Gardening for Beginners

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!

Seed Starting

American Hat Makers Crusher Leather Outback Hat
Clothing & Gear

This Leather Outback Hat Is Better Than a Straw Hat for Outdoor Work

The AHM Crusher hat is lightweight, durable, and incredibly comfortable. I should have switched over years ago.

Chamberlain MyQ garage door opener installed
Tech & Electronics

Chamberlain Garage Door Opener With MyQ: A Major Upgrade From Builder-Grade

After two months of daily use, I found that this smart, whisper-quiet opener completely changed how I interact with my garage—from automatic lighting to hands-free opening integrated with my car.

The Best Snow Blowers for Gravel Driveways Options
DIY

The Best Snow Blowers for Gravel Driveways of 2026, Expert Picks

We challenged several snow blowers to the winter of rural Montana and while they all provided great traction–a necessity on loose surface like gravel–our favorite had unbeatable surface contact.

Raised Bed Gardening

Potted green plants on a windowsill with sunlight shining into the room
House Plants

5 Reasons Your Houseplants Might Be Stressed This Winter

Once you identify the culprit causing concerns with your plant, you can apply the right remedy.

The Best Under-Sink Water Filter Options
Plumbing Supplies

The Best Under-Sink Water Filters of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed

If you’re looking for crystal-clean drinking water, check out the under-sink water filters we installed and tested in our homes.

All the pieces of the Holikme 30-Foot 11-Piece Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit laid out before testing.
Cleaning Supplies

The Best Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits of 2026, Tested By Experts

Reduce potential fire hazards in the home and keep your dryer running well with regular use of a quality dryer vent cleaning kit.

Gardening on a Budget

The Best Water Cooler
Appliances & Cookware

The Best Water Coolers of 2026 for Your Home, Expert-Tested and Reviewed

For cool, refreshing water on demand—or hot water for instant tea and coffee—invest in a plumbed-in or freestanding water cooler.

4 dreo products on a wood kitchen counter
Everyday Essentials

The Best Dreo Fans and Home Products: Top Picks After Real-World Testing

I’ve spent the past year using Dreo’s most popular home comfort products in my own space. These are the ones that stood out for their performance, smart features, and everyday reliability.

Snow storm with a man snow blowing
Everyday Essentials

Be Prepared for Any Winter Storm With These Must-Have Products—Approved by Our Experts

When severe weather hits, it’s vital to be prepared with the right essentials.

Want to Start Growing Your Own Food This Year? Plant These 16 Veggies.

Learn more about these easy-to-grow vegetables.

  • Bush of pole beans growing and hanging off brach with a yellow flower in the background.
  • Gardener hands harvesting red radishes.
  • Top-down view of mature smooth spinach plant growing in garden soil
  • Mixed lettuce growing in garden soil.
  • Closeup of raw broccoli rabe.
  • Closeup of rainbow chard, with colorful pink, yellow and orange stems.
  • A zucchini plant growing in a home garden during dry summer.
  • A large rhubarb plant growing in a home garden
  • Basil growing in a home garden in June.
  • Young kale plants growing in the garden.
  • Pea garden plant with open bean pod with exposed peas.
  • flowers that attract bees - pink bloomed chives
  • types of peppers - bell peppers on plant
  • A bushel of ripe red tomatoes on a tomato plant vine.
  • Fingers are pinching the top of a mint plant.
  • Two cucumbers hanging on cucumber plant in garden.