With a patio heater, you’ll be able to hang out in your favorite spot throughout multiple seasons, even into winter. Once the device is ignited, you’ll be able to sit and relax, take in the view, and spend time with loved ones without worrying about the cold. This list contains the best patio heaters for outdoor seating areas, tried and tested by Heavy’s crew so you make the best purchase decision.

Discover the best grow tents for your mushrooms below. Below the tents, you’ll find our guide to everything else you need to start growing some happy mushrooms right away.

Whether you are a new gardener looking for a non-intimidating introduction to growing your own food, an urban gardener with no access to outdoor space for a garden, or an experienced gardening enthusiast interested in the latest and greatest trends and technology, indoor gardening is a fun and exciting way to grow food in your own home.

In this list, we will go over the best indoor herb gardens available in 2023. This list has something for everyone, from inexpensive kid-friendly kits to top-of-the-line automation.

Gas-powered and corded electric models have been around for a long time. Gas trimmers have typically provided superior power and efficiency (along with the most noise and fumes). I’m here to tell you the days of gas trimmer dominance are over.

Battery-powered weed eaters now offer up enough sustained electric power and torque to rival the biggest, baddest gas trimmers on the block. And that’s without making a total racket or producing nasty exhaust fumes. On top of that, many vendors offer a platform of tools that share the same batteries making for some seriously streamlined landscaping.

If you want an epic garden, there is one sure way to get it. Invite some pollinators into your space. Mason bees are the perfect family-friendly option, and given the right habitat, these prolific pollinators can take your harvest from “meh” to mega.

Bee houses ensure they have a place to lay eggs so you can keep your bee population prospering from year to year, plus they make terrific Christmas gifts or birthday gifts for gardeners. This list features top choices for the best bee houses to attract pollinators for new or veteran beekeepers.

From pretty to playful, abstract to avant-garde, garden sculptures are an ideal way to express your personal style. We’ve found the best garden statues, fountains, and sculptures that can create a focal point for any landscape design. Garden sculptures are a great gift idea for the landscape enthusiast on your list. This list features the best garden sculptures for every kind of landscape that will turn your yard into your own personal oasis.

Fortunately, you’ll make up that cost over time, because LED lights last longer than conventional grow lights. Plus, you’ll save big on energy costs. Read on to discover the best LED grow lights under $500 available right now.

Nothing sets the mood on a crisp evening like an outdoor fire pit. Fire pits create an ambiance unlike any other backyard accessory and can help transform a gathering or a party into a truly special get-together.

Our top list has tracked down the best wood-burning and pellet-powered options for camping and backyard gatherings alike, so we’ve got you covered with the top available choices for each and every bonfire context!

We get it. The best kitchen compost bin will hold plenty of scraps, locking in odor until you’re ready to take it outdoors — where you’ll grow extra-nutritious produce. (Or maybe you’re the type who loves to watch it turn into nutrient-rich compost, perhaps while sitting by your gas fire pit on your patio.)

Discover the best kitchen compost bins available right now.

But that’s all changed with the popularity of systems that produce healthy, bountiful crops in just a few square feet of floor space.

Vertical hydroponic systems give home growers the ability to harvest herbs, lettuce, vegetables, and fruits in small spaces. Most of them work in a similar way, by pumping nutrient-filled water to the top-most planters, which trickles down to plants on the lower levels.

Since the plants are aligned vertically, the systems are ideal for high-traffic rooms or areas like the kitchen or compact spaces like balconies or patios.

Hobbyist gardeners like vertical hydroponic kits because they make it much easier to grow farm-quality produce with far less effort and upkeep.

Advanced hydroponic systems don’t require any soil since vital plant nutrients are delivered via water. They’re also set up so all plants in the system get exactly as much water as they need — no over-saturation or dryness.

Some vertical hydroponic systems come with absolutely everything you need to grow a robust garden: LED lighting, in-unit water tanks, automated monitoring, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Other systems are more basic, with simple piping apparatuses, hoses, and water pumps. Some use specially designed seedling pods you need to get from the manufacturer; others work with seedlings from your local garden store or nursery.

In this post, we’ll take a look at six vertical hydroponic systems in the marketplace that get the job done. We’ve included advanced systems that use technology to make home growing as easy as using a mobile app.

We’ve also included more basic hydroponic units that use PVC for those who prefer more hands-on (and less expensive) gardening. Whatever level of convenience you choose, these vertical hydroponic systems can revolutionize the way you grow and consume fresh produce.

