Rachio Recommends

Our Rachio Master Gardener spends hundreds of hours testing yard care products and finding the best, so you don't have to! Explore our favorites and try something new in your lawn or garden this spring.

Favorites for Spring

Here are our top 10 things that we're using in our yards this spring. These products range from $20 to $300+, but every item on this list will improve your outdoor experience. Each recommendation is tested by our gardening experts and approved for any level of green thumb!

Note: This article contains some affiliate links. When you buy something through one of the links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

1. Best for soil: MySoil® Test Kit

The best time to learn about your soil and what it needs is while kicking off the spring growing season. This soil test kit makes it easy to collect your soil sample and get customized results to inform your fertilizing and yard care practices. Get the scoop on any nutrient deficiencies and learn about your options with tailored soil recommendations.

Bonus: The starter kit option includes a soil probe for fast and easy soil sampling.

2. Best for watering any yard or garden: Rachio Smart Hose Timer

We’re admittedly biased toward this little watering device, but it really is the easiest way to water your plants without a sprinkler system. Turn any outdoor faucet into a smart watering system and control your watering with the free, easy-to-use Rachio app.

Our favorite thing? You can use this to water plants while you're on vacation or away from home!

3. Best for pruning: Felco F2 Pruners

A quick, clean cut is key for plant pruning, and these shears make it easy to trim what you need. Perfect for cutting back flowers, vines, or any small-to-medium stems, they also come with a lifetime guarantee.

4. Best multi-purpose gardening tool: Hori Hori Classic Garden Knife

Hori horis are incredibly versatile Japanese gardening knives that are great for digging, chopping, and cutting roots and stems. The Barebones Living Hori Hori is part of our Rachio Master Gardener’s everyday carry kit. It gets a lot of use every season while still staying sharp!

Upgrade option: Add a sheath from Barebones Living for a safe place to store your knife.

5. Best for cold climates: Floating Row Cover

We like these lightweight row covers (also known as frost blankets) because they trap heat during the day and release it at night to keep your plants warm in cold climates. They're easy to use and perfect for spring if you want to get your garden off to a quick start.

Bonus: These double as pest protection by keeping insects and pesky animals away from your tasty garden treats!

6. Best for yards with sprinkler systems: Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller

For easy, automatic watering with your sprinkler system, look no further than the best smart sprinkler controller according to New York Times Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, and more! This customizes watering according to the needs of your plants while also saving water.

Bonus: It automatically skips watering when it's raining for extra-smart savings.

7. Best for weed control: Wood-Handle Action Hoe

This weeder has a long handle that eliminates the need to stoop while pulling individual weeds. It’s perfect for anyone who needs to clear a lot of weeds at one time and is easy to use in a standing position.

8. Best for an organized yard: Gardener's Puddle-Proof Tote

This rugged, waterproof tote makes yard work and gardening a little easier by keeping all your tools in one spot.

9. Best for weather tech: Tempest Weather System

The Tempest Weather System by WeatherFlow measures and reports the weather directly from your yard, making it the perfect companion to a Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller. It provides the most precise forecast available and can be installed in less than five minutes.

10. Best for starting seeds indoors: Grow Light, Dynamo LED

Start your plants from seed in style this spring with this adjustable tabletop grow light. Great for starting and growing herbs and small vegetables, or for starting flowers from seed. We like it because it’s easy to adjust the light as plants grow. Plus, it’s compact and easy to store after the growing season is over.

For more great outdoor and smart yard products, visit Rachio Market.

Spring Lawn & Garden Resources

Have a lot you want to get done in your yard this spring? Looking for inspiration on making your outdoor space the place of your dreams? Make the most of the growing season by trying something new!

Here are some of our favorite resources to help you get started:

🌷 OUTDOOR SPRING PREP CHECKLIST

🌷 WHEN TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING

🌷 MULCH: A GARDENER'S BEST FRIEND

🌷 SHOULD YOU AERATE YOUR LAWN?

🌷 SPRING CLEANING: GARDEN TOOLS

🌷 WHY START SEEDS INDOORS?

🌷 CONSIDER CLOVER FOR YOUR LAWN

Rachio's Great Spring Giveaway

We're giving away some of our favorite yard essentials in celebration of spring! 🌻💧

ENTER TO WIN 1 of 4 prizes (up to $300+ value!) for your outdoor space. This giveaway is only open March 18-24, so don't forget to submit your chance to win!