Summer is here and most of us will be celebrating the fact by flocking outside to bask in all its glory from our own private haven—the garden.

While you might have the sun loungers set up, and glasses at the ready, you could be utilizing some of the latest tech to really maximize your outdoor space, and elevate your garden to real destination status.

Some gadgets will take the legwork out of maintaining a healthy-looking and flourishing garden, while others will help transform it from just a garden into THE garden.

Here are the best gadgets for the garden this summer.

Premium pick

1. KAIZEN Patio Fire Table

9.00 / 10
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Since the dawn of humankind, fire has been an instrumental tool for our survival. Essential for our warmth, for cooking, and for the community that can be created by huddling around it. And while the basic principles remain the same, happily our ability to create and control fire has evolved in leaps and bounds since then.

Kaizen’s 55000 BTU Gas Fire Pit Table showcases that evolution remarkably. Its lightweight aluminum frame is rust-resistant, so will stand the test of time. Its lower storage space can house a 20-pound propane tank, keeping it neatly and safely out of the way. The IP65 rating and WiFi-controlled LED lighting help create the right mood.

As its name suggests, this Kaizen model can generate warmth up to 55000 BTU. In addition, its fire is completely smokeless and sparkless—offering maximum comfort for your family or guests. And a 5mm glass wind guard is included to ensure the flames are safely contained. Gas jets are even stylishly covered too, with the inclusion of glass fire pebbles, colored to compliment the outer casing.

It’s all about the accessories these days, and Kaizen seems to know this all too well. Expect a smorgasbord of extras with your gas fire pit table. These include a Q5 power bank, a rainproof cover, a toasting fork (for marshmallows, or whatever toasty treats you’re cooking up), a cheese plate, and a chopping board.

It’s hard to fault this elegant fire pit table. It offers the complete package for you to create a (literal) warm hub area for your garden space. Long summer afternoons can be accommodated with the standard tabletop for food and drinks, and as the night draws in, the tabletop can be removed, the fire pit lit, and the ambient lighting set.

In fact, once you sit down in front of your Kaizen fire pit table, you’ll barely have any reason to get back up again. If only it could fetch your slippers for you too!

Key Features
  • Gas powered
  • IP65 waterproof
  • Generates warmth up to 55,000 BTU
  • Wi-Fi enabled LED lights
  • Smokeless and sparkless fire
Specifications
  • Brand: Kaizen
  • Finish: Matte
  • Weight: 89.5lbs
  • Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  • Dimensions: 44 x 31.8 x 25.4 inches
Pros
  • Suitable for any garden space
  • Easily converts from standard table top to fire pit table
  • Safe to use
Cons
  • Table-top design might not suit all tastes
Buy This Product
KAIZEN Patio Fire Table
Editors choice

2. Ooni Fyra 12 Pizza Oven

9.00 / 10
Read Reviews

If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to draw in the hoards, it’s the promise of freshly cooked pizza. So what could be better than cooking your very own pizzas in your very own pizza oven, in the comfort of your own garden?

The Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven will enable you to do just that. Cook authentic, stone-baked masterpieces in as little as 60 seconds, thanks to this heat-retentive unit. A custom-designed fuel tray maximizes airflow and improves fuel efficiency. Load up this gas-powered oven with real wood or charcoal, and you’ll be ready to bake your first pizza in just 15 minutes.

Weighing just 10 kilograms, this oven will reach temperatures of up to 950 Fahrenheit and is large enough to bake 16-inch pizzas. A tall hopper allows you to really stock up on fuel (Ooni recommend wood pellets for their natural burning efficiency) so you can keep your attention solely focused on your Neapolitan-style creations.

The Ooni Fyra 12 is a no mess no fuss pizza oven that will leave you with virtually nothing to clean up afterward. This super-efficient oven is a fast and fun way to keep those rumbling tummies satisfied and turn your garden into everybody’s favorite pizzeria this summer.

Who could say no to a slice of that action?

