the day, investing in mono panels is a good idea, too.

The best garden solar lights with monocrystalline panels will state this fact as it's a strong selling point. However, if there’s no indication, you can take an educated guess by the color: poly panels often have a blue hue, while mono panels tend to be black. Poly panels may also carry the abbreviation PET.

Best Prime Day Deals With Monocrystalline Solar Panels

5. Battery Capacity

If you're concerned about your lights still working on cloudy, short days, it's worth knowing the basics of solar light batteries, too. Almost all solar lights now have batteries to store the electricity generated from sunlight and power the lamp after-dark. However, the battery type and its capacity has a big impact on the light’s long-term performance.

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries: this is the battery type used in most solar lights. They give a good balance of capacity, cost and lifespan, and are – as far as batteries go – environmentally friendly to produce.

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries: older, cheaper solar lights are often fitted with these batteries that are less efficient and less eco-friendly.

Lithium-based batteries: offering greater capacity and a longer lifespan, this premium option often comes with a price tag to match. There are two types. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) batteries are now beginning to supersede Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) technology; the former are more expensive, but they last longer and tolerate extreme hot or cold temperatures better.

If you need a solar light that's going to be fixed in place and used for prolonged periods over several years, if you live in a zone with extremes of temperature, or if the light level requires a significant amount of energy (such as a floodlight), then a product with a lithium battery is worth the splurge. If you need a solar light that caters for all those criteria, don't bother looking at any products without a lithium battery. Otherwise, a NiMH battery will do its job just fine.

Check the battery capacity when you're comparing top-end products, too. It's measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) and ranges from 300mAh to 1000mAh-plus and the higher the number, the greater the capacity.

Best Prime Day Deals With Lithium Batteries

Summer is the ultimate reward for gardeners. All your hard work pays off in lush foliage and gorgeous flowers. Now, imagine you walk through your garden one morning only to find that your prized plants are struggling and look like they’ve been dusted with flour. This is powdery mildew.

Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal infections to affect garden plants. It thrives when days are warm and dry and nights are humid. It can damage and, in severe cases, even kill plants. Fortunately, if you catch it early, you can use a common kitchen staple to make a powdery mildew spray that will keep this nasty infection at bay.

A baking soda spray for powdery mildew is a useful tool in fighting this damaging fungal disease. With this simple and safe homemade remedy, you can keep your plants healthy and beautiful for the rest of the summer. Here’s how to do it.

What Is Powdery Mildew?

Powdery mildew is a fungal garden disease that affects many plants. It’s caused by several different types of fungi. The good news is that the type of fungus that causes the disease is unique to each plant. So if your roses have powdery mildew, they can’t spread the disease to your nearby lilac or squash plants.

The most characteristic sign of powdery mildew is the presence of a white or gray powdery substance on leaves. It can also develop on stems, buds, flowers, or even fruits. All types of plants can potentially be affected by powdery mildew from shrubs and trees to perennials and vegetables.

Powdery mildew doesn’t look very nice, but it can also harm plants by blocking photosynthesis and ultimately reducing the plant’s growth. You might also see leaves turn yellow, curl up, and eventually drop.

It can be easy to miss the early signs of powdery mildew, so be vigilant. Look on lower leaves, interior leaves, and the undersides of leaves for the first signs of an infection. Early detection will make it easier to manage and prevent the spread of this disease.

How Baking Soda for Powdery Mildew Works

It’s always best to prevent diseases like powdery mildew, but even with your best efforts, you might see signs of it if the conditions are right. Instead of tearing out entire plants or turning to chemical fungicides, try home remedies.

A powdery mildew baking soda spray can help stop the spread of the disease by changing the pH on your plants’ surfaces. Baking soda is alkaline. Spraying it onto the plant will raise the pH, creating an inhospitable environment for the fungus to live and spread.

This homemade fungicide won’t totally kill the fungus or restore damaged leaves to a healthier state. What it does instead is prevents the fungus from creating and dispersing more spores. It slows or stops the spread of the disease to the rest of the plant or other plants of the same species.

You’ll get the best results by combining a baking soda spray for powdery mildew with overall good gardening practices, like ensuring your plants have plenty of airflow between stems and leaves.

What You Will Need

DIY Powdery Mildew Baking Soda Spray

The recipe for this DIY baking soda spray for powdery mildew is simple: Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap into a gallon of water. The dish soap helps the solution stick to the plant instead of just running off and into the soil.

Mix your solution thoroughly before using, as the baking soda won’t entirely dissolve. Use a spray bottle to spray the solution all over the affected plant, including on the undersides of leaves.

The best times to use the spray are early in the morning and late in the evening. Reapply the spray every week or so, more frequently if it rains.

Safety Precautions

Baking soda is generally safe, but it can potentially burn foliage, so resist the urge to make a stronger solution with more baking soda. Before you use the spray all over a plant, test it on one leaf. Wait 24 hours to see how the leaf responds before spraying the entire plant.

Avoid using this remedy during the afternoon when it’s hot and sunny or on drought-stressed plants, as this can intensify potential damage.

Another issue is that baking soda can cause salt buildup in the soil. Water the soil around plants thoroughly before applying the spray and limit its use to no more than once per week. As an alternative, you can use potassium bicarbonate in the same recipe with similar results and less risk of salt accumulation.

