Organic Gardening News

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

25 packs

Valley Green Non-Gmo & Heirloom Premium Flower Seed Set

If you're anything like me you sometimes struggle to decide what flowers to grow because there are so many gorgeous ones to choose from. With this bundle for under $10 you don't have to limit your options!

10 varieties

Sereniseed Sunflower Seeds Collection

Sunflowers radiate joy in the flower world but there are so many more varieties out there than the beautiful classic. This variety pack is bound to show you something new and stunning.

5 varieties

Sereniseed Milkweed Seed Collection

The pollinators in your yard will adore the addition of more milkweed - and for less than $8 it's hard to resist the vision. I love the vibrant orange variety in this bundle which will add a perfect pop of color among the rest of my greenery.

Vegetable Seed Deals

30 packs

Back to the Roots 100% Heirloom Rescued Seeds, Variety Pack

Whether you're new to growing produce or looking to explore planting different crops, this is the ultimate starter pack. Each packet of seeds works out at being less than $1!

Amazon's Choice

Set of 43 Assorted Vegetable & Herb Seed Packets

This bundle offers a variety of vegetable and seeds packets all for the incredibly low price of $9.99. No wonder it's Amazon's Choice – you'l have so much to get growing!

14 varieties

Organo Republic Tomato & Tomatillo Garden Seeds Variety Pack

Regardless of whether you consider tomatoes to be a vegetable or a fruit, they are one of the most versatile crops to use in the kitchen. This variety pack will show you a whole new world of tomato flavors as well as bring vibrant colors to your plate.

Herb Seed Deals

35 pack

Medicinal & Tea Herb Seeds Variety Pack

This herb bumper pack has all your heart could ever desire to grow. At just over $20 it's incredible value. You'll be stocked up with herbs for life!

15 pack

Organo Republic Medicinal & Tea Herb Seeds Variety Pack

If you're looking to get into growing herbs but want to keep things simple this bundle is a great place to start. It includes the basics as well as some mini gardening tools to help you get planting.

15 pack

Home Grown Herb Seeds for Planting

I love how this herb variety pack includes multiple varieties of the same herb, such as both regular chives as well as garlic chives.

Seed Starting Essentials

80 cells

Sondiko Seed Starter Tray With Soft Silicone Cell

This pack of seed starting trays contains four trays of 20 cells - ideal for splitting up your seedlings. I really like how the trays are green to match the foliage of my baby plants as well!

60 cells

Mymulike Seed Starter Tray With Grow Light

If you live in an area without much sunlight or don't have the space for a greenhouse, these seed starter trays with a grow light included will be ideal for helping your seedlings to thrive.

smart technology

Growell Hydroponics Growing System Kit

Hydroponic growing systems can be expensive but the Growell one is 35% off for Amazon Prime Day. Perfect for transfering your seedlings once they've begun to establish.

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

(Image credit: mrs / Getty Images)

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.

Thermacell Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

The Thermacell Mosquito Repeller saves my life in the summer. I turn it on a few minutes before I want to spend some time on my back deck and mosquitoes are banished within a 20-foot radius. It is my essential outdoor living item and you can save a whopping 40% right now!

WildYard Big Bat Box - Bat House

Bats are a natural predator of mosquitoes and the Big Bat Box bat house has almost 3,000 five-star reviews. It is easy to build, helps your local bat population, and will help reduce the mosquito population in your yard. Save 20% with this deal.

Summit Mosquito Dunks

Trying to prevent mosquitoes from taking up residence in your bird bath or pond? Enter the humble mosquito dunk. These mosquito dunks are safe for humans, pets, birds, and other wildlife because they use a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) that only targets mosquito larvae.

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.

Adawook 4 Rechargeable Fly Fans

These clever and rechargeable bug repelling fans will help to keep all flying bugs away from your outdoor dining area this summer! They are quiet and hands free so they won’t kill the vibe. The fans are currently 15% off.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil

Captain Jack's Neem Oil is my go-to neem oil and you can get 16% savings on the 128 oz. size. It is great for dealing with aphids, mites, and powdery mildew on outdoor and indoor plants.

Catchmaster Japanese Beetle Traps

Japanese beetles love roses, fruit trees, and many other ornamental plants in our gardens. These Japanese beetle traps will help control the beetle population in your garden and are 15% off right now.

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.

Terro Fruit Fly Trap 4-Pack

Don’t let fruit flies ruin your bountiful tomato harvest! These traps attract and kill the fruit flies that want to munch on your fresh produce. They are on sale for 27% off.

ZEVO Insect Traps - 2-pack

I love these Zevo traps for both fruit flies and fungus gnats that like to hover around my houseplants. This value pack comes with two devices and cartridges and is currently 20% off.

Mosqueda Fruit Fly & Fungus Gnat Traps

Another tried and tested fungus gnat control method is the humble fungus gnat sticky trap. These little yellow stickies are placed in your houseplant soil and they collect gnats quickly and easily. They are 40% off on Amazon during the Prime Day event.

Animal Pest Control Deals

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

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.

YITAHOME 6x3x1.5 Ft Galvanized Raised Garden Bed

This metal raised garden bed will help keep out animal pests like rabbits and groundhogs, especially when combined with the garden fencing also listed.

Liquid Fence Deer and Rabbit Repellent

Deer are always trying to graze through my garden, but this product helps a lot. Liquid fence is my favorite to deter deer and rabbits. It is easy to apply and effective. Currently, it has a 47% discount.

Thrivinest Decorative Garden Fence

These easy to install sections of animal barrier fencing look pretty while helping keep that pesky wildlife out of your plants. It is 25% off right now.

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!

Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

1232 Wellington Dr., North Vancouver

Type: Seven-bedroom, six-bathroom detached

Size: 3,915 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $2,099,000

Listed for: $3,598,000

Sold for: $3,375,000

Sold on: March 13

Days on market in this listing: 15

Listing agent: Brooke Clarke at Stilhavn Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

The big sell: This brand new Lynn Valley home was constructed by Page West Developments and Noort Homes and features close to 4,000 square feet of luxury living that encompasses seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. With an eye on entertaining and family life, the thoughtfully-designed floorplan features a stylish great room on the main level that offers a chef-inspired kitchen with oversized island and a walk-in pantry, a dining area and living room, and sliding glass doors that provide a seamless flow onto a covered patio and fully-fenced backyard. There are four bedrooms upstairs including the primary bedroom suite equipped with a walk-in closet and sumptuous ensuite bathroom with a sculptured bathtub and walk-in shower. The lower level has a bright, two-bedroom suite, plus an additional bedroom and a large recreation room that could be used as a home cinema, gym, or playroom.

34 — 8400 Ashleigh McIvor Dr., Whistler

Type: Three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse

Size: 2,250 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $3,227,000

Listed for: $2,995,000

Sold for: $2,875,000

Sold on: May 4

Days on market in this listing: 16

Listing agent: Nick Swinburne PREC at Angell Hasman & Associates Realty

Buyers agent: Robert Palm PREC at Rennie & Associates Realty

The big sell: The townhouse community of Red Sky was built in 2016 in Whistler’s Rainbow subdivision overlooking Green Lake and with panoramic mountain vistas. The 41 units are designed over three levels and feature a contemporary esthetic both inside and out with wood detailing on the exterior and chic interiors. This particular home has a south-facing exposure and a flexible layout. There are three ensuited bedrooms on the top floor, generous sized reception rooms including a 15-foot-long family room that could be a fourth bedroom for guests, and a host of modern conveniences such as Control4 smart home automation, heated floors, and electric blinds. An entertainment-sized deck and a private hot tub provide relaxation after a day on the slopes, plus owners have full access to the Baxter Creek Residents’ Club with a saltwater swimming pool and fire pit. This home comes with an integrated single garage and driveway parking, and a monthly maintenance fee of $776.75.

1503 — 1323 Homer St., Vancouver

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,103 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,098,000

Listed for: $1,190,000

Sold for: $1,125,000

Sold on: April 15

Days on market in this listing: 158

Listing agent: Taryn McKay and Brian Fedyshen at Royal LePage Elite West

Buyers agent: Holly Calderwood PREC at Royal LePage Sussex

The big sell: One of the highlights of this two-bedroom corner-unit home is that it was available fully furnished as well as having been professionally decorated, allowing for a buyer to just move on in. It forms part of Pacific Point II, a 28-storey tower that was built by Bosa in 1993 and completely renovated in 2013 with rainscreening and updated windows completed in 2022. It offers a range of amenities that include full-time concierge services, an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, event room and gym. Inside this condo is an open-concept floorplan with a wall of windows that emphasize the views capturing the city, Burrard Inlet and David Lam Park. There are premium appliances and cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, laminate floors, a dining area off the kitchen surrounded by windows, and an ensuited primary bedroom. The home comes with parking, a storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $692.37.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

Want more expert mortgage info? Robert McLister shares Canada’s best national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily

Related

• Sold (Bought): East Vancouver house sells for more than $300K over asking
• Sold (Bought): Whistler home a blend of understated luxury and rustic charm

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

(Image credit: Joanne Dale / Getty Images)

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.

Deep & Stylish

Vego Garden Vego Garden 17 Inch Raised Garden Bed Kits

Our team is passionate about Vego products, and this is a game-changing raised garden approach. The modular design means you can assemble your bed in a variety of ways, according to garden size and planting needs. These eco-friendly kits are made from long-lasting materials to withstand all kinds of weather. They are solid and stylish, with a capacity of up to 23 cubic feet, and available in loads of colors.

Great Capacity

Land Guard Land Guard 2 Pack Galvanized Metal Raised Garden Bed

If you want maximum growing volume without spending a fortune, this heavy-duty duo is a steal. Offering a massive 36 cubic feet of capacity per bed, the 2-foot (60cm) walls are ideal for deep-root vegetables like carrots. Made from rust-resistant galvanized steel, these beds hold their shape beautifully against heavy soil pressure. They provide a clean silver aesthetic that instantly brightens up any backyard layout.

Combi Greenhouse

Miory Miory Raised Galvanized Bed With Greenhouse Cover

This brilliant two-in-one setup from Miory is one of the steepest discounts we've spotted for Prime Day, nearly half its usual price. Featuring a sturdy 18-cubic-foot galvanized steel base, it is equipped with a custom-fit greenhouse tent cover to lock in humidity and warmth. It’s ideal for starting seeds early or protecting tender tomato plants from unseasonal cold snaps. Roll-up zippered windows make it easy to tend your crops while managing airflow on warmer afternoons.

Compact Corners

(Image credit: KenWiedemann / Getty Images)

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.

Perfect for Patios

Lewis & Wayne Lewis & Wayne Handmade Wicker Planter Boxes

This mini raised bed planter gets plenty of style points if you are looking to add extra plants to a patio. The long box style, which can house 2.5 cubic feet of soil, is easy to assemble and comes with a fabric liner to prevent weeds interfering with plant growth. I love the rattan design (available in gray, black or brown), giving a modern twist to a rustic favorite, suitable for all kinds of traditional and contemporary themes.

Durable Space Saver

SnugNiture Snugniture 2 Pcs Oval Metal Raised Garden Bed

For a compact metal option that won’t rust or bow, this SnugNiture bed is a total steal. Holding a solid 8 cubic feet of soil, it’s deep enough to grow root veggies like radishes, or a dense carpet of culinary herbs like basil and rosemary. The sleek oval shape prevents sharp corners on tight patios, while the eco-friendly galvanized steel will handle scorching summers and freezing winters for years to come.

Back Saving

AMERLIFE Amerlife Elevated Raised Garden Bed With Legs

Standing at an ergonomic height, this gorgeous planter is a lifesaver for your back and knees. It offers 6 cubic feet of planting capacity, making it a dream home for trailing strawberries or a colorful display of petunias and marigolds. It features built-in drainage holes to prevent root rot, and an insulated fabric liner. This natural fir bed is a great way to bring structural beauty to a balcony or deck: zero bending required.

