Wormery composting worms are different species from the earthworms you see in your garden, which aren't suitable, and are known as brandlings, red, manure or tiger worms. They live inside the waste in the wormery bin and, thanks to big appetites and a fast metabolism, quickly break down food waste like egg shells, vegetable peelings and tea bags and turn them into compost for your garden. For help getting started, our helpful step-by-step guide explains how to set up a wormery.

Best wormeries at a glance

• Best wormery for high capacity and ease of use: WormCity
• Best wormery for longest warranty and best design: WormBox
• Best wormery for worm composting and self-draining: Hungry Bin Worm Composter

Jump to:

• The best wormeries
• The best of the rest
• How to choose a wormery
• How we tested the wormeries
• Troubleshooting tips for your wormery

In every review, we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best wormeries, below.

The best wormeries

WormCity

RRP: £87-£110 (75-125 litres)

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Reasons to buy:

• Largest capacity and well-designed
• Easy and efficient to use
• Stable square base
• 100 per cent recycled, good warranty
• Well priced for size

Reasons to avoid:

• More accessible to slugs than most

This wormery by WormCity has a large tray capacity of 75 litres, which is impressive considering its size on the ground (75cm x 43cm x 43cm). Our testers found that the deep trays produced a high amount of good-quality compost. We were also impressed by the well-planned design, which features a V-shaped sump and stepped interior. It’s made in the UK from 100 per cent recycled materials, and 500g of worms are included along with food and bedding. We judged this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy as the best stacking wormery.

Read the full WormCity Wormery review

• Buy the WormCity Wormery from Amazon

WormBox

RRP: £92.50

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Reasons to buy:

• Smart, versatile design in many colours
• Suits indoors or outside – fully rainproof
• Mostly recycled plastic
• Longest warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Tap close to the ground, so not easy to drain

Unlike most stacking wormeries, the WormBox model (38cm x 50cm x 50cm) is rainproof. We found it to be sturdy and were impressed with the versatile design, which includes castors for easy moving. Each tray has a capacity of 16 litres, which produces a moderate amount of compost, and the sump works well. Worms and a coir mat are included with the starter model, and there is the option to add a planting tray to the top or use it as a seat, with a load of up to 100kg. A generous 15-year warranty is included, and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the most versatile design.

Read the full WormBox wormery review

• Buy the WormBox from Amazon

Hungry Bin Worm Composter

RRP: £275.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Reasons to buy:

• Substantial capacity to process waste
• Drains itself
• Easy to harvest finished compost
• Rainproof with a hinged lid

Reasons to avoid:

• The open drain tray attracts flies
• Largest footprint
• Expensive

This conical-shaped wormery (60cm x 65cm x 95cm) sits on a metal frame, which is on wheels to make it easier to manoeuvre. It has a total capacity of 80 litres, but the large surface area means worms can process up to 2kg of waste per day. You can access finished compost by unclipping the base, which our testers found to be a simple process. It's guaranteed for two years and is made from between 15 and 20 per cent recycled plastic. We awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best low-maintenance choice.

Read the full review: Hungry Bin worm composter review

• Buy the Hungry Bin Worm Composter from Amazon

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Maze Worm Farm

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon and The Range

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight, compact and portable
• Pull-out tray and hook for hanging lid
• Mostly recycled plastic

Reasons to avoid:

• Lowest capacity per tray
• Slowest to process waste

This compact wormery (28cm x 38cm x 38cm) features 12 litre trays and a central drain. This model had the smallest capacity of those we tested and took the longest to compost overall, although we found the quality of what was produced to be good. A pull-out central tray harvests small amounts of castings, and it can be customised with a range of accessories. It's guaranteed for one year.

