9 Best Tools To Help Keep Your Vegetable Garden Healthy

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Planting your own vegetable garden is incredibly rewarding. There is, after all, an art to making the perfect tomato sandwich, and having the freshest tomatoes is key. Seeing your crop growing over weeks or months is amazing, but when you see your garden starting to struggle, it's disheartening. It can happen for a number of reasons, but the good news is that there are all kinds of tools out there that can give you the upper hand at dealing with all kinds of issues that can sabotage your garden.

Some of the best gardening tips for beginners include not overlooking things like soil quality and the amount of sunlight different areas get. Both of those things change as your plants grow and as the position of the sun changes, and managing those things can seem overwhelming. It doesn't have to be! 

We wanted to know all about some of the tools that have been developed to help you make the most of your garden, so we started researching. First, we headed to a few university programs to learn about some of the most common things recommended by the experts. Then, we started looking at what's on the market today. In order to meet our criteria for being the best of the best, these things needed to be highly-recommended by customers, affordable, easy-to-use, durable, and long-lasting, and they needed to do precisely what they were advertised as to do. Here's what we recommend for your garden's health.

While there are definitely some fruits and vegetables that are easier to grow than others, all plants need a certain amount of nutrients in the soil. Among the most important are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, but how do you know what your garden has and needs? Soil test kits are a great and reliable way to make sure your plants are getting everything they need, and customers have overwhelmingly favorable things to say about the MySoil Soil Test Kit.

For starters, this test kit measures not only the big three, but a total of 13 different nutrients that your plants need to thrive. The kit comes with everything you need to collect a sample and send it in for testing, and if that seems like a hassle, don't worry — customers confirm that you have the results quickly. And if you've never used a soil test kit before, this one gets high praise for being easy to use, and having instructions that guide you through every step from collecting samples to reading results.

Another benefit to this one is that not only do you get results back on what your soil has and is lacking, but you'll also get recommendations on exactly what fertilizers and treatments to use. Plenty of customers say that when they followed the recommendations, they saw a major difference, and that they plan on using it ahead of planting in future seasons. 

Purchase the MySoil Soil Test Kit at Amazon for $31.99.

Watering your garden correctly can be tricky. Different types of soil retain or lose water differently, and when you're deciding whether or not you need to water your garden, you're only looking at the top layer of soil. Your plants' roots go down much farther than that, and that's where long probe moisture meters come in handy.

Xlux's moisture meter is just over 12 inches long, and gives immediate readings. The probe displays results on a scale of dry, moist, and wet. There are a ton of customers who say that they're thrilled with how well it works and how simple it is to find out whether or not they need to water — and if they've watered thoroughly enough.

Others note that these are durable enough to stand up to testing the soil around as many as 30 plants on a daily basis for the entire growing season, while others say it's one of the most valuable tools that helps them ensure healthy, productive tomato plants. If you're growing in containers, reviews report they're incredibly helpful here, too. We know it's bad when things get too dry, but too much water can cause plants to get waterlogged and begin to rot: This simple tool helps you keep your soil in that happy medium. 

Purchase the Xlux Long Probe Deep Use Soil Moisture Meter (two-pack) at Amazon for $19.99.

Even if you do a major soil test ahead of the season, it's handy to keep an eye on how things are progressing as your plants remove those vital nutrients. That's where the Rapitest Soil Test Kit comes in, and this one's a little different from the kits that require you to send a soil sample into a lab for testing. This kit is for at-home testing: Take a soil sample, add it to the container, follow the instructions, and the sample will change colors to match a readout that tells you what's in your soil.

This also comes with an important footnote. Unlike the ultra-specific results that come from samples analyzed in a lab, this gives you more of a general idea of the health of your soil. The kit comes with multiple tests — which customers approve of — and that makes it a great way to prevent problems before they happen. It's also praised for having straightforward, easy-to-understand, and comprehensive instructions, making it perfect for anyone who's doing soil testing for the first time. 

Some customers say that they were so impressed with the test that they even used it for conducting some amateur science experiments, which is super fun! Others confirm that it's their go-to test kit and they've made multiple purchases, saying it's easy to use and gives a great idea of where soil improvement is needed.

Purchase the Rapitest Soil Test Kit at Amazon for a sale price of $14.37.

Here's the thing about starting a vegetable garden: It can seem like it's incredibly expensive and incredibly time-consuming, and that doesn't have to be the case at all. There are definitely ways to grow vegetables on a budget, and some of the tools we're talking about here can save you a lot of time, too. Yamron's soil moisture meter measures not only moisture, but also soil temperature, pH, and sunlight intensity — and it gives you accurate readings in about 10 seconds. That's invaluable if you're testing multiple areas, and this handy little tool also gets high points for an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand display.

And we have to note that's incredibly important. You are, after all, testing this outside in the sunlight, and a backlit display makes things much easier. Some note that it's particularly handy for new plants. Adding a potted cherry tomato, or containers of herbs? Use this to determine whether or not they're in the right place for sun. The display also tilts, which is a simple thing that some find to be a game-changer. 

Others point out that while it's durable, they've also found it to be gentle on the roots of their plants. One of the only things we like more than finding a really popular product is finding one that's versatile, and plenty of customers also report that this is ideal for houseplants, too. 

Purchase the Yamron 4-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter at Amazon for $32.98.

Pest control is one of the most difficult parts of keeping your garden healthy, and there are few things more frustrating than looking forward to that chopped caprese salad you've been planning, only to find the animals have destroyed your harvest. But at the same time you want to keep animals away, you don't want to hurt pets, pollinators, or worry about kids — or yourself — touching something poisonous. For those who live in areas with rabbits and deer, these all-natural repellents come eight in a pack, and they're long-lasting spheres customers say work really well to make deer and rabbit problems vanish. 