Tiers and Trellises

(Image credit: Kinek00 / Getty Images)

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.

Wheels for Mobility

Homdox Homdox 5-Tier Vertical Garden Bed With Wheels

This clever 5-tier vertical planter packs 3.2 cubic feet of planting space into a minimal footprint. It is the perfect home for a prolific kitchen herb garden or an overspill of strawberries and trailing nasturtiums. Each individual section features an internal drainage grid to prevent waterlogging, and the sturdy rolling frame means you can chase the afternoon sun with ease. And I absolutely love the mobile locking wheels.

Self-Watering

Keter Keter Urban Bloomer 12.7 Gallon Raised Garden Bed

This highly-rated Keter planter is an urban gardener's delight, holding 1.7 cubic feet of soil at a back-friendly height. It has a smart built-in water gauge and self-watering reservoir that keeps moisture levels consistent, making it well-suited to thirsty crops like cherry tomatoes, peppers, or leafy greens. The bottom shelf is great for your watering can and hand tools (or more plants!), while the graphite finish looks clean and contemporary.

Great for Climbers

SUNYRISY Sunyrisy Galvanized Raised Garden Bed With Arch Trellis

If you dream of harvesting heavy crops like cucumbers, squash, or sweet peas, this 10.5-cubic-foot heavy-duty metal bed is ideal. The heavy-duty galvanized base holds plenty of nutrient-rich soil, while the integrated arch trellis gives vigorous vines a rock-solid skeleton to climb. A bargain at this deal price, yet it looks high-end and creates a gorgeous living archway with enormous architectural interest.

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.

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!

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.

Maiuscoli Lockable Waterproof Outdoor Storage Box

This 30-gallon deck box is built from durable composite resin with a wood-like finish and is resistant to water, sun, and general wear and tear. The sturdy lid doubles as a bench for sitting, or you can use it as a side table or footrest. It has built-in side handles for easy repositioning, and the lockable lid keeps stored items secure. The best part? Assembly doesn’t require any tools and takes just a few minutes.

East Oak Outdoor Storage Box

Compact yet surprisingly practical, this modern grey storage box is ideal for keeping garden essentials neatly tucked away without taking up too much space. It's made from SGS-certified resin that's designed to withstand sun, rain, and snow without fading or cracking, while its sturdy lid doubles as a seat with a 330 lb weight capacity. With an impressive 4.6-star average from nearly 10,000 Amazon reviewers, it's a well-rated choice for patios, balconies, and smaller outdoor spaces.

Keter Marvel Plus Resin Outdoor Storage Box

This one is larger than the other two, so it's perfect if you’re looking for a lot of storage. It can easily house cushions, pool floats, and garden tools in one lockable place. It comes in a variety of colors and looks far more premium than plastic has any right to.

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.

Suncast Outdoor Storage Cabinet

Made in the USA from a heavy-duty multi-wall resin that is rain-, snow-, and UV-resistant and will never warp or rust. Three shelf-ready notches mean you can customize the inside, and padlock-ready handles give you extra security. The tall, narrow look means you have a ton of storage, but it takes up minimal space.

Aoxun Outdoor Storage Shed

This vertical resin cabinet from Aoxun punches well above its price point. At 56 inches wide, it’s broader than the typical market standard, and offers greater stability with more usable space. It’s fully waterproof, UV-resistant, and built to stay looking new after years of outdoor exposure.

Yitahome Vertical Outdoor Storage Shed

A seriously spacious tall cabinet that earns its place in any garden. Built from strong double-wall resin panels, it resists rain, UV rays, bending, and puncturing, with 59 cu ft of storage. It’s perfect for garden tools, bikes, and pool accessories with even a little room to spare. It’s flat on top so you can place plants or decor up above, and it has lockable doors to keep your things secure. Note: shelves are sold separately.

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.

Suncast Horizontal Resin Storage Shed

This has a 3-door design that locks and can handle heavy loads due to the reinforced floor. Wide double doors and a hinged lid mean you can access it from multiple angles. You can fit small or medium bins, a full set of garden tools, or even a generator. Visually, it keeps a low profile so won’t dominate your garden.

Yitahome Outdoor Resin Storage Shed

Another organized, low-profile option if you need to tuck it away along a fence line or your house. It holds up to 27 cu ft across, which means you can store your lawnmower, a bike, or a pair of trash cans. It has dual-wall resin panels that are wind-resistant and can handle impact or bending. The assembly only takes about 20 minutes, and you can add an additional shelf if you need it.

Keter Store-It-Out Midi Outdoor Resin Storage Shed

This is a compact, 30 cu ft horizontal resin shed with an easy-lift lid and a beige finish that will naturally blend into your garden. It’s a solid option if it’s your first time buying storage, and is a great solution to safely store your garden accessories.

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.

Sedy 48-Inch Heavy Duty Garage Wall Organizer

One of the standout bargains of Prime Day 2026. This heavy-duty alloy steel rack is double powder-coated to resist rust, holds up to 300 lbs, and includes three panels and eight adjustable rubber-coated hooks. It can hold everything from brooms and rakes to hoses and leaf blowers. Reviewers say it "saves so much space" and call installation quick and straightforward.

Tidyme 48-Inch Garage Tool Organizer Wall Mount

This is the number one bestseller in the garage storage system hardware category on Amazon. It has 3 carbon-steel racks with adjustable snap-in hooks that can hold 300lbs all together. Installation is super simple with pre-drilled holes and dry-mounting screws.

Everhanger Garden Tool Organizer Stand

This is a practical solution if your shed floor is a permanent obstacle course of rakes and brooms. This is a freestanding rack that is mounted on 4 heavy-duty wheels (2 of which lock in place) so you can easily roll it around the garden or garage and secure it when needed. Multiple storage sections keep tools organized and categorized, so you can also use it for cleaning equipment, sports gear, or a car wash kit.