Tips for Managing Powdery Mildew

Baking soda is not a miracle cure for powdery mildew and it doesn’t actually kill the fungus. What it’s good at doing is preventing further spread of the disease. For the best results, combine the use of this homemade spray with other best practices to prevent and manage powdery mildew. You can also try a commercial organic fungicide like this one from Bonide.

Space your plants appropriately and thin them from time to time to be sure air can flow through and around them. Too much humidity within and around plants is ideal for fungal growth.

If you don’t catch powdery mildew early and find heavily infected leaves or stems, trim away these parts of the plant before using a baking soda spray. Dispose of them in the garbage rather than in your compost pile, where they can continue to spread the disease. Always sanitize your pruning tools and wash your hands after doing this chore to prevent spread as well.

The best gardening deals aren't necessarily the products with the biggest discounts – they're the ones that have earned a permanent place in gardeners' sheds, greenhouses, and backyards. That's why we've rounded up the Amazon Prime Day gardening deals on products our Gardening Know How experts genuinely use, trust, and recommend.

As a team of passionate gardeners, we're constantly testing new tools, planters, grow lights, and outdoor accessories. While plenty of products pass through our hands each year, only a handful prove themselves season after season. These are the items we reach for time and again because they've made a real difference in our own gardens.

This Prime Day, many of our tried-and-tested favorites are on sale. From Senior Editor Liz's prized raised beds, to indoor gardening pro Tyler's favorite grow lights to the hori hori knife several members of our team swear by, these are the gardening products we'd happily buy ourselves again – now available for less.

Everyday Essentials

Little Helpers

Grow More

Indoor Gardening

Wildlife Helpers

Better Soil Essentials

Fun fact about me: my mother-in-law is a crystal healer. She runs a college for alternative therapies, has written books on Reiki, and, naturally, believes in the power of crystals in everyday life... including the garden.

Yes, alongside an enormous copper pyramid she’s placed over her raised beds (which, intriguingly, does seem to be doing something), she also tucks crystals into pots and borders as part of her planting ritual. She’s even mentioned that older gardening traditions, like those found in the Farmer’s Almanac, have long embraced similar intuitive approaches to gardening cycles.

I may burn herbs and plant lavender for luck (I have a thing for witchy plants), a skeptic by nature, so I didn’t expect to take any of it seriously. But, as I had a steady supply of rose quartz available, so I started experimenting in my own pots. Just placing them into the soil around my plants, whenever I remembered, and seeing what happened.

The results? Somewhat surprising.

Using Crystals in My Garden

Anyone with even the slightest interest in spiritual practice will tell you, in no uncertain terms, that rose quartz is said to represent nurturing and restoration. When it came to choosing one crystal to pop in my garden, then, it was this pretty pink stone.

Targeting those plants that had been overwatered, neglected, and generally put through it, I popped out a few crystals and promptly forgot about them... until a friend pointed out that my olive tree (which has been knocked over, battered by wind, and repotted more times than I can count this spring alone) is not just still alive, but thriving.

Coincidence? Probably. But I’ll admit I’ve started checking on the crystals more than I’d like to confess.

If you are going to experiment with rose quartz in the garden, there are a few different ways people tend to use it. Some gardeners simply tuck raw stones directly into the soil near the base of plants, almost like a hidden talisman buried in the earth. Others use larger pieces as part of decorative landscaping, placing clusters of crystals among pots or along borders where they catch the light and become part of the overall design.

There’s also a more aesthetic approach, where rose quartz is treated less like a “tool” and more like a feature. Think something like Walmart's Hand-Carved Pink Rose Quartz Decorative Stone, grouped with terracotta pots, stones, and foliage to create a kind of soft, intentional still life within the garden.

Whether you believe in any energetic properties or not, it undeniably adds a certain visual calmness to planting schemes. And, if you do start down the rabbit hole of crystal gardening lore, rose quartz is just the beginning...

Shop Crystals for Gardening:

Of course, whether using these crystals in the garden actually has an effect on the plants themselves is open to interpretation. But as with much of gardening, half the pleasure is in the ritual.

And if nothing else, it gives you another reason to spend time among your pots. Which, if your plants are as in need of TLC as mine are, is no bad thing at all.

Calla lilies provide a touch of the tropics to summer gardens. Though gardeners in far southern climates can grow these beautiful flowers year-round, most of us have to accept that they'll only grow as annuals.

The other option is to dig up plants each fall and overwinter them, then replant them each spring as you would any other summer garden bulbs. Alternatively, you can grow calla lilies in containers indoors.

I'll walk you through the basics of caring for calla lilies indoors and out, no matter where you live.

Quick Calla Lily Facts

Planting Calla Lilies

Calla lily plants make a beautiful addition to the ornamental landscape. Though the graceful white calla lily flowers are the most common, available cultivars come in a wide range of colors.

Below, we will explore the basic needs of this stunning perennial in greater detail, as well as information for planting them in the garden and indoors in containers.

Soil Requirements

Calla lilies should be planted into well-amended beds with good drainage. Since they are quite adaptable, the rhizomes will grow well under a wide range of soil conditions, including those that consist of sand or clay. Their ideal garden soil should be neutral or slightly acidic with a pH of 5.6 to 6.5. You can test the pH with soil test kits, like this one on Amazon.

To successfully grow callas indoors, the plants can be placed into containers filled with a high-quality indoor potting mix, like this one from Miracle-Gro.

Light Requirements

Calla lilies grow best where they can receive part sun or full sun throughout the day. Ample light is essential to the production of flowers.