Some note that although the deer haven't been driven from the area, it does dissuade them from making carefully-tended gardens into a snack. Others confirm it works for weeks, doesn't have a smell that's unpleasant to humans, and it's not damaged or rendered less effective by rainfall. Some say that it also works to keep chipmunks away. 

Anyone having serious problems with deer might want to pick up a few packs, because customers say that not only does it work really well to protect flowers and gardens, but trees as well. One customer reported that their pear trees were starting to bear fruit now that the deer were no longer stripping away bark and leaves, with many recommending using these around newly-planted fruit trees to protect them from the start. 

Purchase Prbsoq Deer and Rabbit Repellent at Amazon for $27.99.

Ever had plans for a delicious zucchini apple pie, only to go out and pick up that zucchini to find it covered in creepy-crawlies that have absolutely destroyed it? The only thing more frustrating is the realization that there's now a pest infestation to deal with, but according to numerous reviews — and thousands of repeat purchases — Garden Safe's Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer is a great way to keep those pests away.

It works on a variety of insects, including some of the most commonly-seen ants, mealybugs, and beetles. It doesn't work by poisoning the pests, and instead, it's an ultra-fine powder that works by covering then dehydrating them. Customers are thrilled with this all-natural and poison-free option that they say works really well on a variety of insects, not only in the garden but in yards, too. 

It's easy to apply (thanks to a shaker), lasts through rain (although it's recommended you apply on rain-free days), and it's not an exaggeration to say that some customers are so happy with the way this has cleared up pest problems that they've written entire essays for reviews. For some, it's meant reclaiming space from insects from spiders to earwigs, and even fire ants. Add in an affordable price point and the fact that it covers a lot of territory, and of course, it has earned repeat customers. 

Purchase Garden Safe Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer at Amazon for $13.84.

You might wonder why, exactly, you need a rain gauge. Simply put, it's a handy way to tell at-a-glance just how much rain your garden has gotten. Wake up in the morning, unsure just how much it rained overnight? It'll tell you, and it could save you wasted water and plants destroyed by overwatering and root rot. It's also handy if you're using a sprinkler system to water: Use multiple rain gauges spaced out across your garden, and make sure every area is getting enough. 

There are a lot of options out there, but it's the simple, easy-to-read JMBay gauge that we're going with for a few reasons. The large font means you can read it from a distance at a glance, and it also includes metal pieces that change the color of the water to make reading it even easier. You can adjust the height, and it's affordable enough to get multiples for your garden without breaking the bank.

And you might just want to. Customers note that it's easy to clean, sturdy enough to hold up to the weather, and some note that they opted for plastic over glass after breaking other rain gauges. 

Purchase a JMBay Rain Gauge at Amazon for a sale price of $9.99.

This tool is a little more obscure than a soil test kit or a rain gauge, and it might have you wondering if you really need it. So first, we'll explain a little bit about it. Over time, soil becomes more and more compacted as you walk on it, and as water drains through it. That can make it harder for roots to grow, and it can also limit access to nutrients. Crop yields drop in a big way when compaction becomes a problem, and penetrometers are designed to measure the resistance that roots encounter at various depths. 

That brings us to AgraTronic's compaction tester. As expected, this is a little more of a niche item that doesn't have as many reviews as some of the other products we've been looking at, but those who have used it say that it's well-built, and incredibly strong. Others note that the display and markings make it very easy to tell just where the problems are, and what compaction readings are in different soil levels. 

Durability, too, is important for another reason. Even though you might use this only when you're in the planning stage for planting your garden, using this correctly to get an accurate picture of your garden means taking many, many measurements both between rows, inside rows where you'll be planting, in any areas where there is regular foot traffic, and at regular intervals.

Purchase the AgraTronix Soil Compaction Tester at Amazon for $186.79.

Composting at home is a great way to recycle things like kitchen scraps and lawn cuttings back into your garden, and in many cases, compost bins will attract worms. They're beneficial, aerating the compost and adding nutrients to the mix. Keeping them healthy means keeping the compost at the right temperature, though, and that's where this soil thermometer comes in.

Urban Worm's soil thermometer is clearly marked with what the perfect temperature for worms should be: It's green between 55 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, yellow outside of that, and when you're in the red, you know it's time to rethink things like moving your compost bin. Customers say that with increasingly unpredictable weather, it's been an invaluable tool in helping them keep the worms in their compost bin happy and healthy. 

Even if you're not composting with worms, there are plenty of other uses that make this a must-have in any gardener's tool kit. Different crops thrive in different soil temperatures, so some customers say they use this to know when the soil is warm enough to plant seeds. Others use it to keep an eye on the temps of rain barrels, with one customer noting that when they poked it through a piece of foam, it floats to make measuring water temps easy. Others attest to the thermometer's accuracy, and love that it's easy to read. 

Purchase the Urban Worm Soil Thermometer at Amazon for a sale price of $10.99.

In order to put together our recommendations on what tools are the most helpful in keeping your garden healthy, we did a few things — starting with making some notes about the tools we've used in our own gardens, and have found handy. We also started doing some more research, and looked into what types of items experts from several universities recommended in terms of soil and garden health.

Once we had our list of general products, we narrowed it down to specific recommendations by looking at customer reviews. In order to make our list, products needed to be highly-rated, and reviews needed to confirm that they worked precisely as advertised. In addition, we also looked for customer reviews that attested to affordability and value, to durability, and — in some cases, such as with the pest repellents and test kits — we looked for customer confirmation that it worked so well, they would buy it again.