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

Enomol Stainless Steel Deep Root Watering Tool

Say goodbye to shallow watering with this deep root tool that delivers moisture deep down into the soil. It's perfect for trees, shrubs, and fruits.

Suneed 4-Pack Flat Soaker Hoses

The flat design of this soaker hose makes it an ideal tool for watering plants, delivering a slow and even release of water along the entire length of the hose.

Restmo Watering Wand With 10 Spray Patterns

Tailor your watering style to every plant with this best-selling watering wand with an impressive 10 spray patterns – offering everything from a deep soak to a gentle shower.

1. Mulch Beds Thickly

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Olga Yastremska / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Alamy)

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

(Image credit: Yackers1 / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

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.

half price

Gootop Bug Zapper

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.

(Image credit: Future/Amazon)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

Stylish Design

Augutex Led Bug Zappers

If you'd prefer a different design to the GOOTOP Bug Zapper, this one is a great choice. It almost looks like a little radio or purse with its little strap!

Expert Swatter

Nymrix Electric Fly Swatter Racket

A handheld bug zapper swatter like this can come in incredibly handy. My family home has one and we all reach for it during the warmer weather.

Plug-in Trap

Tienbe Flying Insect Trap

This little plug in bug zapper is discreet and super affordable. Suitable for every part of the home.

Zap Em High!

Rotating Head Electric Fly Swatter

This bug zapper is genius and perfect for helping you reach insects that are high up on the ceiling and out of the radius of other bug zappers in your home.

Solar Powered

Solar Bug Zapper Outdoor

This cordless bug zapper is perfect for bringing around the house with you if you're going from room to room, or even on a trip like camping, picnic or to the beach.

Keep Bugs Out

Magnetic Window Screen

You won't have to worry about bugs getting into your home when you open the windows in the evening to let the cooler air in with these magnetic window nets.

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.

HBlife Clear Stackable Greenhouse

This stackable greenhouse allows you to turn your plants into a chic minimalist display.

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:

Fortune-Friendly Watering

PlanKKers Iridescent Self Watering Rainbow Globe Planter Inserts

... that or make life easier for yourself and set up a pretty indoor watering system.

Mindful Tool Kit

KIIZYS Indoor Garden Tools

These lightweight tools are perfect for indoor gardening tasks.

Balancing Spray

Lianshi Lianshi Plant Mister

Keep your plants happy with a thorough misting (it helps if the mister is as pretty as this one!)

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.

Birdfy Birdfy Bird Feeder With Camera for Rookie (Solar Powered Bundle)

Designed with beginners in mind, the compact Birdfy Rookie is so simple to set up and maintain. Its smart AI camera identifies over 6,000 species visiting your yard and streams the action directly to your phone. Capturing clips in a social-friendly vertical 9:16 portrait format means no awkward cropping, while the high-frame-rate 60FPS mode lets you replay in uber-smooth slow motion.

Why I Need This Bargain Feeder

(Image credit: Liz Leyden / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Chrys35 / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: MelodyanneM / Getty Images)

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.

(Image credit: Claude Laprise / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Teresa Melcer / Getty Images)

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?

(Image credit: Gary Mayes / Getty Images)

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.

Dual-Purpose Hub

NETVUE Netvue by Birdfy Pro Smart Bird Feeder With Hummingbird Add-on

If you want to welcome more than just standard songbirds to your lens, this brilliant multi-species upgrade is currently $104.96 (down from $199.99 RRP). With nectar ports alongside the traditional seed tray, you can capture both finches and hummers on the same high-def camera sensor, making it a versatile all-in-one wildlife station.

Premium Tech

Bird Buddy Birdbuddy Pro Solar Smart Bird Feeder With Camera

The ultimate luxury splurge for data-loving backyard birders, now $168 (down from £299 RRP). With stunning 2K HD video, its integrated solar roof ensures continuous battery life. The highly immersive app automatically tracks your backyard visitors and rewards you with unique species badges every time a new bird stops by. This bird feeder camera is a real treat for bird nerds.

Rustic Charm

TT Nature TT Nature Upgraded Bird Feeder With Camera

For gardeners who dislike the modern look of many bird camera feeders, this highly affordable alternative is currently just $75.97 (down from $109.99 RRP). It features a sweet rustic faux-wood design for a natural cottage-style aesthetic. But it doesn't compromise on useful tech and also has great features like real-time phone notifications and crystal-clear 1080p clips.

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

(Image credit: Fokusiert / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Oleg Marchak / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Animaflora / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Iryna Inshyna / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: NARANAT STUDIO / Shutterstock)

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

(Image credit: MTreasure / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Rawpixel / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Viktoriya Skorikova / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Regina Burganova / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Andreas Häuslbetz / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: SergioZacchi / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Tomasz Klejdysz / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Peter Vahlersvik / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Alamy)

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

(Image credit: Kazakov Maksim / Shutterstock)

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.

(Image credit: Laura Walters / Future)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.

Laura Walters / FutureLaura Walters / FutureLaura Walters / FutureDesign

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.

(Image credit: Laura Walters / Future)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

Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed Kit

I wanted affordable metal raised beds that looked and functioned like these extremely popular Vego Garden beds. If you’re willing to splurge, try these beds instead.

Land Guard Galvanized Raised Garden Bed Kit

These metal raised beds are the same size and an almost identical design to the beds I bought, but they are even cheaper. However, they don’t come in a dark black finish.

DIIYIV Galvanized Raised Garden Beds With Legs

If you want a similar look to my beds, but even more accessibility then these are a great option. They are smaller, but you won’t have to bend over at all to use them.

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.

(Image credit: Guentermanaus / Shutterstock)

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)

(Image credit: Feifei Cui Paoluzzo / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Gina Kelly / Alamy)

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

(Image credit: Catherine McQueen / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Whiteway / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Digidreamgrafix / Getty Images)

You won’t see the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) in many of your neighbor’s 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

(Image credit: Kata716 / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Tamina 8 / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Alex Manders / Shutterstock)

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.