Still, gardeners living in areas that are especially warm or receive intense sunlight may want to consider planting calla lilies in beds that are shaded throughout the hottest parts of the afternoon.

Watering

Caring for calla lilies includes paying special attention to soil moisture. Indoor plants, as well as those grown directly in the garden, appreciate consistent moisture throughout the season in addition to adequate humidity.

In regions that receive regular rainfall, watering calla lilies in the garden is not often required once plants are established. However, the plants can benefit from drip irrigation, like this Rain Bird Watering Kit from Amazon, or soaker hoses in regions that are especially dry or prone to prolonged periods of drought.

Temperature & Humidity

Calla lily plants grow best where conditions are warm with temperatures of at least 70°F (21°C) during the day. Humidity in the environment also plays a key role in maintaining adequate levels of moisture.

Calla lily flowers can tolerate high temperatures in most gardens, provided the humidity conditions are ideal. Extreme heat can be detrimental to the plant, however, in regions that are dry or arid.

Fertilizing

You will need to fertilize calla lilies to keep them looking their best. Well-balanced fertilizers can be used any time before the plants start to flower. Both granulated and liquid feeds are good options, depending upon one's specific needs. This organic bloom-boosting fertilizer from Espoma is a good option.

As with most perennials, make certain to avoid using fertilizer after the plant has finished blooming.

Pruning

Calla lily flowers can be removed as they begin to fade from the plant. Deadheading calla lily flowers prevents the production of seeds and encourages repeat blooming.

Each spent flower stem should be removed carefully all the way back to the base of the plant. Dead or yellowing foliage can also be pruned in this manner, which helps to maintain a healthy and tidy appearance in garden beds.

Calla Lily Varieties

You can find a wide array of calla lily bulbs from Home Depot and your local garden center to grow in your garden. These are some of the most common varieties of calla lilies to look for:

• 'Crystal Clear' Calla Lily
• 'Garnet Glow' Calla Lily
• 'Odessa' Calla Lily
• 'Morning Sun' Calla Lily
• 'Picasso' Calla Lily

Propagation

Though it is possible to grow calla lily plants from seed, most gardeners prefer to divide those that have already established themselves in the garden. This can occur every three to five years and will result in flowers that are identical to the parent plant.

You should divide calla lilies in the fall while each plant is dormant. After carefully lifting rhizomes from the soil the roots can be cut apart. New divisions should have at least one healthy, viable growing eye.

Common Problems

While care for these plants is relatively simple, there are some common problems with calla lilies that gardeners need to be aware of.

Notable among these are diseases that directly affect the plants' rhizomes and foliage. Root rot, powdery mildew, and various kinds of wilt may be the direct result of excess moisture.

Several types of pests may also target calla lily plants. Slugs and Japanese beetles are the most problematic.

Container Care

Calla lilies are common houseplants because they do well growing in containers. But they will need occasional repotting to perform their best. If you grow calla lilies in pots, they will outgrow their containers and require repotting once every one or two years. Do this in the fall when the plants are dormant.

During repotting, you can also divide mature plants and replant them into new containers. Or you can just move your overgrown plant into a larger container that's about 1 inch (2.5 cm) larger in diameter than the old pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Calla Lily Care Must-Haves

Okay, I’ll admit that when I first heard David Beckham had a rose named after him, my eyes rolled so hard I thought I might have pulled something. A celebrity rose? For a soccer player? Surely this was just another bit of brand fluff designed to get people to buy a David Beckham garden fork, if it existed. Well, I consulted some gardening experts and have now come to the conclusion that I might have been wrong.

The Sir David Beckham rose was commissioned by his daughter, Harper, for his 50th birthday (actually, this is super sweet!) and was unveiled to the public at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It's not yet available in the USA, but you can view it at David Austin Roses in the UK.

Gardening experts have told me the rose is tapping into one of the most popular design trends at the moment: a “quiet luxury” garden. We already know Victoria Beckham loves elegant white roses, so we expect to see this new variety fitting seamlessly into the couple's garden for years to come.

Behind the Bloom

The backstory is super charming. Harper Beckham, who is just 14 years old, called legendary rose breeder David Austin Roses and asked them to name a flower after her dad. The result, originally known by the breeding number Ausa34b16, is now officially the "Sir David Beckham" rose.

It's a glorious white English shrub rose with subtle pink and yellow tones, deeply cupped petals, and a complex fragrance that has been described as "banana-ish" yet fresh, before developing into a warm, honeyed musk layered with hints of nougat, clove, and myrrh. The result is a fragrance that's both zesty and earthy – sophisticated, distinctive, and perhaps not entirely unlike the confident character of Sir David's own Instinct fragrance.

Growing upright to around three or four feet, it works equally well in borders and containers. Better still, a portion from every sale will be donated to The King's Foundation.

With the launch of the Sir David Beckham rose, he joins a small and highly exclusive circle of famous names immortalised by David Austin Roses. Among the most notable are King Charles III and Dame Judi Dench, both of whom have had David Austin varieties named in their honour.

And Beckham's rose is already receiving royal approval: King Charles was even spotted stopping to smell it at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Gardening expert Liz Bury sums up the celebrity appeal with some honesty: "The Sir David Beckham rose is a stunning flower. While I haven't yet seen it in person, I don't think it's particularly surprising that it's popular – who isn't going to want a celebrity rose in a container on their patio? Brand Beckham is strong and, honestly, it could have been the Sir David Beckham dandelion, and people would still be mad for it."