• Buy the Maze Worm Farm from Amazon and The Range

Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from: Mano Mano and On Buy

Reasons to buy:

• Neat and compact
• Good-sized trays with handles for easy, clean handling
• Removable and visible collector for liquid
• Clearly written and illustrated printed instructions
• Made from recycled plastic

Reasons to avoid:

• The liquid collector is small and needs frequent emptying
• The lid warps slightly and doesn’t fit snugly
• Worm blanket mentioned in instructions, but not included

This wormery has a neat, square design and is primarily designed for indoor use. It has a smart appearance, although the bright green lid does stand out and may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s quick and easy to assemble and has clearly written, printed instructions. It also has many well-thought-out design features, including two good-sized trays, each with 13 13-litre capacity and lift-up handles, a lid with internal hooks that sits vertically on the edge of the wormery unit whilst filling, and a clear plastic collector that slots beneath the lowest tray to fill with worm liquid. It’s also easy to see the level inside, and it's simple to remove.

However, this collector is small and fills up quickly, so if you’re using it indoors, it can easily overflow and make a mess. This is a particular drawback if you’re away for any length of time, and you’d need to plan ahead and replace it with something larger. Hooking the lid on the side works fine unless there’s condensation inside, which then drips onto the ground. Of course, both these issues wouldn’t be much of a problem if you used the wormery outside, but unfortunately, outdoors, the lid warped very slightly, blew off easily and needed to be weighted down. Most of the worms moved upwards through the wormery into the upper tray containing fresh waste, and this model has good eco-credentials. It’s made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and has a 12-month warranty.

• Buy the Tumbleweed Cube Indoor Wormery from Mano Mano and On Buy

Urbalive Worm Farm

RRP: from £142.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Reasons to buy:

• Attractive design
• Available in four colours
• Produced good quality/quantity of compost

Reasons to avoid:

• Worms drowned in the sump
• Needs a sheltered site
• Made from new plastic

The Urbalive Worm Farm (60.5cm x 50.5cm x 38cm) has a large capacity of 21.7 litres per tray. Our testers liked the contemporary design and larger capacity and found it composted well. The wooden legs were tricky to fit, though, and needed a screwdriver, which is not supplied. We found the mesh “worm catcher” did not work, and if used outdoors, it must be under cover. A two-year warranty is included.

• Buy the Urbalive Worm Farm from Amazon

Original Wormery

RRP: £124.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon

Reasons to buy:

• Large capacity for small footprint
• Well priced for its size
• Rainproof with a hinged lid

Reasons to avoid:

• Hard to harvest compost
• Drain tap close to the ground, so hard to drain
• Made from new plastic

This single-chamber wormery (73cm x 53cm x 43cm) has an overall capacity of 100 litres. It's styled in a wheelie bin design, including a hinged lid, and is rainproof. The compost is harvested by emptying the bin completely, which means separating it from the worms and unprocessed waste. It's guaranteed for one year.

• Buy the Original Wormery from Amazon

If you're interested in other types of composting, see our review of the best garden compost bins and if you're planning on keeping your wormery sheltered or somewhere enclosed, our guides to garden storage ideas and the best garden sheds may also be helpful.

How to choose a wormery

When you're choosing a wormery, there are a few details to consider:

What types of wormeries are there?

• Stacking wormeries: These have multiple trays with mesh bases stacked on top of each other and making up to three or four layers in total. Waste and worms are added to the first tray until it's full, and then the second tray is added on top. The worms work their way up through the mesh base of each layer as they fill up, and another tray is added. Finished compost is removed from the bottom tray, and once emptied, this is placed back on top of the other trays to repeat the process. Trays range in capacity from 12 and 25 litres
• Single-chamber wormeries: These consist of one large, single chamber where the waste is processed all together. Waste material is placed on the top and harvested from below once the worms have worked their magic. You need to empty it all to access the finished compost

Where should I place my wormery?

The optimum temperature for a wormery is between 15 and 25°C; anything above 35°C and your worms won’t be able to survive. You should therefore place your wormery in a sheltered, shaded spot, somewhere you can access it easily to fill it up and drain the liquid a couple of times a week. An outbuilding or porch is a good place, and some models can even be kept in the kitchen. Be aware, though, that they can start to smell if they're left for too long.

What should I put in my wormery?