Triple Threat

Fast-Growing-Trees.com Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Tree

A magnificent multi-season asset that brings a cloud of white spring blossoms, delicious edible summer berries, and a blazing copper-red autumn canopy directly into tight backyard landscapes.

Structural Elegance

Generic Pagoda Dogwood Live Container Tree

Known for its unique, horizontal tiered branching, this is a deceptively low key tree with a lot of natural dynamics, bringing a striking, architectural elegance. It's a lovely way to bring multi-level contours to dull, shaded patios and borders.

Seeing Red

Fast-Growing-Trees.com Bloodgood Japanese Maple Tree

The ultimate showstopper for dramatic container gardens or patio corners, maintaining its wine-purple foliage all summer long while filtering soft light beautifully.

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!

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 HummingbirdsJanuary – Sword-Billed Hummingbird

(Image credit: Milan Zygmunt / 500px/ Getty Images)

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...

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:

Perky-Pet Cactus Top Fill Glass Hummingbird Feeder

How pretty is this hummingbird feeder? It features built-in bee guards and removable perches!

FeatherSnap Smart Hummingbird Feeder

Get up close and personal with your hummingbird pals using this smart feeder, which sends pictures and videos straight to your phone.

Perky-Pet Window Mount Hummingbird Feeder

No garden? No problem! You can still keep hummingbirds fed and happy with this clever window-mounted design.

February – Anna’s Hummingbird

(Image credit: Michael H Spivak/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: DansPhotoArt on flickr/Getty Images)

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:

Birdfy Birdfy Hummingbird Feeder With Camera & Solar Panel

Equipped with a solar panel, this feeder offers 24/7 hummingbird-watching fun.

BIRDBROS Hummingbird Nectar Powder Nectar+ Hummingbird Food for Feeders

Keep your feeders topped up with this safe and nourishing nectar powder.

SWEET YARDS Wildflower Seeds Butterfly and Humming Bird Mix

If you fancy a more natural approach, try planting 23 species of wildflowers for hummingbirds to enjoy.

April – Rufous Hummingbird

(Image credit: Tom Applegate/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Danita Delimont / Shutterstock)

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:

TOWDREU Alpaca Hummingbird Nesters

If you have a larger yard, this multi-pack is a fantastic deal. You can hang them at varying heights around your garden to see which spot the birds prefer.

winemana Rattan Nesting Globe

These natural rattan globes blend seamlessly into your garden's design while offering local hummingbirds a safe, untreated cotton fiber that is perfect for lining their tiny nests.

amazon Metal Alpaca Nesting Holder

This refillable hanger keeps natural cotton fibers securely in place even during blustery spring storms, and the roof protects the material from getting soggy in the rain.

June – Marvelous Spatuletail

(Image credit: ©Juan Carlos Vindas/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Kristen Gill/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Kelly Lambright/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Marco Ortiz/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Greggory DiSalvo/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Kryssia Campos/Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Danita Delimont/Getty Images)

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:

HilaryRobertsDesigns Shape of My Heart Handmade Copper Hummingbird Perch

Whether a hummingbird chooses to perch or not, this makes a lovely decor piece for the garden.

winemana Winemana Set of 3 Hummingbird Swings

Why stick to one when you can get three hummingbird swings at once?

Evergreen Hummingbird Lover Gift Set

The perfect gift for the hummingbird lover in your life (or to your birth month hummingbird, quite frankly).

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

Ultimate Starter Set

Costa Farms Mini Live Indoor Houseplants – 20 Pack

Costa Farms has a great variety of houseplants available in mini, small and medium sizes. You can currently purchase 20 miniature houseplants for little over $2 each, and you receive a variety of different species. Perfect to share with friends or family too!

Pet Friendly

Costa Farms Money Tree

The Money Tree is one of the most popular indoor plants around, prized for its distinctive braided trunk and lush green canopy. Compact enough for desks, shelves, and side tables, it adds an instant touch of greenery while requiring very little maintenance. Traditionally associated with luck, prosperity, and positive energy, it also makes a thoughtful gift, and is non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Exotic Edible

Vanilla Bean Orchid Live Plant

If you love baking, have you ever thought of growing your own vanilla pods? I haven't, and to be honest, now it's all I can think about. This deal is a great way to get started, as you receive two live plants for a low price. It's hard to resist! A word of warning – getting the plants to produce vanilla requires next-level skills, but they still make beautiful houseplants without them.

Deals on Perennials

Drought tolerant

Perennial Farm Panicum Virgatum 'Cheyenne Sky'

I love foliage that shifts with the seasons. It's as thought the plant is transitioning with you throughout the different chapters of a year. This pretty grass initially emerge in a blue-green hue but then shifts to wine red as the summer progresses.

Pollinator Magnet

Perfect Plants Nanho Butterfly Shrub 1 Gallon

If you're looking to add long-lasting color and attract more wildlife to your yard, the Nanho Butterfly Bush is a fantastic choice. This hardy shrub produces elegant spikes of fragrant purple flowers from spring onwards, drawing in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds throughout the season. Once established, it's both heat- and drought-tolerant.

Fragrant Climber

Perfect Plants Confederate Jasmine Live Plants – 2 Pack

For anyone looking to add fragrance to their yard, Confederate Jasmine is hard to beat. This vigorous climbing vine produces masses of delicate white, pinwheel-shaped flowers in spring, filling the garden with a sweet, heady scent. Easy to train and surprisingly low-maintenance!

Rose Deals

Delicate Climber

Heirloom Eden Climbing Rose

Nothing brings beauty quite like roses, and there are so many gorgeous heirloom varieties currently on sale on Amazon. Just image a trellis filled with beautiful climbing blooms, and these ones will repeatedly bloom year upon year.

