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Proof that you don’t need acres of land to grow something beautiful.

I’m the Home and Garden Editor at BuzzFeed, where I write articles that connect readers with the products, ideas, and trends that help make a house feel like home.

With the right plant stands, vertical planters, and a few cleverly designed tools, even the smallest balcony or patio can become surprisingly productive. Ahead, I've rounded up some of my favorite Amazon must-haves for making every square foot count, whether you're working with a cozy apartment balcony, a petite patio, or a backyard that's a little more "postage stamp" than estate. 

Promising review: "Lovely colorful flower pots. Perfect size to hold a single flower, and they add such a nice pop of color to my yard. Very easy to hang up, no hardware required! I’m getting a lot of compliments on them. I bought several sets and planted bright flowers in them. I have them lining the inside of my yard and on the front of the house. They add a lot of cheer and homeyness for a simple and cheap project." —Maegan

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $18.99 (available in multicolor, black, or white). 

In the photo on the left above, the reviewer is showing how they used the knife to methodically pry and release their 60-pound asparagus fern from a pot.

Promising review: "This is such a great tool! Our neighbors who lived in Nicaragua told us about their gardener who had a hori hori knife and used it for everything, like an extension of their arm. Planting bulbs, opening bags of soil, cutting twine, weeding, prying bricks into place, loosening soil, it's so useful! And this particular one is SHARP! (learned that the hard way! X-( ), the blade is sturdy and the handle is full tang. It's got a nice girth that fits well in my hand in addition to being fairly beautiful. It comes with a sturdy sheath that hangs faithfully on my garden bag. It may sound silly but I have never been so enamored with a garden tool. This one deserves my full respect." —Anne

Promising review: "I love these crystals. The heat is here, and this product keeps my plants in containers from drying out so fast and dying. With these moisture control crystals, I can even leave home for a couple of days with no worry." —Peggy Ryan

Mr. Stacky is a small business based in Florida that makes stackable planters.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this! I have used it to plant strawberries, lemon balm, English ivy, creeping Jenny, cauliflower on top, lavender, oregano, and parsley. It hooks together easily, and it can be taken apart if you have to move it. I am constantly sending the link to my friends and family because they love it also." —Cynthia Stoker

Promising review: "Perfect design! It makes watering the plants in difficult-to-reach places very easy. It makes me feel confident making blind or overhead pours without spilling. The taper of the spout, along with the handle shape and angle, provide me with optimal flow control, so overwatering is never a worry. This has saved the lives of many of my indoor plants." —Anthony M.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "Snug fit and they preserve my dexterity. I feel very protected from wet soil and yard debris (probably not thorns — haven't pushed it). I really love these gloves for gardening and even for light construction, like sanding wood. Grip's really good and helps me get my hands dirty when I don't really feel like it. No need for a nail brush after gardening with these gloves." —Delayed Gratification

Get it on Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes). 

NOMPI Gloves is a woman-owned small business in New Jersey that makes garden gloves with long, pretty sleeves. The idea came to founder Lynne Eichenbaum after she contracted poison ivy while tending to her vegetable garden.

OK, I seriously love these. The nitrile glove attached to the sleeve is thin enough that I can actually feel what I'm doing, but thick enough that it won't get punctured. It's been heating up where I live, and instead of throwing on a long-sleeve shirt to protect my arms, I just slide these on, and they feel so much better! The sleeves are 100% cotton, so they're breathable and lightweight. And the fun pattern? Just an extra little bonus I didn't know I needed. 

Promising review: "Made well. Great idea. I don’t need expensive leather things. I get a lot of use out of these, picking berries and trimming prickly bushes!" —Amy

Get it from NOMPI Gloves on Etsy for $21.99 (available in three sizes and six patterns).

Promising review: "I needed something sharp and small enough for deadheading smaller blooms, but that would also do well with any size of bloom. These are my new favorite pair. They're sharp and easy to use. The small push lock that keeps the blades locked closed is very easy to unlock and relock. I would highly recommend these to any gardener, professional, or hobbyist like me." —JoJo

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in three colors).

I'm fully in my tomato girl summer, and these fabric grow bags have become my favorite way to grow them. I have five lined up on my deck — each with a different variety of tomato — and they've been fantastic. The fabric drains excess water instead of letting the roots sit in soggy soil, but it doesn't dry out so quickly that I'm constantly reaching for the hose. Despite several heatwaves and torrential downpours, my plants are thriving. The bags have held up beautifully despite being filled with heavy, wet soil.

