Gardening for Beginners: Bob Vila's Best Tips

Young couple (heads not seen) use trowels to dig into a small raised garden bed on Astroturf, surrounded by gardening accessories.

New to gardening? You’re in the right place!

BobVila.com is your hub for all things seeds, soil, and plants. We’ll help you set up your first garden— whether it’s a few pots on your patio, a raised bed, or a in-ground plot out back, and select the right plants for your soil and region. You’ll also get all the info you need about fertilizers, garden tools, and controlling weeds and garden pests.

Get ready to dig in!

Lawn & Garden

10 Things Every New Gardener Needs to Know

Is starting a garden on your to-do list this year? Here’s what you need to know before lifting a shovel or planting a seed.

By Mark Wolfe

An organized vegetable garden layout in a suburban backyard.

Gardening

Seed Starting

Clothing & Gear

The Best Tool Belt Suspenders to Make Any Job Easier on Your Back

Good tool belt suspenders should help keep your gear handy, allow freedom of movement, and provide all-day comfort. Here are the best options for a variety of jobs, projects, and preferences.

By Bob Beacham

Hands pouring green Behr premium plush ecomix™ plant-based paint into a paint tray.

Paint Needs

3 Popular Paint Brands Offering Zero-VOC Paint for a Healthy Home

Choose these eco-friendly paint formulas to protect your home’s indoor air quality without sacrificing quality coverage.

By Sandi Schwartz

Holiday Decorations

Amazon is Clearing Out Govee Lights Just In Time For Holiday Decorating

This dazzling, app-controlled light set transforms any Christmas tree or display into a showstopper. Save 43% today.

By Glenda Taylor

Raised Bed Gardening

Liftmaster Premium® Series smart garage door opener

Garages

Chamberlain Launches Landmark Smart Garage Door Opener with Camera

This new video-enabled garage door opener taps into technology like never before.

By Sandi Schwartz

Deals

Amazon Drops the Dyson V11 to a Ridiculously Low Price in a Last-Minute Cyber Monday Deal

This high-performance cordless stick vacuum is now at one of its lowest prices of the year.

By Glenda Taylor

Person wearing a blue T shirt uses spatula to cook chopped meat on a flat-top griddle.

Outdoor Kitchens

15 Must-Have Griddle Accessories for Better Outdoor Cooking

Elevate your griddle cooking with these essential accessories.

By Savannah Sher

Gardening on a Budget

The 7 best stud finders on a workbench before testing.

Hand Tools

The Best Stud Finders of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

To get a stud finder that suits your needs and budget, start here with our guide to understanding and navigating the available options—and don’t miss my hands-on testing review to determine the most dependable stud finders.

By Glenda Taylor, Paul Rankin