Key Features
  • Wood burning pizza oven
  • Heat retentive
  • Portable
  • Can cook pizzas up to 16 inches
Specifications
  • Brand: Ooni
  • Color: Black
  • Finish : Powder coated steel
  • Fuel Type: Wood
  • Weight: 1.00lb
  • Dimensions: 18.9 x 10.24 x 27.17 inches
Pros
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Cooks pizzas in just 60 seconds
  • No mess, no fuss
  • Fun for the whole family
Cons
  • Won't appeal to pizza haters
Buy This Product
Ooni Fyra 12 Pizza Oven
Best value

3. GooDee YG600

9.00 / 10
Read Reviews

Everybody loves a good movie night. And outdoor cinemas and movie clubs are more popular than ever these days. Well, now you can host your very own al fresco movie nights with this cool HD outdoor movie projector.

The GooDee 2022 upgraded native 1080p video projector boasts a 3000:1 contrast ratio, providing a brighter, and more importantly, wider image for your outdoor space. GooDee also states that this device is up to 80 percent brighter than other projectors on the market.

Improved fan design keeps this unit cooler and quieter than other projectors and prevents it from running hot; extended use just leaves it a little warm instead.

The viewing screen can vary in size anywhere from 44 inches to 230 inches, depending on the size of the surface you are projecting to. However, GooDee recommends an ‘optimal’ screen size of 98 inches with a viewing distance of 10 feet. Naturally, this will very much depend on the size of your garden or outdoor space.

The projector comes with built-in dual stereo speakers with SDS sound, so you won’t necessarily need any peripherals and will be good to go straight out of the gate. However, you will no doubt want to beef things up a bit with your own external speakers or soundbars to make your viewing experience even more authentic.

Two HDMI ports are built-in, and this GooDee projector is fully compatible with your TV Box, Fire Stick TV, Chromecast, PC, laptop, tablet, Xbox, PlayStation, USB stick, and smartphones. This is great news for buyers and offers you a wealth of choices for big-screen movies and gaming.

So, whether you’re into a late-night screening of your favorite Sci-Fi movie with the stars as your very own backdrop, or a fantasy epic set among the greenery of your own garden, you really can’t go wrong with this neat outdoor projector. Just remember to bring plenty of popcorn!

Key Features
  • 1080p native resolution
  • Projects up to 230 inch screen size
  • 8500 lux brightness rating
  • Built-in speakers
  • 2 x HDMI ports
  • 3000:1 contrast
  • Compatible with most smart devices and games consoles
Specifications
  • Brand : GooDee
  • Color: Gray
  • Wattage: 3W
  • Brightness Rating : 8500 Lux
  • Mounting Type: Tabletop Mount
  • Hardware Interface: VGA, USB, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio
  • Built-in Speaker: Yes
  • Contrast: 3000:1
  • Native Resolution: 1080p
  • Max Screen Size : 230-inch
Pros
  • Great picture quality
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Maximum screen size is impressively large
  • Perfect for movie nights or gaming nights outside
Cons
  • Additional speakers/speaker systems may be required to maximise audio output
Buy This Product
GooDee YG600

Anybody who’s hosted a BBQ or a garden party knows how tricky it can be to keep everybody’s drinks nice and cold—especially if all your guests turn up with a six-pack or a bottle. Once you’ve finished playing Tetris with cans and bottles in your own fridge, by carefully placing them in and around all the food, your next challenge is usually trying to remove them one by one, without bringing down the whole lot like a house of cards.

Step in the Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage and Wine Chiller. This super smart device will chill cans in just one minute and will do the same for bottles of wine in just six minutes. Specifically, a can at room temperature can be chilled down to 43 degrees Fahrenheit in one minute. And an ‘extra chill’ setting can take this down to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s large enough to chill up to six cans in one go, or one bottle of wine.

You’ll need to load it with a tray or two of ice and some water for the full rapid chill effect. Beverage containers will be rotated horizontally while being bathed in a jet of ice water. This process is supposedly up to 40 times faster than chilling drinks in a freezer. You can pre-set your Cooper Cooler for your preferred temperatures too, and the rapid chilling process will not affect the integrity of your drink’s container, nor will it impair the flavor of your drinks.

The perfect companion to a summer gathering in the garden, you’ll never need to worry about guests drinking lukewarm drinks ever again! It eliminates the problem of trying to store all the drinks somewhere cold and means everybody can enjoy a super chilled beverage in as little as sixty seconds; perfection.