Kitchen waste is best for a wormery, although small amounts of garden waste can also be added. Raw or cooked vegetables, fruit, coffee grounds, teabags and eggshells are all ideal food for worms. Avoid meat and fish, dairy products and tough woody plant material.

How we tested wormeries

The wormeries were set up in the summer and tested throughout the year. A regular mix of cooked and raw kitchen waste with paper and brown cardboard was added, and their performance was assessed according to the following criteria, each with equal weight:

• Design and setup: Assessed clarity and ease of instructions,  siting conditions and any extra features
• Ease of use: Looked at how straightforward it is to add waste and harvest liquid, any design flaws and features or accessories which affected use
• Compost quality and harvesting: Focused on the quantity and quality of the compost and liquid produced and whether the worms were thriving
• Value for money: Considered the quality and durability of the model as well as the RRP, warranty and eco-credentials

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Troubleshooting tips for your wormery

Soggy and smelly?

Drain liquid from the new waste before adding, and drain off liquid regularly to reduce condensation. If the model lets in rain, cover loosely.

Lots of tiny flies

These fruit flies, although harmless, can be annoying. Bury fresh waste or cover with damp newspaper or brown card.

Mouldy contents

Damp conditions are essential for worms as they breathe through their skin, so they actually like mouldy food. However, lots of uneaten waste may be a sign that you’re adding too much at one go – little and often is best. Chopping up waste first helps.

What to do in winter

If possible, move your wormery into an outhouse or porch. But outside is fine with care; cover with insulating material, put thick layers of card and paper inside the top, and drain often.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

These wormeries were reviewed in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Kneeling mats: Simple, cushioned pads you carry around the garden with you and put down before kneeling. Usually oval, rectangular or kidney-shaped to accommodate the knees. Some fold in half, making them easier to carry and store.

Knee pads: Great for busy gardeners, these are strapped over each knee and worn around the garden, whether kneeling or not, so manoeuvrability is important. The best designs are easy to get on and off, with enough flexibility to move and walk in comfort.

Kneeler stools: Although we didn’t include these in our review this time, they're ideal for gardeners who need support for a wider range of gardening tasks. A padded cushion on a metal frame with legs, they can be used both as a seat for pruning, or planting and weeding in containers, or flipped over and used as a kneeler when the seat legs double up as a handle to help you get up and down. Many also have handy pockets for carrying tools and folding legs for storage.

Best Buy kneelers at a glance

• Best kneeler for comfort: Spear and Jackson The Kew Gardens Collection Kneeler
• Best kneeler for size: Burgon & Ball Kneelo Kneeler
• Best kneeler for ease of use: Town and Country Memory Foam Folding Kneeler
• Best kneeler for durability: Senua Garden Kneeling Pad
• Best knee pads: Burgon & Ball Kneelo Knee Pads

Jump to:

• Best kneelers and knee pads
• Best of the rest
• How to choose a garden kneeler?
• Parts of a kneeler or knee pad
• How we tested garden kneelers

Best kneelers and knee pads

Spear and Jackson The Kew Gardens Collection Kneeler

Price: £19.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable
• Supportive
• Generously proportioned

Cons

• Can’t remove cover

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for comfort, this kneeler is made using five layers of memory foam and ordinary foam, which means it’s squishy and moulds to the shape of your knees. It also provides some rigidity to support your body, which is helpful if you have stiff joints. Kidney-shaped, it’s generously proportioned too, measuring 48cm in length, which makes it one of the longest kneelers on test. It's 25cm wide at its narrowest point and 5cm deep.

The neoprene cover is water-resistant and quick to dry if it gets wet, but it can’t be removed and washed separately, so it needs to be wiped clean with a cloth. There’s also an integrated handle, so it’s easy to carry around the garden and hang up to store. Made to last, we like that the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew receive a donation for every kneeler sold.

