The 11 Best Gardening Tools You Can Buy At Dollar Tree (And 4 You Should Avoid)

The warmer months are a hive of activity in the garden as green-fingered enthusiasts across the country get to work on their plots, patios, or pots. Whether you're focusing on veggies that grow in the shade or plan to add some fast-fruiting trees to your green space, any job is made that little bit harder without the right tools. Thanks to Dollar Tree, stocking your garden shed doesn't mean emptying your pocketbook.

We've already showcased the store's space-saving herb garden solution and its easy, low-cost way to grow your tomatoes, but they're not the only items on sale. Dollar Tree's gardening range includes all kinds of stake lights, so you can illuminate your plot when the sun goes down, and colorful pinwheels that deter critters and delight children of all ages. There are also several standouts among the products that have been a hit with shoppers, as well as a few duds which were not. Here's our run-down of the gardening tools to grab at Dollar Tree, and those to avoid. Prices and availability may vary.

We banged the drum for this cheap way to get rid of garden insects and Dollar Tree customers overwhelmingly agree with our assessment, rating them 4.8 out of 5. They have a pleasant scent, a long burn time, and at $1.50 for a pack of six, they're a bargain to boot. One shopper who used them to deter mosquitoes at home took them to a cookout, where all the guests wanted to get their hands on them, too.

Buy Garden Collection Citronella Incense Sticks for $1.50.

Planters are great for growing veggies in a small space, but for patios and balconies, moving them around can be a bit tricky. These clever planter trollies solve that problem. Made from sturdy polypropylene, simply slip one of them under your container, or even a bag of fertilizer, and you can wheel it wherever you want it to go. "I thank you but my back thanks you more!" wrote one delighted customer.

Buy Garden Collection Plastic Planter Trolleys for $1.50.

Whether you know it as a bell plant protector or a cloche, this easy-to-use plastic cover will shield seedlings or delicate plants from the wind or cold. The top of the bell shape includes a vent, and it's perfect for indoor or outdoor use. Some gardeners pointed out they can crack easily, hence the slightly lower 4.1 out of 5 rating.

Buy Garden Collection Bell Plant Protectors for $1.50.

Sold in a pack of two, available in four colors, and standing at just under 13 inches high and 14 inches wide, these 5-star planters are great for a range of veggies. While water stress can enhance your tomatoes' flavor, Dollar Tree's planters include a reservoir so all your plants will thrive even if you leave them for a day or so.

Buy Garden Collection Self Watering Plastic Plant Pots for $5.00.

Strawberries look amazing when planted in hanging baskets, and Dollar Tree's wire versions from its Garden Collection have been enthusiastically snapped up by customers, who rated them 4.4 out of 5. They appreciated the length of the chain on the basket and, while many used them for flowers, they were also recommended for herbs and spices too.

Buy a Garden Collection Hanging Wire Basket for $1.50.

There's nothing like the rustic charm of a whiskey barrel to give your garden a fresh look. If you want something with the same aesthetic but more lightweight, this plastic planter is just thing for the job. Rated 4.7 out of 5, it comes with drainage holes, so it's ideal for herbs or root veggies like carrots or radishes, and buyers appreciated the barrel planter's strength and flexibility.

Buy a Garden Collection Round Whiskey Barrel Shaped Planter for $1.50.

These funky watering stakes from Dollar Tree can help prevent your tomatoes cracking by providing consistent hydration. They have a glass-like finish but are made of durable plastic, and are available in green, pink, and blue, bringing a pop of color to your plot. One happy customer said the stakes helped her plants thrive, while another said they were great for balcony boxes.

Buy Plastic Watering Stakes for $1.50.

There's always something to tidy up in the garden, and what better way to do it than with this leaf rake? Although it is lightweight, the plastic rake proved great for gathering up tree debris, while green-fingered customers also praised how easy it was to use around plants. One commenter wrote: "This is the best rake ever!"

Buy a Garden Collection Leaf Rake for $1.50.

Many gardeners love getting their hands in the soil but if that's not your bag, Dollar Tree has you covered with their range of funky glove two-packs. They've garnered 4.8 stars out of 5 from very happy customers, who found them robust enough to provide protection but not so bulky that they got in the way. Paired with a small pot plant, they also make a lovely gift.

Buy Garden Collection Gardening Gloves for $1.50.

Growing your own fruits and veggies can sometimes leave you feeling as if you're going round in circles. Then something comes along that is so easy and simple, it makes everything all right again. The hooked planter from Dollar Tree is just that product. Use it for herbs or strawberries, hook it over a fence or trellis, or suspend it from your porch or ceiling, it's brilliant.

Buy a Garden Collection Round-Shaped Planter With Hook for $1.50.

We hop from the sublime to the less-than-satisfactory with this metal plant hanger, rated 3.4 out of 5 by unimpressed buyers. They're suitable for hanging lights or balloons, but actual plants are beyond it, according to more than one reviewer, and one customer recommended super-glueing the welds as they broke easily.

You can't possibly go wrong with plant pots, right? Wrong, said Dollar Tree customers who regretted spending $1.50 on these plastic terracotta starter pots, rating them 3.5 out of 5. "They're so thin they crumple and crack while handled," commented one customer, who added they used two pots for each plant, while others were unhappy at not being able to choose the size they wanted.

"I must have gone [through] at least 5 of these before I realized they just [don't] last very long," wrote one disgruntled customer about Dollar Tree's $1.50 7-Pattern Multi-Functional Spray Nozzles. Another shopper also questioned their quality after one broke while attaching it to the hose, while its replacement sprang multiple leaks.

We love a stackable planter but this set from Floral Garden has received mixed reviews from Dollar Tree customers, who have given it 3.7 out of 5 stars. Although the funky design got the thumbs up, the thin plastic did not. One buyer warned the planters fared poorly in direct sunlight, and advised against stacking them more than four high.