Liz definitely makes a fair point, but it’s also interesting for gardeners who care about more than celebrities.

Get the Look

More Than a Famous Name

Anthony Croke, Plant Manager at Almondsbury Garden Centre, is clear that star power only takes a plant so far: "Celebrity endorsements create curiosity, but gardeners are notoriously hard to fool. A famous name might encourage people to take a closer look, but a rose only earns a place in the garden if it performs."

Landscape architect Noé Lerma of GreenMex agrees, with a note of caution: "Roses are currently trending due to the importance we're placing on them, as they're associated with celebrities. However, the reality is that this is just an initial and temporary trend. Ultimately, it comes down to horticultural qualities that determine whether a plant stays in the garden or fades into oblivion."

It turns out there are quite a few of those qualities. The Sir David Beckham rose itself took over 10 years to develop, as it was first raised in 2012 and put through many years of trials before being released. White roses are notorious for being hard to breed, as white is a recessive color trait. This means that a white variety of rose is quite the horticultural achievement. Not only that, but it’s a repeat-flowering rose and blooms in flushes from late spring through early winter, meaning you don’t only get a single show as you do with, say, peonies.

The Pollinator Factor

Sir David's rose has open blooms, which are enormously for pollinators. Liz Bury notes a change she's seeing in what gardeners are actually reaching for: "My general feeling is that there is a little shift away from the double-bloomed varieties because people are becoming increasingly aware of the need to be doing much more for pollinators in their gardens. Sir David's open-flowered rose is not only genuinely gorgeous, but it helps the bees, wasps, and beetles get straight to the pollen without having to expend extra energy by trying to fight through layers of petals."

Anthony Croke echoes this from the retail side: "Gardeners are becoming far more conscious of what they're planting and the impact it has on local wildlife. They want plants that not only look beautiful but also provide real benefits for pollinators. Open blooms give bees and other beneficial insects easier access to pollen and nectar, so we're seeing growing demand for roses that combine traditional beauty and fragrance with genuine ecological value.”

The 'Quiet Luxury' Garden: What It Actually Means

If your Instagram algorithm has brought you into the gardening realm lately, you may have noticed a shift. Gone are maximalist borders crammed with bright flowers all in competition with one another. In their place are softer palettes and romantic layering. This is what designers call “quiet luxury,” and the Sir David Beckham rose fits the description perfectly.

Anthony Croke explains the appeal: "White and blush-toned roses have become increasingly popular as they fit perfectly into the 'quiet luxury' trend that's been influencing both interior and exterior design. Unlike maximalist design with bold color palettes, many homeowners are gravitating towards softer palettes featuring whites, creams, blush pinks, and silvery foliage. These colors create a timeless, elegant look that feels calming."

Crystal Olenbush, an interior design and staging expert, describes what the look is really about: "Quiet luxury in the garden means an absence of obvious elements of design. Instead of drawing attention to some plants or garden decorations, the main emphasis is on atmosphere, which can be achieved through layered planting, natural movement, softer color palette, and change of seasons."

Noé Lerma points to a broader design shift: "A new design direction is emerging, leaning more towards minimalism; that is, people are seeking something more serene and enduring. If I had to choose a style, it would be Mediterranean. In short, it's an evolutionary approach to landscape design."

He also makes a point worth underlining: "You don't need expensive plants to have a premium garden. We can design and create green spaces with accessible, economical, and long-lasting species, bringing together plants that generate authenticity, aesthetics, and elegance without resorting to exotic choices."

How to Steal This Look for Your Own Garden

Here’s the real practical advice: as we all know, looking at a stunning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show and recreating it at home are very different things.

• Start with the color palette: Whites, creams, blush pinks, and soft greys are the foundation. Resist the urge to try to spice it up with anything neon. Crystal Olenbush notes a common mistake: "One of the major mistakes people can make is focusing on plants and forgetting about the composition. Most likely, it will be achieved with the help of layers."
• Think in layers, not clumps: Anthony Croke advises: "To recreate a quiet luxury garden, focus on a soft color palette of whites, creams and blush pinks. Layer these with textured plants and ornamental grasses to create movement and depth. The aim is to achieve a romantic, naturalistic feel that looks elegant and effortless rather than overly structured or formal."
• Choose your companion plants carefully: This is where you can really make the look sing. Anthony Croke recommends: "White English roses pair beautifully with airy perennials such as verbena bonariensis and lavender, while foxgloves and salvias add height, structure and a classic cottage garden feel. Ornamental grasses can be used to soften the planting scheme, bringing movement and enhancing the elegant, romantic aesthetic." Crystal Olenbush adds to the plant list: "Gaura, astrantia, verbena bonariensis, nepeta, foxgloves, and ornamental grasses will suit perfectly because they won't conflict with the romantic nature of white roses." And Liz Bury's personal pick? "I think I'd pair it with English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) for a lovely color contrast and haze of scent – now, I just need to get one!"
• Don't overthink the sun situation: Noé Lerma keeps it simple: "If you still want roses, go for it, but you have to make it work. You must analyze how much sun your space receives and the type of soil you have." Most roses, including this one, want at least six hours of sun per day and well-drained soil.
• Pots work brilliantly: The Sir David Beckham rose grows to three to four feet and is perfectly suited to container growing. It’s ideal for patios, balconies, or anyone who wants to try it without committing to a whole border redesign. "For the quiet luxury look, go for something in aged concrete or stone rather than terracotta or bright glazed ceramics. These magnesium oxide planters nail the aesthetic without the weight of real stone (available here on Amazon).