Buy the Spear and Jackson The Kew Gardens Collection Kneeler from Amazon

Burgon & Ball Kneelo

Price: £17.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Longest kneeler on test
• Comfortable
• Supportive with shock-absorbing foam centre
• Available in lots of colours
• One-year warranty

Cons

• Can’t remove cover

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for size, this is the latest version of Burgon & Ball Kneelo. With more memory foam than the original, it’s extremely comfortable to use. It also features a shock-absorbing foam centre that provides the necessary rigidity to support your knees, which is helpful if you suffer with stiff joints. As with most kneelers on test, the cover can’t be removed, but as it’s neoprene, it’s quick-drying and durable.

At a generous 52cm in length, this is the longest kneeler on test, offering plenty of room to kneel comfortably while you work. The integrated handle is nice to hold when you’re moving about the garden, and also means you can hang it up for storage.

Unlike many of the kneelers on test, this comes with a one-year warranty. Available in 12 different colours, we think this kneeler makes a super gift for the garden lover in your life.

Buy the Burgon & Ball Kneelo Kneeler from Amazon, B&Q and Tesco

Town and Country memory foam extra-wide folding kneeler

Price: £19.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from My Tool Shed

Pros

• Large and spacious
• Thick and durable
• Handles and folds for easy carrying and storage

Cons

• Size can be unwieldy
• Can't remove cover

Winner of a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, this rectangular, folding kneeler is large and thick and offers excellent support and comfort. With a soft, non-slip neoprene cover and a memory foam core that provides extra cushioning, it's tough and water-resistant, and great for use on all surfaces. There's plenty of room to both kneel or sit on the open. It has double pads, and it's light and easy to carry around the garden. The carry handles stopper together for easy carrying and storage.

It's only available in green, and the cover doesn't come off for cleaning, but it's easy to wash and wipe down.

Buy the Town and Country foam extra-wide folding kneeler from My Tool Shed and Tooled Up

Senua Garden Kneeling Pad

Price: £12.50

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable
• Supportive
• Generously proportioned
• Hard-wearing

Cons

• Might be too firm for some users

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for durability, this kneeler is a simple design made from a single piece of rectangular foam. However, it has several features that make it a good choice if you’re looking for a basic, hard-wearing, easy-to-clean kneeler. Generously proportioned at 4cm deep, it is, however, much more rigid, without the softness of the memory foam kneelers.

Though it’s still comfortable to use, some gardeners might find it too firm for their knees. As it isn’t covered with fabric, there aren’t any rough seams that can cause discomfort, and the coating on the front and back means it’s water resistant and very durable, so it doesn’t tear or catch on jagged stones. It also has an integrated handle so it’s easy to carry around the garden and hang up to store.

Buy the Senua Kneeler from Amazon

Burgon & Ball Kneelo knee pads

Price: £17.49

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Comfortable and flexible
• Easy to put on
• Integrated handle

Cons

• Not waterproof
• Can’t remove cover

Winners of a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy, these comfy knee pads fit easily over the knees with plenty of room to suit most knee sizes and simple adjustable straps that make it easy to get them on and off.  They don’t dig in or slip, and the pads have plenty of room to keep your knees protected and supported. Each pad has a shock-absorbing EVA and memory foam core with a soft neoprene and nylon cover, and they're water-resistant rather than waterproof. Although the cover doesn't come off, they're easy to clean and quick to dry.

Integrated handles are roomy for easy carrying and hanging up in storage. They’re also available as one-size-fits-all, with a maximum leg circumference of 45cm. There’s a choice of 13 colours, and they come with a one-year warranty.

Buy the Burgon & Ball Kneelo knee pads from Amazon, B&Q and Tesco

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:

Niwaki Garden Kneeler

Price: £32

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Available from Niwaki

Pros

• Thickest kneeler on test
• Comfortable
• Supportive
• Removable cover

Cons

• Expensive

Simple but stylish, this rectangular foam kneeler from Niwaki, makers of Japanese-inspired garden products, is generously-proportioned, measuring 49cm long and 29cm wide. It features a 5.5cm thick foam inner - the thickest on test - and feels sturdy and comfortable. Most notably, it also features a hard-wearing, waterproof canvas cover, which is the only one on test that can be removed and machine washed after muddy days in the garden or allotment.

