Urban Gardening Starter Kit
We've updated one of the picks in this list, and now all recommendations are current as of this date.
Here’s how to get a container garden going on an apartment balcony, a patio, or a sunny window.
Essentials
Here are the basic supplies you’ll need to get a garden started this spring.
Watering can
Since urban gardeners may have no access to a hose, a good watering can is the lifeline for a thriving container garden. We have a big pick plus a smaller one that works better for smaller gardens (and is easier to put away in limited indoor storage).
Durable, comfortable, and convenient to fill and carry, the Bloem watering can has a unique adjustable sprinkle head that makes switching from a rainshower to a steady pour a literal snap.
Our Favorite Watering Cans
Durable, comfortable, and convenient to fill and carry, the Bloem watering can has a unique adjustable sprinkle head that makes switching from a rainshower to a steady pour a literal snap.
This indoor can has a precise-pouring spout and holds more than half a gallon, but it’s narrow and short enough to stow on a counter or a hook on a plant stand.
Houseplant Starter Kit
This indoor can has a precise-pouring spout and holds more than half a gallon, but it’s narrow and short enough to stow on a counter or a hook on a plant stand.
Hand trowel
A simple and sturdy hand shovel, or trowel, is essential when you’re transplanting young seedlings, adding soil to a pot, or digging out dead roots.
This single-piece, stainless steel trowel slices through dirt like a soil knife but scoops a better-than-average amount of soil.
This single-piece, stainless steel trowel slices through dirt like a soil knife but scoops a better-than-average amount of soil.
Kitchen shears
Save the pruners for tough woody growth—for delicate work like harvesting herbs, a sharp pair of shears can snip live stems without crushing them.
One micro-serrated blade helps these scissors grip raw chicken while the other blade makes a clean slice—something that can’t be said of the competition in this category. You can pull the blades apart for easy and thorough cleaning.
The Best Scissors for Every Task
One micro-serrated blade helps these scissors grip raw chicken while the other blade makes a clean slice—something that can’t be said of the competition in this category. You can pull the blades apart for easy and thorough cleaning.
Cactus soil mix
Most common premixed potting soils retain too much moisture and drain too slowly—a more permeable mix can make it easier to keep plants alive.
This mix contains a decent amount of sand, which aids draining and prevents root rot on all plants, not just cacti.
Houseplant Starter Kit
This mix contains a decent amount of sand, which aids draining and prevents root rot on all plants, not just cacti.
A better container
You can grow plants in any appropriately sized container, but you may get the best results using one designed to overcome the obstacles new gardeners face.
Gardeners we know (and dozens of online reviewers) swear by the EarthBox system, which waters roots from a reservoir and regulates soil moisture to ensure plants don’t dry out—a common cause of death in container gardens.
Gardeners we know (and dozens of online reviewers) swear by the EarthBox system, which waters roots from a reservoir and regulates soil moisture to ensure plants don’t dry out—a common cause of death in container gardens.
These are a classic for a reason: The built-in drainage and naturally porous material won’t retain water and cause root rot. Plus, they’re affordable, and they look nice indoors or outside.
These are a classic for a reason: The built-in drainage and naturally porous material won’t retain water and cause root rot. Plus, they’re affordable, and they look nice indoors or outside.
Spatial mosquito repellent
Spatial mosquito repellents can create a bug-free bubble just big enough for a small patio or balcony. They work best on windless days and are far more convenient than repellents that you apply for quick plant maintenance.
With a unique rechargeable-battery fuel source, a longer-lasting repellent supply, and an automatic shutoff timer, the Radius is easier to use than other spatial mosquito repellents.
The Best Mosquito Control Gear for Your Patio or Yard
With a unique rechargeable-battery fuel source, a longer-lasting repellent supply, and an automatic shutoff timer, the Radius is easier to use than other spatial mosquito repellents.
The MR450 is more rugged and portable than our pick and better for situations like camping or sporting events, but its butane cartridge isn’t as convenient as a lithium-ion battery.
The Best Mosquito Control Gear for Your Patio or Yard
The MR450 is more rugged and portable than our pick and better for situations like camping or sporting events, but its butane cartridge isn’t as convenient as a lithium-ion battery.
Gardening gloves
You don’t need super-tough leather for casual gardening—we like nitrile, which keeps hands and nails clean while preserving your dexterity with small plants.
These comfortable, thin gloves offer good protection without costing you dexterity, and they perform almost as well as the more expensive goatskin gloves we tried, at a price that can’t be beat. They come in a pack of six pairs.
The Best Gardening Gloves
These comfortable, thin gloves offer good protection without costing you dexterity, and they perform almost as well as the more expensive goatskin gloves we tried, at a price that can’t be beat. They come in a pack of six pairs.
If you can’t find our pick—or if you find the pastel colors off-putting—get the same nitrile gloves at a similar price but in black. They come in a pack of 12 pairs.
The Best Gardening Gloves
If you can’t find our pick—or if you find the pastel colors off-putting—get the same nitrile gloves at a similar price but in black. They come in a pack of 12 pairs.
Nice-to-haves
When you’re ready to take your garden to the next level, here’s what to add to your growing collection of supplies—and how to keep it organized.
Rolling cart
The right cart can give your plants a place to grow and also keep your tools and supplies handy and uncluttered.