One of these incredible yard tools will be sure to light you up with its clean energy, raw power, and long runtimes. Battery-powered tools have gotten really incredible these last few years. We did all the hard work and found the best cordless hedge trimmers to make yard work super easy and maybe even a little fun.

You only need to go online to order your favorite seeds right now to discover you’re not the only one thinking about gardening. For the past two seed buying seasons, even the basics have been in short supply. Self-sufficiency has been on everyone’s radar and millions of new gardens have been meticulously planned and planted.

“Growing food is in our DNA,” says Jacob Pechenik, the visionary behind the wildly popular Lettuce Grow FarmStand. This indoor/outdoor hydroponic garden system is a giant leap forward for home growers, especially compared to those small indoor gardens that have been available to consumers in the past.

Here’s everything you need to know right now about the Lettuce Grow FarmStand, and why you’ll want this eco-friendly garden for your home, whether you’re planning to grow indoors or outside.

Buy the Lettuce Grow FarmStand

What Exactly is the Lettuce Grow FarmStand?

Lettuce GrowA hydroponic garden for indoors or outside.

The Lettuce Grow FarmStand is a hydroponic growing system. In the simplest terms, that means you’re growing in water instead of soil, and we’re talking water right out of your tap – nothing fancy. That H2O, along with a few nutrients (included with your FarmStand) will get your garden growing at lightning speed.

This garden uses 95% less water than raising the same number of plants in a traditional garden, plus you’ll never have to pull weeds. (Major bonus!) An automated watering system keeps plants perfectly hydrated and fed on a schedule that works for your growing environment, and with simple weekly maintenance, vegetables actually have a higher nutritional content than those grown in raised boxes or garden beds. A quarterly cleanout keeps the growing environment pristine, and you can simply remove your plants from the stand during the process.

Seedlings Make Things Easy

Lettuce GrowPre-sprouted seedlings kickstart your garden.

There’s another key difference between the FarmStand and other hydroponic options. The Lettuce Grow garden is designed to use pre-sprouted seedlings that grow and can be harvested rapidly. According to Pechenik, that was part of his vision from the start – to make growing food simple, even for inexperienced gardeners. “I thought, let’s grow baby plants and just let people finish growing them at home.”

That’s proven to be a fair bit of genius because growers are rewarded with nearly instant gratification – delectable and aromatic lettuces and herbs in as little as three weeks’ time. That simply doesn’t happen when you grow in the ground. Better yet, there are hundreds of starts to choose from, including herbs, vegetables, and even strawberries.

Buy the Lettuce Grow FarmStand

Can You Actually Grow Enough Food For a Family?

Lettuce GrowThe FarmStand is large enough to feed a family.

If you’re looking to grow more than a little kitchen garden, size really does matter, especially when you’re trying to feed a family. The FarmStand has capacity options ranging from 12 to 36 plants. While it’s far larger than other home hydroponic gardens, the FarmStand’s vertical design means you can grow a lot in a conveniently small footprint. In just three square feet of space, it’s easy to produce a wide variety of your own organically raised goodness.

The beauty of the FarmStand is that it works indoors or out, so you’re not limited by a short growing season or one that’s too hot. For outdoor growing, you’ll simply need access to electricity to run the water pump and a supply of clean water.

Indoors the needs are basically the same, except you’ll want to locate your FarmStand in a sunny window. To maximize your chances for a successful indoor garden, you can add Glow Rings – specially designed LED light halos that will supercharge your growing plant babies, sans natural sunshine.

The Ideal Garden For People Who Care About the Planet

Lettuce GrowEco-friendly gardening in a small space.

“So many people think – oh, I don’t have a green thumb, and I can’t call a farmer who does,” says Pechenik. “These days 50% of people live in the city. They don’t have space. They don’t have the time, and they don’t have experience or perhaps even the clean soil to garden, so hydroponics was really the thing that could tie everything together and make growing accessible to everyone,” he says.

But for Jacob, there’s a greater good at the heart of Lettuce Grow’s philosophy. “As I said, it’s in our DNA to grow things. But we really just wanted to get the FarmStand in front of people, because even though they might only grow 15% of their food with it, they’ll start to think about that other 85% of their food and where it comes from.”