It comes with a woven fabric handle, so it’s easy to carry it around the garden and hang it up to store. One of the most expensive kneelers on test, we feel the removable cover goes some way to justify the price, but if you won’t be doing much dirty work, others on test offer better value.

Buy from Niwaki Garden Kneeler from John Lewis and Niwaki

Treadstone ClipGlove Folding Garden Kneeler

Price: £21.99

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Available from Treadstone

Pros

• Large kneeling surface
• Light and compact
• Handles and folds for carrying and storage

Cons

• Feels a little flimsy
• Excessive handles
• Can’t remove cover

This folding kneeler has an oval shape with carry handles and the handy ClipGlove carabiner. It has a multi-layer and memory foam core and a wipe clean, water-resistant polyester cover. It's also light and easy to carry and use. It offers good support on most surfaces, but does feel a little flimsy compared to some of the other kneelers in our test. It comes in a choice of two colour schemes.

Buy the Treadstone ClipGlove folding garden kneeler from Treadstone

Agriframes luxury garden kneeler

Price: £20

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Available from Agriframes

Pros

• Roomy
• Comfortable but firm
• Handle for carrying and storage

Cons

• Flattens over time
• Can’t remove cover

A kidney shaped kneeler pad with a simple integrated handle, this has a memory foam core covered with waterproof canvas on the bottom and neoprene on the top side that you kneel on. It's a good size with plenty of room to kneel on and feels comfortable but firm, but after a while the foam becomes flatter and the kneeler quite thin. However, on most surfaces it's still soft and able to protect the knees from the mud and wet. The canvas cover is water resistant and easy to wipe down and doesn't take long to dry. The kneelers come in a choice of three bright colours.

Buy the Agriframes Luxury garden kneeler from Agriframes

Spear and Jackson The Kew Gardens Collection Knee Pads

Price: £19.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable and flexible
• Water-resistant
• Adjustable strap

Cons

• Slip off the knee
• Flatten over time
• Can't remove covers

At 4cm thick, these garden knee pads are very comfortable. With three layers of EVA memory foam, they swell back to shape as you move around the garden, so you’re always comfortable when you next kneel down. While Spear and Jackson say this is water-resistant and not waterproof, we found that no water goes through these kneelers even after working on wet surfaces. The straps are tough and secure comfortably around your leg.

However, a big drawback with these pads is that no matter how tightly you attach them, they gradually start to slip to the outside of the knee when you move from kneeling to standing, and it can be a little frustrating to keep adjusting this. They also aren’t fantastic if you’re kneeling in one place for a while. Though always very comfortable when you first sit down, the foam flattens after a while, so they slowly become less comfortable. That said, these are hard to beat if you’ll be up and down a lot. They’re available in green and navy, and like the kneeler above, every sale gives a donation to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Buy the Spear and Jackson The Kew Gardens Collection Knee Pads from Amazon and Tooled Up

Garden Trading Kneeler

Price: £30

Our rating: 3.75 out of 5

Available from Garden Trading

Pros

• Comfortable
• Supportive

Cons

• Expensive
• Can’t remove cover

While the combination of canvas and faux suede is the last word in style, this kneeler is smaller than others on test, measuring just 40cm in length and 26cm wide but, at 4.5cm deep, it’s one of the thicker kneelers in our review. Unlike the equally chic but slightly more expensive version from Niwaki, the cover on this kneeler can’t be removed and must be wiped clean with a cloth. But it comes with a faux suede handle, so it’s easy to carry when you’re in the garden and hang up to store. There are other accessories in this range, like a garden apron and bag, which makes it a lovely idea for a gift too.