The Verdict

Is the Sir David Beckham rose a gimmick? Well, it's definitely trading on a famous name, but there's nothing wrong with admitting that. Celebrity endorsements get eyeballs, and if they bring new people into gardening, then that’s just fine by me. But this particular rose has substance behind the story: a decade in development, open-pollinator-friendly blooms, complex fragrance, repeat flowering, and tones that slot beautifully into the most trendy garden aesthetic of the moment.

Now if someone could just get Victoria Beckham to commission an ornamental grass, we'd have a full border sorted.

Nothing deflates a summer evening outdoors faster than a lungful of someone else’s lighter fluid, or the exhaust drifting off a busy road. Patio season should be the easy part of summer – a drink, a chair, and the light going gold over the fence. Then a neighbor fires up the grill with a bit too much lighter fluid, and your hard-earned relaxation time is hijacked. Or you might find rush hour stacks up on the road out back, and the air suddenly smells like anything but a garden.

You can’t always stop these things from happening, of course – but the right fragrant plants can help you create a buffer of scent (a sort of fragrant force field or fragrant bubble, as it were) that allows you to reclaim your outdoor moments and enjoy your patio in peace. It comes down to choosing fragrant plants that actually push their scent around. These scented patio plants are backed by leaves that are thick enough to block out unwelcome aromas, while amplifying desirable fragrance.

By introducing these high-potency container plants and fast-growing shrubs this month, you can enjoy the benefits of gorgeous scent and privacy screens together. These fragrant plants for outdoors are also lovely to look at, so you can carry off this exceptional aromatic force field in style and enjoy the benefits all summer long. Here’s how to choose high-impact summer patio plants to make a beautifully scented sanctuary.

Best Plants for a Scent-Proof Patio

Fast results matter when summer’s already here, so these 8 fragrant plants lean toward quick establishment and a strong, reliable perfume. Most can be added and planted this June and be pulling their weight within weeks, whether in a border or a big container by the door. In order to create this aromatic forcefield around your patio, you just need to be mindful of local microclimates and plant behavior.

Consider your local USDA hardiness zone and wind direction. Position the highest potency, dense-foliage shields on the windward side of your patio to catch and diffuse incoming air pollution before it reaches your chairs. June planting can put young root systems up against intense summer heat waves. Focus on maximizing soil health inside patio containers or borders for rapid, deep root anchoring.

Before planting, make sure your soil is in good condition. Use a comprehensive diagnostic tool like the Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Tester from Amazon to check soil pH and nutrient levels. If your soil is heavy, tired, or dry, amend the drainage by adding a little coarse sand or perlite into the planting hole, or nourish the earth with some moisture-retaining organic matter. An amendment like Back to the Roots Organic Compost from Lowe's will lock in vital hydration and protect tender summer roots from early heat shock, ensuring an immediate explosion of defensive growth.

To prevent creating a cloying perfume overkill, where competing heavy scents clash like a department store counter, be sure to layer your plants based on their diurnal patterns. Some varieties unleash their essential oils under the blazing afternoon sun, while others wait for dusk to release volatile organic compounds. By mixing daytime performers with evening champions, you maintain a balanced, non-stop barrier against rogue odors – and all without exhausting your senses.

1. Mock Orange

Few shrubs announce June quite like mock orange (philadelphus). For a couple of weeks, it throws out clusters of white blooms that smell unmistakably of orange blossom, heavy enough to roll across a yard on a warm evening and bury whatever the grill is doing. It’s a big, arching plant (as high as 10 feet/3m in most gardens) so it works as a loose screen along a fence line, foliage filling in to soften both noise and sightlines. It thrives in zones 4-8, thriving beautifully in full sun to partial shade. The intense, citrusy perfume peaks during the late afternoon and warm June evenings, making it the perfect antidote to summer barbecues.

To maximize its impact, it demands sharp, well-draining earth. Pair it with dark purple salvias or low-growing catmint to create a stunning visual contrast while the mock orange handles the odor control. Prune it immediately after its flowering cycle wraps up, but don't cut back into old wood or you will sacrifice next year’s aromatic canopy. You can buy Proven Winners Illuminati Spice Mock Orange Plants from Amazon for an intense, rich orange-blossom smoke shield around your patio.

2. Star Jasmine

Got a railing you’d rather not see? Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) pulls double duty. The foliage is evergreen and glossy, holding all winter and screening long after everything else drops. By early summer, it’s covered in small white pinwheel flowers. That sweet, honeyed jasmine smell travels, too: you’ll pick it up across the yard. Grow up an obelisk or trellis, so twining stems have something to grab. A woody perennial vine in zones 8-11 (and an exceptional annual or overwintered plant further north), it is great for continuous scent. Its peak perfume release triggers as daylight fades, weaving a rich, honeyed shield.

Just provide consistent weekly moisture during its first summer to establish a deep root system. Plant it alongside trailing rosemary or silver dichondra, as the herbal notes perfectly balance its sweetness. You can buy Pixies Gardens Star Jasmine Plants from Walmart for a thick privacy screen of honeyed evening scent. Give it a year to find its feet, then it hits 10-15 feet (3-4.5m) and wants nothing but the odd trim. Full sun gets the most flowers, while part shade works, just a lighter show.