Pechenik says he hopes the FarmStand will awaken people to the fact that our food system is flawed. The freshest and healthiest foods are almost always more expensive than the bag of chips next to the cash register, and the reason is simple. “That perishable produce might have to travel up to 1,500 miles to the store where it lasts 7-10 days at most.” Because up to 40% of that produce might spoil along the way, farmers make less money and consumers pay a higher price. “I think once people become conscious about that, the whole food system overall will completely change.”

Gardening Made Easy, Even Without a Green Thumb

Lettuce GrowThe FarmStand makes gardening simple for anyone.

Using the FarmStand is simple. It’s quick to get set up, and if you need or want to tap into someone who can help you right away, the Lettuce Grow customer service team is always looking to enhance your growing experience. Additionally, an enthusiastic Lettuce Grow Facebook Community is available 24/7 to help. This interactive group of avid FarmStand fans offers advice and support for both new and experienced growers.

And there’s no need to worry about the negativity of social media. The FarmStand Facebook folks are markedly different. “That’s probably why I’m very active in the group,” says Natalie Santiago, a regular contributor. She enthusiastically shares her wealth of knowledge on a daily basis. “Our Facebook community is happy, helpful, and informative.”

Natalie’s advice to anyone considering a FarmStand is simple. “Don’t be intimidated. It’s super easy to succeed at.” But she also offers a word of caution. “Once you have one FarmStand, you become addicted and want more.”

Emily Marsh, a small business owner in Sonoma County and a regular contributor to the Facebook group agrees. While they have a 36 plant FarmStand growing outdoors, she and her fiancé are hoping to add an additional one to grow indoors during as well. Asked why she’d want more than one, Marsh says “Honestly, it’s the peace it gives me as well as the nutrition it adds to each of my meals.”

Emily also values the learning aspect it has brought to her life. “My FarmStand has become a friend as well as something that keeps me learning more. It listens to my problems and in return gives me a glimpse of hope and new life.”

Buy the Lettuce Grow FarmStand Here

Editor’s Note: It’s been 10 days since I set up my sample FarmStand from the folks at Lettuce Grow, and I’ve found myself checking on my plant babies many times throughout the day. (Yes, I talk lovingly to them as well.) I can’t stop sharing tons of progress pictures with family and friends, as well as pinching leaves of arugula, chard, and lettuce, and plotting where I’ll put the additional units I plan to order for the upcoming summer growing season.

See Also:

Best Greenhouse Kits
Best Raised Planter Boxes
Best Potting Benches
Best Garden Carts to Save Your Back

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For some, composting is a hobby, for others, it is a way of life. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice composter or a pro when it comes to sustainability there are plenty of choices out there. These bins are affordable, fit most gardens, backyards, and homes, and will help eliminate waste. Use our buyer’s guide on the best outdoor composting bins that make recycling easy and fun for adults and kids.

We’re here to help you find the best garden shoes to fit your needs as well as your budget, and we’ve included a few options that are some of the most coveted gifts for serious gardeners who dig playing in the dirt.

While some swear by the riding lawn mower, those with smaller lawns (or in search of a little physical activity) can do fine with a good walk-behind lawn mower. And you can get a great lawn mower for under $300. Read on below to browse our favorite budget picks.

These benches are perfect for mixing potting soil, pruning house plants, and storing garden tools, and other materials when they’re not in use. They’re also a handy addition to your greenhouse, where you’re starting new plants from seed throughout the season.

We’ve found many of the best potting benches that will stand up to year-round use. They range from simple, basic designs to large and complex pieces of multi-functional outdoor furniture. We have included potting benches of many sizes and at a wide variety of price points as well, so even if you’re shopping on a tight budget, there is a perfect potting bench on this list for you!

Hydroponics simply refers to the system and medium in which you grow plants, meaning you’ll be growing in water with a few nutrients. The medium varies by brand and model, but it is usually made out of peat material. These indoor gardens offer all kinds of advantages. In most instances, they are compact and can fit on any convenient countertop. There’s no need to worry about sunshine or heat, as most have built-in full spectrum grow lights and many are programmable, offering the optimum number of light hours to nurture your plant babies.

Since you’re not messing with dirt, there really isn’t any need to wash your produce, so you can pick the perfect salad or snip a spoonful of fresh fragrant herbs and know you’re eating and serving your own organic produce. Sounds delish to us.

She Sheds are the yin to the Man Cave yang, a feminine retreat for the owner to design and customize to her tastes, style, and hobbies. These aren’t garden sheds. Instead, these can be used for painting, horticulture, a library, or even just a badly needed retreat to get away from it all. A she shed is an amazing choice for all of these hobbies.