Buy the Garden Trading Kneeler from Garden Trading

Bosmere Gardening Kneeling Mat

Price: £5.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable
• Cheap

Cons

• Small
• Tears and marks easily

This lightweight, kidney-shaped kneeler is made from expanded polyethene. It's surprisingly comfortable, despite measuring just 2.5cm thick. However, at slightly less than 40cm in length and 28cm at its narrowest point, it’s one of the smallest on test. The foam isn’t coated, and it tears and marks very easily, so this won’t last long if used on sharp stones. On the other hand, it doesn’t compress, even after a few months of use. It features an integrated hole to make carrying and storage a breeze.

Though a few pounds cheaper than the Senua kneeler, it isn’t as big and doesn’t offer the same durability. If you’re after something compact that won’t get too much wear and tear on grass or paving, this is a good, inexpensive option. It’s available in four colours: green, pink, purple and blue.

Buy the Bosmere Garden Kneeler from Amazon

Our expert testers have reviewed a range of tools and accessories that might come in handy when you’re using your kneeler, so check out our reviews of the best bulb planters, the best garden hand trowels and the best secateurs. Need to tidy up discarded prunings? We also have round ups of our pick of practical garden accessories, including garden waste bags and garden trugs.

How to choose a garden kneeler?

All types of garden kneelers offer some form of protection and cushioning, but depending on your mobility, budget, and taste, you may prefer one style over another. Read on to find out which garden kneeler best matches your needs:

• Is it comfortable? Check the length and width of the kneeler to ensure it’s got enough room for you to work comfortably. If it’s too small, you’ll feel cramped and constricted, which can lead to stiff, aching knees.  Knee pads must be generous enough to cover your knees, so it’s often a good idea to try them on before buying. The best designs are also easy to put on, as well as providing enough flexibility to move and walk in comfort. Avoid narrow seats on kneeler stools, which can be uncomfortable, as well as hard edges near the cushion padding, which can rub or cause bruises. Folding legs are a great feature and particularly helpful if storage is an issue
• Is it thick enough? Kneelers come in a range of thicknesses, and some padding compresses, particularly over time, so you can feel the ground beneath you. If you’re working on gravel or stony ground, a thick, rigid core will protect your knees the best and prevent you from feeling sharp stones through the kneeler. Memory foam provides an extra, soft, squishy layer, so you can still garden in comfort
• Is it waterproof? If you often work on wet grass or in muddy beds, you’ll need a kneeler that can at least repel water, but if you tend to garden for long periods, a waterproof cover will stop the damp seeping through to your knees and will be easier to wash and keep clean. A canvas underside will not only help keep out the damp, but also help the kneeler grip and prevent slipping if you’re gardening on a slope
• Will it last? Although neoprene is soft, warm and quick drying, it’s also thin and could catch on sharp stones and tear. Polyester and canvas are tough fabrics, but check that seams are secure and that they can be wiped clean or removed and washed, to help keep your kneeler in good condition for longer

Parts of a kneeler or knee pad

Kneeler

Cover: usually neoprene, polyester or canvas, this should be soft on the knees but tough enough to resist tearing. A waterproof or quick-drying water-resistant fabric will allow you to work in wet, muddy conditions without getting damp, and will help to keep it cleaner.

Carry strap: useful for carrying your kneeler around the garden and for hanging it up in storage. Check that it’s wide enough to use while wearing gardening gloves.

Inner core: made of several layers of cushioning foam, it should ideally be at least 2.5cm thick. Most kneelers also have a memory-foam top layer for extra comfort.

Knee pads

Cover: this should be made of equally durable and water-resistant material as a kneeler, but with enough give to allow you to move with ease.

Adjustable straps: these should ideally be easy to secure and undo, and long enough to fit around the knee snugly without slipping. Hook-and-loop tape is commonly used, so they easily fit any knee size.

Pad: this needs to be large enough to cover the knee, but not too big to make walking difficult.