3. Gardenia

Gardenia (G. jasminoides) is a bit of a diva, but well worth the fuss. The smell genuinely stops conversations (thick and creamy, almost tropical), but the plant comes with demands. It wants acidic soil and steady moisture, and it feels the cold; let any of that slip, and it sulks. So keep this beauty in a pot. Fill a large pot with an ericaceous mix, and stand it by your chairs so the perfume lands where you sit. Somewhere cold? Bring it in before the first frost. Through summer, feed it something made for acid-lovers and shade it from harsh afternoon sun, and the waxy white flowers will keep coming for weeks.

This elegant evergreen perennial shrub thrives in zones 7-11. Its signature creamy fragrance lingers strongly throughout daytime hours and humid summer nights. Just add a dedicated iron supplement if you notice yellowing leaves with green veins. Frame container gardenias with acid-loving companions like dwarf blechnum ferns or trailing blue lobelia for a lush, moisture-retentive microclimate beside your patio lounger. You can buy Frost Proof Gardenia Plants from Nature Hills for a resilient, heavy-blooming variety that tolerates cold snaps and thrives in patio pottery.

4. Lavender

Lavender (lavendula) turns up on every list of scented patio plants, and fair enough. This fragrant beauty is tough and barely needs watering once it’s settled. What really sells it, though, is that the fragrance works even with nothing in bloom. One brush of the foliage does it. So put it somewhere you’ll make contact, like edging your patio. Every contact will release that clean, resiny smell. The English type takes cold better, while bigger hybrids flower harder and punch out a sharper note. Both want full sun and sharp drainage, and wet feet will finish them, so ease off on watering once roots take. A light shear after the first flush can buy a second, smaller round later.

This sun-lover is hardy in zones 5-9, and its essential oils are most volatile under midday heat, cutting cleanly through heavy barbecue smoke. Mix plenty of coarse sand or fine gravel into your potting medium to guarantee lightning-fast drainage. Pair with ornamental oregano or yellow coreopsis for a highly drought-tolerant shield that repels pests while refreshing your air. Buy Phenomenal French Lavender from Fast Growing Trees for a refreshing barrier against stale and smoky air.

5. Sweet Autumn Clematis

This one’s all about timing. While the rest of the garden packs it in for the year, sweet autumn clematis (C. terniflora) is just getting going. From late summer into fall it buries itself under tiny white stars, and the vanilla-almond smell carries way past wherever you planted it. Fair warning, though: it grows fast. A single season can put on 15-20 feet (4.5-6m), so give it a fence or a solid arch. This perennial vine is exceptionally hardy in zones 4-9, preferring a setting where its roots are shaded but its climbing canopy can enjoy full sunshine. Its potent scent reaches maximum strength under the late-afternoon sun.

The flip side of all that energy is that it self-seeds like mad in mild areas and shows up where you never put it. Chop it down hard in late winter, 12 inches (30cm) from the ground, and it comes back thicker and tidier. Plant alongside boxwood or blue star juniper to mask its bare winter base. Not much else hides an ugly chain-link fence this quick while smelling this good. You can buy Hirt’s Garden Stores Sweet Autumn Clematis Vine Plants from Amazon for late-summer structural screening.

6. Heliotrope

Stick your nose in a heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) and you’ll swear someone’s baking; it has a lovely warm vanilla scent, with a hit of cherry pie. Cherry pie is the old name people gave it, which tells you plenty. It’s a small plant, a foot or two (30-60cm) tall, so it tucks into a pot or window box, holding its deep purple flower heads down low, right at nose height when you’re seated. Frost kills it, so most folks grow it as an annual or haul it indoors for winter. It runs thirstier than lavender, too; let it bake bone-dry and it sulks. Keep pinching the dead heads off and it flowers all summer. Pound for pound, on a small patio, almost nothing throws this much smell.

Hardy in zones 10-11, it thrives in rich, consistently damp soil with full morning sun and light afternoon shade. Its comforting, bakery-sweet fragrance is steadily active throughout the day, intensifying in high-humidity. Deadhead faded violet clusters continuously to stimulate new blooms. Place heliotrope alongside chartreuse sweet potato vine or white bacopa for a lively color contrast. You can buy Heliotrope Plants from Walmart in groups of three, for dense, fruity pie-scented blocks.

7. Fragrant Roses

Nothing says perfumed garden quite like a rose, provided you pick for scent, not looks (plenty of modern roses were bred for color and lost the fragrance). Old garden roses (rosa) and the heavily perfumed modern shrubs (like ‘Fragrant Cloud’ or ‘Gertrude Jekyll’) definitely deserve a spot near a seating area, throwing real scent on warm, still evenings. Repeat-flowering kinds run from early summer to frost if you deadhead. They thrive beautifully in zones 5-9, demanding six hours of sunlight daily to fuel their blooms. Classic damask and tea aromas peak in the early morning as the dew evaporates, providing a refreshing morning shield against street exhaust.

Apply a thick layer of shredded bark mulch to protect roots and maintain moisture. Add some white alyssum or silver sage around the base of your rose containers to cover bare lower stems. Give roses sun and decent airflow, plus a yearly feed, and they reward the attention generously. Set one in a roomy container near the table and the perfume meets you before you’ve sat down. You’ll find a gorgeous range of Hybrid Tea Rose Varieties available from Nature Hills, many offering exceptional fragrance and continuous summer rebloom.