Highly fragrant

Heirloom Roses English Legend Rose Ginger Syllabub

This highly fragrant variety of rose has a beautiful colored centre, creating natural contrast between the heart of the flower and its outer petals. It grows best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 10.

Vibrant Hues

Heirloom Roses Climbing Piñata Rose

This is one of my favorite rose varieties, as it always reminds me of the hues of a beautiful summer sunset. What more perfect addition is there to a yard at this time of year! I also love how they're rather showy as roses go, but the particular fragrance of this type is actually very subtle by contrast.

Deals on Edibles

Compact Beefsteak

Bonnie Plants Bush Goliath Tomato, Live Plants – 4 Pack

Anyone who knows me knows how much I rave about tomatoes. They're so versatile to have around after a harvest – and this four-pack of live plants will ensure you have a bumper crop to enjoy for weeks to come!

Multi-Season Interest

Powder Blue Blueberry Bush

Powder Blue blueberry bushes produce particularly large, sweet blueberries, perfect for snacking on their own, baking into pies or adding to smoothies. Then when they're finished for the growing season, the plants will shift into a beautiful array of copper and yellow tones for autumn. It's a win-win!

Heirloom Variety

Bonnie Plants Black Beauty Eggplant Live Plants – 4 Pack

There's still time to grow some delicious eggplants! Black Beauty is a classic heirloom variety that produces large, glossy deep-purple fruits with a rich, meaty texture. Growing to around 3–4 feet tall, these sun-loving plants are highly productive, typically yielding four to six sizeable eggplants per plant around 80 days after planting.

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

Protect Eyes

NoCry Safety Googles

These goggles will protect your eyes while you clean up the bird poop from your patio. No one needs poop in their eyes…always don goggles when handling wildlife poo. I like these goggles because they fit over glasses, won’t fog, and provide a good, safe seal around your eyes

Protect Your Hands

Inspire Nitrile Disposable Gloves

Nitrile gloves are wonderful for all kinds of cleaning chores. They will protect you from directly touching the bird poop while you are cleaning. Always remember to not touch your face when you have dirty gloves on or they won’t do much good to protect you. And, of course, wash your hands after removing them.

Protect Your Lungs

3M Particulate Respirator 9205+ N95

A good N95 mask will keep you from breathing in any particles of bird doo or its associated bacteria or fungal spores. Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis and Psittacosis are very serious infections and can cause respiratory distress and pneumonia. It is never out of style to protect your lungs!

Supplies

Disinfect

Cloralen Liquid Bleach

Mixing 1 part bleach to 10 parts water in a spray bottle is a good, all around solution for bird poop removal and disinfection of surfaces. If you need to clean surfaces that might be damaged by bleach, a 50-50 mix of vinegar and water or your favorite dish soap and water will work. They just won’t disinfect like bleach does.

Gentle Mist

Flo-Master by Hudson 1-Gallon Lawn and Garden Tank Sprayer

A sprayer that creates a fine mist will gently wet the bird droppings without disturbing them and aerosolizing them. If you use bleach or vinegar in the sprayer, mark it on the bottle so you don’t get confused later this summer and accidentally spray your plants with it!

Wipe Clean

AIDEA Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, 24-count

Wetting a sponge or rag with the same cleaning solution will help you remove bird droppings from your patio or porch effectively without scratching any surfaces. Be sure to throw away any sponges or rags you use when you are done cleaning.

Step-By-Step

(Image credit: Avatarmin / Getty Images)

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

(Image credit: Stirling Martin / Getty Images)

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.

Picture Perfect

Birdfy Birdfy 2 Smart Bird Feeder With Camera

This high-tech smart camera feeder completely transforms your backyard birding experience. Delivering stunning, AI-powered close-up videos directly to your phone, it automatically identifies any species visiting your yard, so you never have to guess. Hello, Mr Chickadee – I’ve been expecting you. This is an absolute game-changer for sharing cute clips with family and upgrading your yard for the digital age.

Critter Proof

Droll Yankees Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

If you’re like me and know how it feels to watch greedy squirrels carving gaps in your feeders before the songbirds even arrive, this clever feeder is one of the best, and it’s currently on a very respectable sale. Featuring a clever, weight-activated perch ring, it gently spins whenever a heavy squirrel climbs aboard. It is incredibly durable, highly effective, and (I must confess) very entertaining to watch.

Shine A Light

SWEETFULL Sweetfull Solar Bird Feeder

This gorgeous bronze, cutout-metal piece is a genuine conversation piece: a heavy-duty wild bird feeder by day, and a stunning solar garden lantern by night. This pretty feeder easily accommodates small-to-medium songbirds like cardinals and finches. It features built-in drainage holes to keep seeds dry, a top lock for easy filling, and an included S-hook for instant hanging. Definitely not just a pretty face.

Cozy Houses for Summer Broods

(Image credit: Stan Tekiela / Author Naturalist / Wildlife Photographer / Getty Images)

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.

Baby Cam

Birdfy Birdfy Smart Bird House With Camera

If you thought watching birds at a feeder was fun, this close-quarters cozy smart bird house allows you to sneak a peak at the babies. This high-tech house features a built-in camera to safely livestream the nesting process to your phone. It’s perfect for watching second-brood hatchlings grow from tiny eggs to fledglings taking their first flights. Bluebirds and wrens love these enclosed spaces for midsummer rounds.

Natural Bling

Glitzhome Glitzhome Birdhouse for Outdoor Hanging

This charming shelter perfectly balances rustic wood tones with hand-painted floral and metallic accents for a touch of garden bling. It is an ideal, cozy sanctuary for late-season cavity nesters like wrens and chickadees. It’s easy to hang and even easier to clean out between broods, thanks to a removable back plug. And as a lover of shabby chic, I love that it adds instant vintage warmth to your bird retreat.

Ground Support

BAYN Metal Watering Can Birdhouse & Pole

This whimsical watering-can stake delivers beautiful style alongside practical shelter. The stake design is a massive advantage in the summer heat, as it allows you to easily move the house around your yard to find the best shady, predator-safe spot and ensures you can keep late-season nestlings safe from intense afternoon sun – a crucial factor for late season nestlings.