How we tested garden kneelers

Our experts trialled each kneeler throughout the gardening year across a range of gardening tasks from bulb planting to weeding, and for varying lengths of time. Once the test was complete, each product was rated out of five and the gardening kneelers that really impressed our experts were awarded Best Buy status. The kneelers were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Comfort and support. Looked at how comfortable they were. Were they supportive? Did they use memory foam or have a shock-absorbent layer of foam? Was there a handle for carrying and storage?
• Materials. Focused on the quality of the inner foam and the material used to cover the kneeler. Was it water-resistant?
• Durability. Assessed how sturdy and strong the kneelers were, and if they would cope on gravel or muddy ground. Could they get wet or be washed?
• Value for money. Considered all of the above, as well as any special features, overall design, quality and style, and the RRP

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, ‘Things to do with Plants’.

This review was last updated in January 2026, and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Want some more gift ideas for the nature lover in your life? Check out our roundups of the best wildlife gifts and the best grow-your-own gardening Christmas gifts to delight the green-fingered loved ones in your life.
If you're looking for more seasonal plant inspiration, take a look at our best Christmas plants.

Jump to:

• Christmas stocking gardening gifts
• Christmas gardening book gifts
• 'Main Present' gifts for gardeners
• Last-minute Christmas gardening gifts
• Christmas gardening experience gifts
• Christmas gardening tool gifts
• Christmas gardening gifts for kids

 Christmas stocking gardening gifts

Our top picks of Christmas stocking gardening gifts.

Garden Bird 5-Piece Wooden Decoration Gift Set

Printed in the UK on sustainably sourced birch wood, featuring five our favourite garden feathered friends. These could be used as Christmas decorations, or around the house all year long!

Price: £35

Buy the Garden Bird 5-Piece Gift Set from Fearless Flamingo. 

Rototo Winter Room Socks

Rototo house socks are soft and thermal, they keep you warm and have sole grips!

Price: £35

Buy the Rototo Room Socks from Found Bath.

Nutscene Twine

Kept in its neat and satisfying tin, Nutscene twine is a firm favourite of the team, although we all like different colours!

Price: £8

Feverfew Gardening Gloves

With the busy female gardener in mind, these stylish gloves have been designed to give the best possible protection, flexibility and fit.

Price: £22.95

Buy FeverFew Gloves from FeverFew.

Compost Scoop

A well-made, reliable, everyday hero. Seamlessly rust proof and spill proof!

Price: £16.99

Buy Compost Scoop from Burgon and Ball

Nata Tomato Candle

Every season is tomato season with this soy wax candle.

Price: £19.20

Buy the Nata Tomato Candle from Nata Concept Store

Marseille Soap Slice

A lovely slice of natural hypoallergenic soap, made in France.

Price: £5

Buy Marseille Soap Slice from Labour and Wait 

Wee Dishes

Handmade small stoneware dishes featuring your favourite fruit.

Price: £10

Buy Wee Dishes from Martha Duncan Studio

Knee High Wool Socks

Great for under boots and their cushioned sole makes them perfect for a day on your feet. Available in a range of colours!

Price: £25

Buy Pairs Knee High Wool Socks from Pairs

'Isa' Baggu Classic Bag

For whoever accidently buys too many new gardening bits when out and about.

Price: £13

Buy Baggu from Keep and Kind

Handmade Garden Tool Brush

This tough brush is great for giving your messy tools a once over at the end of a long day.

Price: £14.50

Buy a Handmade Garden Tool Brush from A. G. Hendy 

Christmas Gardening Books gifts

Some of our favourite publications from the last year that would make a great gift for any gardening book worm!

The Rose Book by Phaidon Editors, with essays by Amy de la Haye, Victoria Gaiger, and Kristine Paulus

A feast for the eyes, this dazzling celebration of roses reveals how the world’s favourite flower has shaped art, fashion, and culture across centuries

Price: £34.95

Do / Maintain: How to sharpen knives, scissors and garden tools by Gareth Heaton

If you’ve ever struggled with blunt knives or tools, Gareth Heaton’s practical guide makes sharpening simple and satisfying.

Price: £11.99

The Secret Gardeners: Britain’s Creatives Reveal Their Private Sanctuaries by Victoria Summerly & Hugo Rittson Thomas

Step through the gate into the private gardens of actors, artists, and designers, and discover the intimate green spaces that nurture their creativity.