I also love the reinforced handles. They're sturdy enough that I can reposition the bags when I need to chase the sun or rearrange my deck (though fair warning: once they're full of soil and a hearty plant, they're definitely a workout). They come in a great range of sizes, so whether you're growing tomatoes, peppers, herbs, or even potatoes, there's probably at least one size that'll fit your space. 

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in tan or black and in 10 sizes).

For best results, replace spikes every 30 days in spring and summer; replace every 60 days in winter and fall.

Promising review: "I swear by these plant food spikes!!! The package says they are for indoor plants, but I actually use them for all of my outdoor plants, especially my herbs. I first tried these after planting some basil and other herbs that seemed to be taking an eternity to grow. I figured I'd give them a try since they were so inexpensive, and wow!!!!! Within just a few days, my plants had grown more than double what they had grown in the previous several weeks!! One of my friends (who also enjoys gardening) came over to my house and was in awe of how big and healthy all of my herbs were. When I told her about these spikes, she went straight from my house to purchase some and had the exact same growth results." —GatorDO17

Get a pack of 48 spikes from Amazon for $7.45.

Read our full review of the Miracle Grow plant food spikes.

Promising review: "Great value for the $$ and attractive! Looks great on my back porch area and is a nice place to store all my planting supplies. The metal countertop is a nice touch, as it’s easy to wipe down and gives it a bit of a rustic look. I would highly recommend and buy it again!" —Staci Evans 

Get it from Amazon for $97.99+ (available in three wood finishes).

These help protect them against bad weather as well!

Promising review: "Love the size of these nets. I'm trying my hand at growing tomatoes in pots this year. My friends have told me about their issues with birds, critters, and insects, and these nets seem perfect. They fit perfectly over the cages, and I particularly like the drawstring on the bottom to safeguard against any invaders. There's no problem watering the plants through the net, and plenty of sun and air get through." —DC

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four sizes and various packs). 

WoodNSparks Co. is a small business based in Montana that makes wooden garden markers.

Promising review: "These were great! Perfect size and nice quality. Ordered a variety of different herb and vegetable sticks, including some custom, and they all came out exactly as ordered and described." —Lauren

Get it from WoodNSparks Co. on Etsy for $2.34 a stick.

After moving to the East Coast, I quickly learned that the stone pathways around my home are basically a spa retreat for moss and weeds. The cracks collect moisture, trap organic debris, and offer *just* enough shelter to help unwanted greenery flourish, especially with all the shade and rain we get. I didn't want my outdoor space to turn into a jungle, so I grabbed this tool and got to work. It's weirdly satisfying — kind of like flossing, but for your stone paths. The bent tip slides right into the cracks and pulls weeds out from the root, which helps keep them from coming back anytime soon. I've used it on my pathways, driveway, and anywhere else something tries to sprout where it shouldn't. The handle is comfortable, and it doesn't take much effort to use. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites. If you've got hardscaping, you need this in your toolkit. 

Promising review: "I have three of these coupled with three 25 versions. This gives us maximum flexibility and reliability. I got very tired of spending money on the flexible hoses only to have them fail within a year. These hoses keep on doing their job. Very good buy." —Duffy 

Get it from Amazon for $13.25+ (available in eight lengths and five colors).

Promising review: "This nozzle feels sturdy and well-made, and the metal construction is a nice upgrade from plastic sprayers. The spray patterns are genuinely useful for different jobs (watering, rinsing, washing). I like the flow control so you can dial pressure up or down without constantly adjusting the faucet. Comfortable to hold and works great for yard and car use." —Steve

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 14 colors).

Promising review: “Perfect for my deck. Plan the plants correctly, and you barely even see the planters — it's just a cascade of flowers, vines, and herbs. Wonderful. Well made, and super super easy to assemble.” —Missy Malick 

Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "This was a surprisingly nice build. Good for a small backyard; stores random tools and garden hoses. No water gets inside, either. Highly recommend." —YUNI N.

Get it from Amazon for $179.99 (available in two colors).

This gadget has two needles to ensure accuracy and doesn't require batteries. Just push it two to four inches into the ground and select what you want to test for.