8. Flowering Tobacco

Save a spot for the evening crowd. Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) keeps its scent under wraps by day, then lets go at dusk. Its sweet, jasmine-ish perfume that arrives just as you’re heading out with a drink. For anyone who lives on their patio after dark, it’s your ultimate late-evening shield against neighborhood lighter fluid and smoky grills. The tall white varieties are especially potent. Nicotiana shoots up fast to 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5m) and flowers for months if you deadhead and water. Most are annuals, and are a cheap and quick way to plug a gap. Tuck a few in among chairs where the night scent settles, and the patio will get a second life after sundown.

Flowering tobacco loves rich, well-draining soil and a location with full sun or partial shade. Just handle with care, as all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested by curious pets. Nicotiana needs uniform, moderate moisture to sustain its trumpet blooms. Group these luminous beauties behind low-growing night phlox or dark leaf coleus for a glowing evening retreat that smells exquisite. You can get some lovely Nicotiana Seeds from Eden Brothers, including Lime Green and Sensation Mix.

Shop Fragrant Superstars

High-potency aromatic plants represent highly effective natural ways to neutralize intrusive neighborhood odors, while also adding an extra dimension of tranquility and harmony to outdoor spaces. Combining daytime citrus notes with rich evening honey undertones creates a multi-layered fragrance shield that effortlessly takes care of the dirty work. Make some room for these potent and pretty summer scent heroes.

Need more ideas for getting the most from your plants, indoors and out, and looking for the best seasonal expert advice delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free Gardening Know How Newsletter!

When in doubt, just add a pot! Honstly, if your garden is looking a little lackluster, I genuinely believe that one of the quickest ways to give it a designer feel is with a large planter. And the good news? Well, you don't need a huge budget to achieve the look.

Yes, while luxury planters can cost hundreds of dollars, some of the best large garden planters out there can be snapped up for a fraction of the price. And they give you some serious bang for your buck, too, as – container garden or not – large garden planters work incredibly hard in a space.

A perfectly placed pot can frame a front door, define a seating area, or bring life to an empty patio corner that feels difficult to style. Plus, in smaller gardens, I have found that a few statement containers can even have more impact than filling every inch with borders.

The Best Large Garden Planters for Instant Impact

Personally, I love nothing more than a big pot; in fact, the large potted trees and oversized window planter in my own garden are the features that consistently look the most polished and designer, even when the rest of the garden is between seasons or looking a little... well, a little unruly.

The trick is choosing planters that look more expensive than they are. Materials with a stone- or concrete-effect finish, oversized shapes, and simple silhouettes all create a premium feel without the designer price tag. And a single large planter filled with architectural plants or colorful flowers can completely change the feel of your garden in an afternoon.

Whether you're after Mediterranean-inspired terracotta, sleek contemporary designs, a gothic urn, or lightweight faux-stone pots, there are plenty of budget-friendly buys that will elevate your outdoor space.

To help you find the best options, I've rounded up the large garden planters that make an instant impact while keeping your spending firmly in check...

As you can see, the best large planters all have a way of doing the heavy lifting in a garden, offering some serious structure and year-round style, even when everything else is still growing in.

Sometimes, all it takes is one bold container to shift the entire feel of a space. And, if you're clever about it, it won't cost the earth to find one, either. Good luck!

Butterflies are some of the most delightful visitors to the garden. It’s a joy to watch them flutter through the yard, stopping here and there to sip nectar from your flowers. They’re also important pollinators, so it makes sense to take steps to attract them to and support them in your garden.

June is a time of peak activity for butterflies as they search out resources for food, mating, and egg laying. Unfortunately, many modern gardens are too sterile to support these activities, but a few tweaks now can make a big difference for the rest of summer.

A butterfly garden doesn’t have to be elaborate, large, or complicated. Just follow these simple tips to create a friendlier space for butterflies right in your backyard.

1. Plant Nectar-Rich Flowers

June-blooming flowers that are rich in nectar are a huge help to butterflies. Your yard will attract butterflies from all over if you offer up abundant blooms as a food source. Hopefully, you already have some perennials that feed butterflies, such as coneflowers, bee balm, cosmos, salvia, and black-eyed Susans.

If you still need more flowers or your space is limited, add some annuals that attract butterflies or fast-growing flowers for containers. Be strategic with how you plant flowers, both bedding and container plants. Butterflies will find them more easily if they’re grown in drifts and in the sun, as they prefer to feed in warm spots.

Explore a wide array of butterfly magnet plants from Jackson & Perkins online.

2. Grow Caterpillar Host Plants

Your favorite local butterflies came from caterpillars. And in June, they’re seeking out specific native plants for laying eggs that will turn into more caterpillars and butterflies. Many species use only one or a handful of butterfly host plants, which their caterpillars will feed on once they hatch from their eggs.

Do some research on your area (your local extension office is a great resource) to determine which butterflies are native and the plants they use as hosts. Some examples include milkweed for monarchs, native violets for fritillaries, and spicebush for spicebush swallowtail butterflies. Some species need certain trees, so consider adding them for future seasons. For example, black cherry or tulip poplar trees for eastern tiger swallowtails.

You can get a variety pack of different milkweed seeds from Amazon.

3. Create a Puddling Station

Just like birds, butterflies benefit from a water source in your yard, but a typical bird bath is too deep for them. A mineral-rich, shallow, ground-level source of water is ideal for butterflies. They need both water and minerals to survive and thrive.