The three-tiered Råskog cart is ideal for a small garden—you can keep the plants up top and store supplies on the bottom two levels. Short walls secure things on each level, and wheels make it easy to position.
Houseplant Starter Kit
The three-tiered Råskog cart is ideal for a small garden—you can keep the plants up top and store supplies on the bottom two levels. Short walls secure things on each level, and wheels make it easy to position.
Hose and nozzle
If you have outdoor water access, a hose and nozzle will make watering bigger plants a lot easier—and for small stuff, they’re a convenient way to refill your watering can.
This tough rubber hose isn’t cheap and can be heavy to wrangle, but its strong fittings and durable body can last for years—and there’s a lifetime warranty, just in case.
The Best Garden Hose and Hose Reel
This tough rubber hose isn’t cheap and can be heavy to wrangle, but its strong fittings and durable body can last for years—and there’s a lifetime warranty, just in case.
Inexpensive, well-made, and easy to use, with a variety of spray patterns to choose from, the Gilmour is the best hose nozzle we've found.
The Best Hose Nozzle
Inexpensive, well-made, and easy to use, with a variety of spray patterns to choose from, the Gilmour is the best hose nozzle we've found.
Backup watering system
If you’re away on a trip (or just plain forgetful), a little assistance in keeping your plants watered in your absence can help a container garden hang on until you return.
These ceramic stakes, combined with an inverted water bottle, sink into the soil of containers or hanging pots, slowly releasing water to keep the soil moist without overwatering.
These ceramic stakes, combined with an inverted water bottle, sink into the soil of containers or hanging pots, slowly releasing water to keep the soil moist without overwatering.
Pest deterrence and fertilizer
When the growing gets tough, reach for these helpers in your gardening toolkit.
To rid plants of pests, spray a diluted solution of neem oil on the underside of the leaves. This chemical, pressed from the seeds of the Asian evergreen tree Azadirachta indica, is nontoxic to pets and humans when used properly.
Houseplant Starter Kit
To rid plants of pests, spray a diluted solution of neem oil on the underside of the leaves. This chemical, pressed from the seeds of the Asian evergreen tree Azadirachta indica, is nontoxic to pets and humans when used properly.
Watering dissolves these spikes into the soil at the plant’s base, providing a steady supply of nutrients. Unlike some conventional fertilizers, these don’t smell, don’t require mixing, and don’t take up much space at home.
Houseplant Starter Kit
Watering dissolves these spikes into the soil at the plant’s base, providing a steady supply of nutrients. Unlike some conventional fertilizers, these don’t smell, don’t require mixing, and don’t take up much space at home.
Knee pads or a mat
If you’re spending a lot of time getting down and dirty with your garden, a more comfortable place to rest your knees can make the work more pleasant.
The best knee pads have a rigid flat front face backed by a cushy gel interior, which stabilizes your stance better than cheaper gel-only pads. If you have an injury or spend a lot of time kneeling on concrete, they’re worth the splurge.
The best knee pads have a rigid flat front face backed by a cushy gel interior, which stabilizes your stance better than cheaper gel-only pads. If you have an injury or spend a lot of time kneeling on concrete, they’re worth the splurge.
If knee pads seem like overkill, the budget pick from our standing desk mat guide can help you set up a portable garden workstation. (Store it indoors or under shelter between uses.)
The Best Standing Desk Mats
If knee pads seem like overkill, the budget pick from our standing desk mat guide can help you set up a portable garden workstation. (Store it indoors or under shelter between uses.)
Sun hat
You probably don’t need to slather on sunscreen for a quick trip to the garden, but you still need a way to protect your head and face from UV while you’re out there. Get a hat.
This hat with UPF 50+ fabric is so airy and lightweight, you could easily forget you’re wearing it, which means you’re more likely to leave it on your head.
The Best Sun Hat for Hikers
This hat with UPF 50+ fabric is so airy and lightweight, you could easily forget you’re wearing it, which means you’re more likely to leave it on your head.
This fisher’s hat, which combines UPF 50 fabric, a 3-inch brim, and a sweatband, was among the most breathable we tested.
The Best Sun Hat for Hikers
This fisher’s hat, which combines UPF 50 fabric, a 3-inch brim, and a sweatband, was among the most breathable we tested.
Tool and supply storage
Many gardeners toss their gear into a 5-gallon bucket. Adding a tool-storage pouch designed to fit the bucket keeps tools and supplies organized and portable.
This bucket pouch creates an open-ended box for various-size tools—small stuff goes in the pockets, and bigger tools and supplies go in the center.
This bucket pouch creates an open-ended box for various-size tools—small stuff goes in the pockets, and bigger tools and supplies go in the center.
Things to skip
Avoid frustration in the garden by following our suggestions.
Pruners and loppers
Although pruners and loppers are perfect for tougher fibrous stems or larger woody shoots, the precise snip of a sharp pair of shears is better for delicate seedlings.
Anything that collects standing water
Buckets, planters, tools, and kids’ toys left out on a patio or balcony can collect rainwater and promote mosquito reproduction. After a shower, drain and relocate those items.
Dumping the rest of a drinking glass on the plants
Okay, sure, this works—water is water—but you’ll be better able to keep your plants hydrated on a regular schedule (and more precisely target the base of the plant) with a dedicated tool, whether it’s a watering can or irrigation stake.