Promising review: "This device is amazing. I bought it after my gardenia plant wasn't blooming. I came to realize that I was overwatering, and my plant never recovered. Since then, I’ve taken home two amaryllis plants from work that never grew. I replanted them and used this device to make sure that I was watering properly and my plants were thriving! It’s a real plant saver. I even got a Monstera as well. And I should note, I usually don’t have a green thumb and kill plants easily!" —Roselle

Promising review: "Worth spending a few more dollars to get high-quality garden hand tools. Much stronger than my old ones and a more comfortable grip. Will get many years of usage." —MN

Pick up a sturdy, rust-resistant curtain rod while you're at it! 

Promising review: "These curtains are AMAZING! Beautiful and elegant. Hangs beautifully, very light blocking, keeps rain out of our Tiki bar, we can sit out there in the rain, and keeps the heat in on a cool fall evening when we have the fireplace on!" —Sara Bushendorf

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in 10 sizes and 16 colors). 

Promising review: "This plant stand is elegant looking and plenty sturdy for large plants. I will be purchasing more. It is simple to assemble — just screw on the legs!" —Grace Martin

Promising review: "This was a great pack! Five plant stands. You can mix any of the tops with the legs of different varying heights. I needed this option to put them all in front of my bay window so my plants could get some winter sun. I needed a short, large top stand as well as a tall, small top stand. And the little stoppers on the feet keep them from sliding or knocking over when the cats decide to play." —Thrifty but not cheap 

Promising review: "These are really great. They smell so nice and fresh and leave my plants looking clean, renewed, and healthy. They get the job done every time. I would and will buy them again." —M. Austin

Promising review: "Searched all over for a planter small enough to fit on my porch. I’m so happy I came across this one. It’s exactly what I was looking for, and I was able to plant six herbs in it. It’s made out of metal and feels very sturdy. It has a drain hole, which is a plus." —Christine

Get it from Amazon for $41.37+ (available in three styles).

Promising review: "I’ve used these for years on my tomatoes, cucumbers, and cantaloupe that are trellised. They provide great support, are easy to apply, and will hold all year long. I’ve tried several other types and keep coming back to this." —Jem

Get it from Amazon for $7.01+ (available in four sizes).

Grampa's Gardenware Co. is a family-owned small business based in Oregon that makes gardening tools.

Promising review: "We just moved into a new home and I couldn’t find my Grandpa’s Weeder tool. My husband said he had gotten rid of it via donation, not knowing it’s something I’ve used for over 20 years! Well, needless to say, I found it here on Amazon and was sooo happy that I could replace it. I cannot weed without this tool, and honestly, I won’t even try. This gets the entire root of your weed and removes the possibility of it coming back! Once in a while, if a weed is super-sized, it may take more than one removal, but it really does a phenomenal job and saves my back, too. It’s also kinda fun to use." —Rachael

Promising review: "I really like the weight and strength of this. It also feels good in my hand. I tackle some pretty tough projects, and this tool is definitely up to the task." —Penelope

Promising review: "I have a large wooded lot and six gardens and LOTS of mosquitoes. I wear this mosquito head net hat when I work in the garden. It is lightweight, and my view isn’t compromised. I wore it for five hours today, and I could hear the mosquitoes, but I was totally protected with the hat. No matter how much mosquito repellent you use, the mosquitoes will find the one area in your ear that you missed. With this hat, you no longer have that aggravation. A great investment for anyone that spends a lot of time outside. It feels great to win the war with the mosquitoes." —Mary

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in eight colors and also in packs of two).

The planters are sold separately, and I recommend either this pack of white planters or this pack of multicolored planters.

Promising review: "I have a small balcony with two entrances, so not a lot of available floor space. By making a vertical garden, I can have my fresh herbs without taking up valuable real estate. It goes on a wall by the door that wouldn't have been used otherwise. Plus, it looks so pretty! It was very easy to install. With the addition of the hanging planters (sold separately) I love that I can easily take my herbs down to water them or bring into my kitchen to cook with. Looks so classy and functional." —Luna

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in 13 other sizes).

Promising review: "These are great for plants! I have three five-gallon geranium plants that don't like to get wet. For the last couple of years, I was lugging them around back and forth on the patio. What a relief for my back that I don't have to do that anymore. The trays are sturdy and deep enough that water doesn't come out all over the ground, either. I like the wheel locking feature in case I want them to stay in place, and the maneuverability of them is great." —Cheryl

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).

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Plus, finds from Article, Home Depot, Walmart and Wayfair.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.