The best “blank slate” kits are featured below that are the best on the market today. Once they arrive, they’re wide open for you to add your own creative touch. Customize one of these to suit your needs and get ready for some serious you time.

Growing and nurturing your garden is a wonderful way to keep your kids engaged with your family while also playing in the dirt. What’s not to love about that? Gardening also teaches them valuable lessons about where their food comes from – knowledge that will last a lifetime. The raised beds featured here are unique as well as long-lasting, plus they work well, particularly if you have limited growing space.

To get your seeds started and pre-grown starts planted properly, a great potting bench and the proper garden tools can be back savers that will support your efforts to grow abundant produce at home.

Greenhouses allow you to pursue a new or favorite pastime, no matter what the weather looks like outside, and they let you get a jump start on germinating flowers and vegetables. They also save your plants from that first fall frost, extending your growing season on both sides of summer. Whether you choose a mini greenhouse, cold frame, or huge high tunnel, you can start and grow plants that you couldn’t ordinarily grow outside if you happen to live in colder climates.

Some of these greenhouse kits are even large enough to add additional raised planter boxes in the center to maximize every inch of square footage inside. For the most part, they’re made of lightweight, durable, and easy to assemble materials that you can handle yourself without hiring help.

You’ll find that our list runs from small structures to large, and very affordable to more high-end and luxurious, so you should be able to find the best fit for your growing needs, design aesthetics, and available space.

Whether you get a classic one-wheeler, dual-wheel model, or a wagon to balance everything out, a wheelbarrow is a mandatory resource for anyone who has a yard or garden to maintain.

The wheelbarrow you ultimately choose should be sturdy and dependable to take on all of the transportation needs you have whether it’s moving ground cover or yard debris or running soil and mulch to the garden. Check out the excellent wheelbarrows below so you can make your yard chores not seem so much like chores.

Keeping your yard organized and trimmed is an ongoing battle. And if you have a decent-sized lawn, you know that using a walk-behind mower is a chore. 

Upgrading to a small riding mower takes the task and makes it much more manageable and fun. There is simply no comparison between your average walk-behind model and the vast improvement that a small riding lawn mower will bring to your weekend chore.

Small riding lawn mowers come with many updated features, drastically cut down on time, and take the effort out of mowing through thick grass. Small riding lawn mowers are a great investment that you’ll be happy with. Below, we’ve found these exceptional options that meet a variety of needs and budgets.

Wood chippers, also called shredders or mulchers, are machines meant for transforming large piles of branches, leaves, and yard waste into small chips. After pruning or limbing trees with your chainsaw, a wood chipper can save you a great deal of cleaning time as well as provide valuable mulch for your garden.

Wood chippers come in many sizes powered in a variety of ways from stationary corded electric jobs to gas-powered engines and even ones that act like cordless lawn mowers or leaf vacuums. Depending on your needs, a chipper could make a huge impact on the time and trouble that you’re currently spending each year on yard maintenance.

Our list of the 13 Best Wood Chippers feature many options and amenities; one of them is sure to be a perfect solution for what you need at your home.

While not suitable for turning a patch of concrete-tough earth into a bountiful planting area (at least not yet), electric rototillers are excellent for maintaining gardens from season to season. Whether you decide on corded (infinite power but watch out for the cord) or cordless (endless mobility but watch the recharge times), there will be an electric rototiller on our list that will complement your tool shed perfectly.

These models are excellent for quick, nimble maintenance around your flowers, plants, and veggies. Whether you’re looking at more power or a great price point, take a look to see what works the best for you and your garden. Also consider other tools to make your gardening chores easier such as a new wheelbarrow, utility wagon, or wood chipper.

Anyone who has trees in their yard understands the constant maintenance they require right about the time when the kids head back to school. When the leaves and needles start falling, it can be a major chore to rake, bag, and dispose of them not to mention the havoc that plastic bags wreak on the environment.

But with a leaf shredder, the time it takes to deal with all the piles can be reduced by hours and even days. Keeping your yard clean and clear is made so much easier with one of these portable mulchers. And did you know that shredded leaves can make amazing compost for your garden and flower beds? Plus it’s free!

Our list of best leaf shredders has a solution for you no matter what size of yard you have and no matter how many leaves that drop. They run the gamut between small inexpensive string trimmer units to large wood chippers that will save you some serious time and effort.