Beautiful Bird Baths & Fountains

(Image credit: JillianCain / Getty Images)

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.

Rustic Chic

Alpine Corporation Aged Green Pedestal Birdbath With Scrollwork

If you love the classic look of weathered green stone but want something lightweight and rust-proof, this elegant pedestal is a lovely bargain. Crafted from weatherproof resin, it features gorgeous vintage scrollwork that adds instant English-cottage charm to any flowerbed. The beautifully wide, shallow basin is designed for safety, allowing several small songbirds to splash around simultaneously without slipping.

Clever Clamp

VIVOHOME Vivohome Deck Mounted Bird Bath With Clamp

If you have a smaller yard, don’t panic: you can still enjoy some bird bath splashing. This clever, deck-mounted option uses an adjustable heavy-duty metal clamp to attach securely to fence railings, balconies, or cramped vertical spaces. It brings the action right up to your window, welcoming urban-dwelling species like finches and chickadees that love elevated, predator-safe watering holes away from cats.

Make a Splash

POPOSOAP Poposoap 8W Solar Fountain Water Pump

Moving water is your secret weapon for hot weather, because as lovely as a bird bath is, still water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This powerful 8W solar fountain pump drops into any standard basin to turn it into an active splash park. It’s an essential birdie bath add-on with a generous battery and high wattage, plus dry-run protection to safeguard the motor if your water level drops low.

Ultimate Hummingbird Hangout

(Image credit: Amy OBryan / Getty Images)

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.

Hummer Vision

Birdfy Birdfy Hummingbird Feeder With Camera

Yes, it’s another Birdfy product, but these discounts really are hard to resist, and you can benefit from its excellent capture and slow-motion video to enjoy some of the quickest flashes of color in your yard. This specialized app is tailored precisely for capturing lightning-fast wing flaps. It’s a lovely way to catch the action you’d normally miss. At 15% off, it’s a brilliant way to appreciate your hummers in a whole new way.

Vibrant Vintage

Grete Gotye Red Glass Hummingbird Feeder

If you are tired of cheap feeders warping and fading in the summer sun, this stunning hand-blown glass unit is the high-end upgrade your patio needs. Shifting away from basic plastic, its thick, ruby-red jewel tones naturally draw the eyes of passing hummers. It looks like a high-end piece of vintage glass, featuring a leak-proof metal base and four comfortable perches. And currently, it’s a steal.

Pretty Perch

Mixxidea Mixxidea Hummingbird Swing With Wooden Dowel

It’s natural to think of hummers as being constantly in flight, but they love to perch and rest (just like any birds), and this is a great way to keep them around for a little while longer. Hummers love having a high vantage point to guard their nectar, and each sturdy, elegantly designed metal frame features a wooden dowel perch. It’s a fantastic, low-cost Prime Day addition that brings instant joy to any yard or patio.

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!

For decades, prefabricated housing has promised to make building a home faster, simpler and less wasteful. But the term prefab still conjures up a feeling of compromise. Repetitive designs, lightweight construction and houses chosen primarily for cost-savings and speed over architecture.

It’s these assumptions the founders of Vancouver company Commonplace want to do away with. Their aim is not to produce a better budget prefab, but a precision-manufactured home that competes with high-end custom architecture.

High design, premium finishes and a fully finished, turnkey product is the goal. Much of the work is completed before the components reach the property, reducing construction time and the number of trades required on-site.

Commonplace was founded by Edmund Lee, Rich Frontain and architect Walker McKinley, whose backgrounds span manufacturing, business, commercial interiors, architecture and design.

Seven years in the making

Commonplace came about from a conversation about whether homes could be built differently, says Lee:

“The initial thought to disrupt how homes were built using non-conventional materials started over a casual lunch seven years ago.”

What followed was a lengthy development process focused not only on how a house could be manufactured, but on how that process could produce a genuinely luxurious home.

Rather than designing a standard box that can be repeated with minor variations, Commonplace has centred its concept on a courtyard. The courtyard connects indoor and outdoor spaces, brings natural light deeper into the home and allows the rooms to feel more expansive.

“The homes are designed around the ethos of Essential Living, where the rooms are generous for comfortable living without excessive spaces,” says Lee.

The courtyard is the connection between the exterior and interior spaces, which makes the home feel larger than its square footage, and the finishes combine to provide a warm and inviting ambience, he says.

The result is intended to provide the comfort, proportions and material quality of a custom-designed home without unnecessary rooms or wasted circulation space.

Obvious luxury

Prefabrication does not have to mean sacrificing architecture, materials or finish, says Lee.

They’ve designed their prefabs to be compared with bespoke luxury houses rather than low-cost modular buildings. Some features include carefully proportioned layouts, large courtyards, Italian-made kitchens, integrated storage and interiors influenced by modernist, Japanese and Scandinavian design.

“From the design itself to the quality of windows and finishes to how they’re joining the walls, we didn’t want it to feel like a prefab,” says McKinley.

The homes range from compact 765-square-foot bungalows to 2,760-square-foot family residences. The idea is not to make homes small for the sake of economy. Instead, each room is intended to be useful, comfortable and well proportioned, without duplicated living areas, excessive spare rooms or inefficient circulation space.

Partition walls can double as storage, while the kitchens are deliberately generous and designed to serve as social gathering spaces.

The courtyard remains the defining feature, creating views of the outdoors from throughout the home and making the interior feel larger than its measured floor area.

Concrete over conventional framing

Commonplace uses large-format lightweight concrete panels rather than relying on the timber framing, drywall, plastic membranes and loose insulation found in many conventional North American homes.

“We use a large-format lightweight concrete panel approach, which means our homes are concrete, durable, fire resistant, mould and pest-resistant, while allowing us to create architecturally curated designs centred on the courtyard,” says Lee.