After all, what’s cooler than being cool? ICE COLD!

Key Features
  • Lightweight
  • Chill up to six cans or one bottle of wine in one go
  • Super efficient cooling system
  • Programmable for preferred temperatures
Specifications
  • Brand: Cooper Cooler
  • Material : Plastic
  • Color: Silver
  • Weight: 4.9lbs
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 6 x 9 inches
Pros
  • Chills beverages in as little as 60 seconds
  • Eliminates problem of storing/cooling drinks
  • Simple to use
Cons
  • One unit might not be enough if you're hosting a big function
Buy This Product
Cooper Cooler Chiller

Every good party needs music. And these days, instead of the old school method of switching on the stereo and opening a window, we can stream music directly into the garden thanks to a staggering array of outdoor Bluetooth speakers.

This Kitsound Diggit model features 360-degree sound which is amplified via its off-ground stake, which can be screwed in place to enable you to ‘plant’ your speaker anywhere in the ground, or around your garden.

Petite yet powerful, this Bluetooth speaker packs a punch with 2x dual-opposing 5W drivers to help you make the most of that 360-degree listening experience. So, no matter where any of you are sitting, you can all enjoy perfect clarity of sound.

For a larger garden or gathering, you can easily pair two of these speakers together for a fuller sound, that will be beefier than the patties you’ll be cooking up on the barbecue!

On a full charge, this Kitsound Diggit speaker should last you up to eight hours; plenty of time for everyone to share their favorite playlists. It’s also IP55 water resistant, so even if the weather takes a turn, you can ride it out with your favorite tunes still spinning.

Big sounds and reasonably priced, your Kitsound Diggit outdoor speaker is compatible with Alexa too, as you would expect. And once the party’s over, why not use it to enjoy your favorite podcasts or audiobooks in the garden?

You can raise the stakes without taking a gamble with one or more of these super cool freestanding outdoor speakers, and enjoy a garden that's alive with the sound of music!

Key Features
  • Attachable stake allows you to 'plant' your speaker anywhere in the garden
  • 360-degree sound
  • Pair with a second speaker for improved sound
Specifications
  • Brand: Kitsound
  • Speaker Type: Outdoor
  • Maximum output power: 10W
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Weight: 12.3oz
  • Dimensions: 6.3 x 2.44 x 2.44 inches
Pros
  • Discreet
  • Wireless and inobtrusive
  • IP55 rating
Cons
  • Might not have enough power for audiophiles
Buy This Product
Kitsound KSDIGGIT

Naturally, if you’re looking to entertain people in your garden over the summer, you’ll want your lawn looking its very best. After all, there’s nothing more inviting than lush green grass in the garden. But these kinds of results can require a lot of maintenance, which our busy lives can often preclude.

However, fear not, as this smart sprinkler controller can provide your garden with that all-important TLC in your absence.

The Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller is an easy-to-install wall-mounted device that will monitor the garden for you and deliver the right amount of water for your garden and plants. It works with your existing sprinkler system and replaces the old controller, giving you instant access to its smart functionality. All existing controller wires can be plugged into the Rachio for a quick and painless setup that should take no more than 30 minutes.

The Rachio companion app completes the setup, and once this is done you can customize your schedule for different zones via your smartphone. Timing and frequency of watering can be tailored to your specific landscape. Rachio’s Lawn Care App also features Premium Weather Intelligence Plus; an advanced and hyper-local weather forecasting feature, that utilizes over 300,000 weather stations.

This is a great feature. Not only will this help you to optimize the amount of water that you feed your lawn, but it can also be programmed according to the weather and can skip unnecessary watering on rainy days and windy days, and can adjust for seasonal shifts, such as days where there may be heavy saturation or a ground frost.

The net results? You can ensure that your garden gets just the right amount of water that it needs when it needs it. No more wasted water. Not only will this help to reduce your own carbon footprint but will also save you money. You can even use it to get an accurate read of your total water consumption.

More in-depth customization options are available for those with particularly green fingers. For instance, Rachio can recommend the best soil types for your garden based on your zip code. Add in extra details such as the plant types you have in each zone of your garden, the sun exposure for those areas, and so on, and Rachio can deliver an even more bespoke schedule for you.