You can make a puddling station by burying a shallow, wide dish in the soil of a bed so it’s flush with the ground. Fill it with sand or gravel and add water plus a little compost or sea salt. Place a few flat stones in the puddle as landing spots. Check the puddling station regularly and add water as needed to keep it moist.

As an alternative to a puddling station, you can place a dish of fermenting or rotting fruit. Like the puddle, this acts as a source of water and minerals.

This adorable butterfly puddler from Amazon will fit right into any landscape.

4. Provide Rocks for Sunbathing

Butterflies rely on sunlight to stay warm, so they’ll look for flat, sunny surfaces to rest. Provide these areas by adding flat rocks to some of your flower beds. Make sure you have several of these that get sun at various times of day and that they are not too shaded by large plants.

Morning sunlight is particularly important for butterflies. They look for spots to bask early in the day in order to warm up and be able to fly and seek out food later in the day.

Explore tons of different types of landscaping rocks from Home Depot to find the right ones for your garden.

5. Make Your Yard Pesticide-Free

If you’re trying to support native species, especially beneficial insects like butterflies, it’s best to avoid pesticide use altogether. Most pesticides are generic, meaning they will kill all kinds of insects, not just the pests. June, when butterflies are very active, is a particularly risky time to use pesticides. They harm butterflies and caterpillars.

Instead of chemical pesticides, use non-toxic or safe and organic methods of pest control. For example, you can release ladybugs or praying mantises to prey on pest insects. You can buy predatory insects from Amazon that will control unwanted bugs in your garden, but leave beneficial insects unharmed. Or wash pests off plants with a strong stream of water, use traps, or hand-pick pests to avoid pesticide use.

By eliminating pesticides in your yard this summer, you’ll allow butterflies to complete their life cycle and produce the next generation.

6. Let Your Garden Go Wild

Leaving untidy corners in your garden or yard is a great way to support all kinds of native wildlife, not just butterflies. Depending on the size of your yard, you can create one or two wild garden corners. Don’t mow here and allow native grasses, flowers, and weeds to take over the space. Leave stems, branches, and leaf litter in place.

Butterflies will appreciate the native plants as well as the protected areas where they can rest and hide from predators. Some species will even overwinter in the debris in these wild areas.

These simple additions to your June garden aren’t hard to implement and the rewards are huge. More flowers, host plants, wild areas, puddling stations, and rocks help butterflies find food, lay eggs, rest, stay warm, and more. June is the perfect time to make these upgrades, so you can enjoy butterflies in the garden for the rest of the summer.

Big, bold, colorful, and dazzling: these are the words that naturally pop into our minds when we picture our summer borders. We’ll often spend fortunes hoping to keep that early-summer color palette firing on all cylinders. And, typically, what we tend to imagine are dazzling perennial flowers with bright, showy blooms. But often, the joy that comes from vibrant blooms can leave your garden looking exhausted by June. Flowers are lovely, but their displays can be fleeting. Once their petals drop, you’re often left with a mass of plain, uninspiring green stems.

Furthermore, while flowers are pretty, foliage lasts longer. And foliage can be big, bold, colorful, and even dazzling. Pick the right foliage plants, and you’ll get jaw-dropping foliage that is often more impressive than the flower show. June is a great time to introduce some high-impact architectural foliage heroes into your garden beds and borders. By shifting your focus to hard-working perennials, you aren’t just planning for a quick burst of color, you’re also securing a lush, structurally gorgeous framework that anchors your yard from early summer to first frost.

The best part? Getting these vibrant foliage superstars settled now is simple and yields immediate, long-lasting rewards. We’ve lined up the hardest working foliage plant ideas to deliver structural, colorful foliage as well as flowers. Whether you’re dealing with sun-baked backdrops or damp, shady corners, these multi-talented gems offer a texture-rich appeal that pulls together different parts of your yard, just as it helps you transition between seasons with effortless style. Discover the assorted foliage plant heroes that prove leaves can easily steal the show!

Perennials for Showstopping Foliage

Have you ever said, "Oh, it’s just a foliage plant"? Trust me, you will never utter those words again once you meet these stunning, leaf-forward perennials. When leaves are this massive, deeply textured, or intensely colored, they easily outshine even the most delicate blossoms. To get the best out of these leafy icons, regardless of your USDA hardiness zone, just keep a few basic rules in mind.

Some of these perennials crave full-sun environments to deepen their pigments, while others require a damp, dappled retreat to protect variegated surfaces from getting scorched by aggressive UV rays. Make sure you know which zones best suit your plant, and choose foliage perennials with the best regional fit.

Before you plant, ensure you are setting these perennials up for long-term success, and check underground conditions first. Carry out a quick reading with a soil moisture tool, such as the XLUX Long Soil Moisture Meter from Amazon. This will help you ensure good drainage and moisture retention, so plant roots don’t risk sitting in stagnant puddles. Verifying hydration will also ensure your lively leafy perennials can handle any afternoon sun.

Topdress new foliage plants with a layer of organic compost to fuel massive leaf production without forcing leggy growth. Then you can decide which of these foliage beauties best fits your space. Remember, some foliage plants love shade, while others need full sun, so pick wisely!

1. Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) are mounding shade-loving perennials with pretty flower spikes. They bring gorgeous color, texture, depth and variety to the darkest corners of your yard. While pollinators appreciate their delicate, airy blooms, the real magic of these plants is generally in their lively scalloped leaves. The species plant offers leaves in lime green, wine, silver, purple, and nearly black. But if you pick a cultivar, there are plenty of other glorious options.