The homes are manufactured in Western Canada, with production in Squamish and Calgary. Interiors use finished MDF panels, millwork cabinetry and Cosentino solid surfaces.

Lee says the company does not use drywall, wooden studs, plastic weatherproofing or loose insulation. Their choice of materials is intended to provide the durability expected of a high-end home while allowing more of the building to be completed under controlled manufacturing conditions.

“Commonplace is a precision-manufactured home assembled on site to eliminate waste, compress linear schedules and minimise the number of trades on site,” says Lee.

The company says the panels are fabricated in a factory with zero-waste certification and close to 100 per cent waste diversion from landfill. During the construction of their recently completed Vancouver show home, the Commonplace team says their optimized building process resulted in not a single waste bin of wastage.

How much do these cost?

The target price is between $500 and $600 per square foot, says Lee.

They estimate the complete site preparation and building process to take approximately three to four months and once the site is ready, assembly of the house itself is expected to take between 30 and 45 days.

Some prefabricated home prices cover only the manufactured structure, leaving owners to arrange foundations, utility connections, interior finishes and other site work separately, says Lee:

“Our homes are 100 per cent complete, a full turnkey solution that is move-in ready at possession,” he says.

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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.

Aerogarden Harvest Elite 360 Indoor Garden Hydroponic System

This hydroponic system uses a 20W full-spectrum LED light to grow up to six herb pods in a self-watering reservoir that lasts two weeks. It’s a compact powerhouse for fresh greens without the messy soil. The adjustable height and app reminders make it foolproof for beginners. It’s suited for kitchen counters and can produce herbs five times faster than dirt pots. From my experience, it will keep your basil lush for months, which is perfect for apartment cooks who want daily harvests.

Vevor Hydroponic Growing System with Grow Light

This 6-tier vertical tower holds 30 pods with a 36W LED light and pump for hydroponic growth. It’s a space-saving steal for indoor vertical farms. The stackable design fits small apartments and can grow herbs three times faster than soil. It’s ideal for fruits like strawberries or veggies like kale in tight quarters. It turned my closet into a herb factory! It's perfect for urban growers

Back to the Roots 100% Organic Indoor Potting Mix

This peat-free potting mix with perlite and compost drains well for indoor pots, releasing organic nutrients for three months. The pH-balanced formula with worm castings fights gnats, boosting growth 20% over standard soil. It’s ideal for orchids or succulents in small pots. And it’s my pick for tropicals because it keeps ferns perky without repotting.

Rosy Soil Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix

Many succulent potting mixes retain too much moisture, increasing the risk of root rot, but this chunky, peat-free blend is designed to drain quickly and stay airy around roots. Enriched with beneficial microbes and worm castings, it creates a healthy growing environment for succulents, cacti, snake plants, bonsai, and other drought-tolerant houseplants without relying on synthetic fertilizers.

Back to the Roots Organic Worm Castings

This bag of pure worm castings enriches soil with microbes and NPK, improving drainage in pots. Odor-free and pH-balanced, it boosts germination 40%. It’s suited for seed trays or tropicals and enhances root health. It will help revive any plants needing a pick-me-up, making it perfect for organic indoor growers.

Back to the Roots Organic Coir

This brick of coco coir expands into a fiber that's a sustainable peat substitute for seed trays or pots. It's eco-friendly, and there's plenty for large indoor gardening projects. This soilless growing medium holds water without sogginess, making it ideal for hydroponic transitions. It’s also great for growing vegetables indoors because it can cut water use by 30%. It’s a staple for me because it retains moisture without causing root rot.

Back to the Roots Self-Watering Terracotta Olla Pot

Bury this terracotta olla pot in soil for slow root watering – each pot provides one week of moisture. The unglazed clay seeps evenly, saving you water. It’s well-suited to raised beds or large pots of herbs, keeping soil consistently moist. It keeps plants like indoor tomatoes from getting dry during trips, which is a time-saver for busy gardeners.

Keter Stone Tapered Planter Set of 2

This pair of 22 inch tall pots has a wood-like finish for elegant style, drainage holes for easy growing, and a 5 gallon planting capacity. It’s a durable and beautiful upgrade for indoor or outdoor use. It's made of resin to withstand outdoor weather, making it perfect for perennials and small trees you move in during winter, like my dwarf pink lemon. It’s best for porches with roses or herbs, or indoor setups with smaller-stature plants, adding a modern flair. These pots were crack-free all through winter, making them ideal for either outdoor curb appeal or cozy indoor groves.

Keter Cylinder Set of 3 Rattan Resin Planters

This set of three cylinder pots has a rattan look with drainage that makes it ideal for herbs or small plants. The lightweight resin resists cracks and fits onto either indoor shelves or outdoor patios. This set is well-suited for mint or succulents, requiring 20% less watering than clay. It adds flair to my patio container garden without fading, making it great for decor lovers.

Barrina Cx3 Plant Stand With Grow Light

This all-in-one Barrina plant stand combines a four-tier shelving unit with full-spectrum LED grow lights, making it easy to create a dedicated indoor growing space even in rooms with limited natural light. With adjustable shelves, a built-in timer, and wheels for easy movement, it's a practical solution for displaying and growing houseplants, seedlings, and herbs year-round.

Wiaxulay Grow Lights, 2 Pack

This time of year the problem sneaks up fast – cuttings to root, fall seedlings to start indoors, even houseplants sulking through a low-light room. This is the quick fix: full-spectrum light on an adjustable stand, on a timer so it runs itself. Two in the pack, too, which might be my favorite part. Really, it's less a gadget than cheap insurance for plants you've already put weeks into.

Spider Farmer Sf4000 450w Led Grow Light

This 450W full-spectrum LED grow light cranks out max light intensity for your indoor growing space. It’s perfect for hydroponic towers or indoor farms with veggies or herbs. From my experience, it turned my basement greens into an indoor jungle and would be ideal for tropical enthusiasts who need even coverage.

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.