And you can rest easy knowing that your garden is in safe hands with all areas covered. So why not make the Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller the game changer for your garden this summer?

Key Features
  • Offers fully customizable sprinkling schedules via companion app
  • Tracks your water consumption
  • Tracks weather forecasts
  • Differentiates according to soil types, plant types, etc.
Specifications
  • Brand: Rachio
  • Weight: 1lb
  • Dimensions: 9.1 x 1.4 x 5.6 inches
  • Batteries required : 1x AAA
  • Compatability: Alexa, Google Assistant, Smart Things, Apple HomeKit
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
Pros
  • Fully customizable
  • Energy efficient
  • After set up, timers will take care of the garden for you
  • Maps schedules according to the weather
Cons
  • Might be too hands-off for some gardening enthusiasts
Buy This Product
Rachio Smart Sprinkler (3rd Generation)

If wall-mounted sprinkler control systems aren’t your thing but you still want to give your garden that Goldilocks level of watering, then this smart faucet timer from Orbit might be the gadget for you.

This device turns any outdoor faucet into an app-controlled water source, that can similarly save you time, water, and money. Connect your B-Hyve timer to the hose faucet and attach your hose to the other end. Pair this to the B-Hyve hub and your smartphone, and you’re good to go.

The B-Hyve app gives you an impressive level of control over your garden landscape. As with many of these devices, you’ll get out of it what you put in. Take the time to specify lawn and soil types, plant types, etc. and the app will give you all the information you need to feed them as effectively as possible.

It can alert you when it’s time to water certain plants or zones, and when it’s time to stop. And if your plant life has a habit of meeting its maker sooner than it should, the app can help you turn the tide so they can flourish as nature intended. No more dead plants! And no more soggy lawns from over-watering.

You can keep a close eye on your water consumption, and WeatherSense technology helps you adjust your schedule by feeding key information concerning site conditions. These can include any sloping surfaces, light/shaded areas, soil types, and so on. Additionally, it will track the weather in your area to avoid any unnecessary watering if rain is forecast for later in the day.

The Orbit 21004 B-Hyve smart hose faucet timer works really well with garden hoses, hose manifold adapters, and lawn sprinklers. If you have a larger garden area to take care of, you can even install additional B-Hyve timer valves which the app will distinguish between to give your outdoor space full and comprehensive coverage.

Key Features
  • Fully programmable timer
  • App can accommodate for different garden/soil types
  • Easy to install
  • App will track weather systems in your zip code
Specifications
  • Brand: Orbit
  • Color: Gray
  • Weight: 1.03lbs
  • Dimensions: 2.9 x 6.44 x 8.7 inches
  • Connectivity : Bluetooth
  • Compatibility: Garden Hoses, Hose Manifold Adapters, Lawn Sprinklers, Additional B-hyve Valves
Pros
  • No more wasted water
  • No more over-watered lawns or plants
  • Tracks water consumption
  • Compatible with hoses and garden sprinklers
Cons
  • You'll need to immerse yourself in the app to get the full benefit from this timer
Buy This Product
Orbit 21004 Smart Timer

FAQ

Q: How Does a Smart Sprinkler Controller Work?

Smart sprinkler controllers let you turn your sprinklers on and off remotely, through an app. The app also helps you schedule when your sprinklers water your lawn, and for how long.

Some even use daily weather reports to adjust when the sprinklers turn on, and how much water is required for that particular day.

Q: How to I Make My Garden Into an Outdoor Cinema With an Outdoor Projector?

A sheet is a great solution but a projector screen will give the best views. Make sure it's somewhere out of the wind and in a secure setting.

Placing your screen up against a fence or a wall is ideal. Set up some fittings and you can go for any roll-up screen or simply place a table up against the wall and a pull-up screen will work nicely too.

Then just cluster your comfiest seating around it and press play on your outdoor projector.

Q: How Far Away From Your House Should a Fire Pit Be?

Place your fire pit at a safe distance (10-25 feet) from any flammable structures or surfaces. This includes your house, trees, shed, vehicle, neighbors' property, and wood deck, among other things.

Keep your fire pit away from overhanging branches. A 21-foot clearance is standard for most municipalities.