Price: £35

Gardenista: The Low Impact Garden by Kendra Wilson

If you want to garden more sustainably without sacrificing beauty, this inspiring guide will show you eco-friendly designs from around the world.

Price: £40

The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing

This memoir weaves personal experience with big ideas, Olivia Laing’s restoration of a wild Suffolk garden becomes a moving exploration of paradise itself.

Price: £10.99

How to Photograph Gardens by Jason Ingram

Learn to take photos like our very own Jason. Full of great tips to make your garden look as good on camera as it does in person.

Price: £26

'Main Present' gifts for gardeners

Something a bit bigger to make a splash!

Garden Utility Bucket

This bright utility bucket is made from painted powder-coated steel, perfect for any vegetable haul!

Price: £30

Buy Garden Utility Bucket from Toast

Yarmouth Oilskins Classic Smock

Photo: Etienne Lane

One member of our team has a two of these, one for gardening, and one for impressing on days out.

Price: £95

Buy Yarmouth Oilskins Classic Smock from Brothers We Stand

Niwaki Tripod Ladder

Shockingly light and stable, this ladder is great for impromptu gardening jobs at height (and photoshoots!)

Price: from £259

Buy Niwaki Tripod Ladder from Niwaki

Merry People Clogs

Comfortable, practical and stylish! These great clogs come in a range of bright colours.

Price: £69.96

Buy clogs from Merry People

Lazy Oaf Gingham Big Flower Shirt

A standout but comfortable shirt with unique large applique flower motif.

Price: £87

Buy a Gingham Big Flower Shirt from Lazy Oaf

The Langley Sprinkler Houseplant Set

The elegant watering can and mister set to keep your houseplants happy.

Price: £35

Buy The Langley Sprinkler Houseplant Set from Haws

Christmas gardening experience gifts

The best Christmas gardening experience gifts.

BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair

Gift loved ones a great day out with tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. Held in Beaulieu, Hampshire on 1-3 May 2026, it’s an immersive gardening experience packed with design and planting ideas, shopping and horticultural help from top gardening experts.

Price: From £19.50

Buy BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair tickets from BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair

RHS Individual Membership

The crème de la crème of gardening gift experiences: a membership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). This grants access to all five RHS gardens, as well as access to more than 200 partner gardens, an annual subscription to The Garden magazine, exclusive access and discounted tickets to RHS events, and more.

Price: £79.99 £55.99

Buy RHS individual membership from Red Letter Days

Last-minute Christmas gardening gifts

Our top last-minute Christmas gardening gifts.

Subscription to BBC Gardener's World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com

Help the gardener in your life grow their gardening skills with a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. An excellent gift, subscribers will be guided month by month through the gardening year, provided with expert advice, practical tips and inspiring ideas. Plus, they'll get unlimited Premium digital access to our subscriber only area of GardenersWorld.com, a 2 for 1 gardens entry card with the May issue, save on their garden shopping with our wide range of carefully chosen partners and get the best deal on travel and events.

Price: £39.99 for 12 issues. Subscribe by 19th December to start a subscription with the January issue and receive free seeds with each monthly issue until June 2026.

Buy a subscription to BBC Gardener's World Magazine

Next Day Flowers from Arena Flowers 

For high-end, ethical flowers, try Arena. Each of their beautiful bouquets has recyclable packaging, and for every sale £1 is donated to Women’s Aid, and two trees are planted in countries suffering from deforestation.

Price: from £28

Buy Next Day Flowers from Arena Flowers

For more, check out our guide to the best online flower-delivery services.

Same Day Flowers from Eflorist

Coming to the rescue if you’ve truly left it to the last minute, all orders placed before 2pm will be delivered the same day by Eflorist. They always use local florists, so you can support a local business in your neighbourhood too.

Price: from £39.99

Buy Same Day Flowers from Eflorist

Dried Flowers from Bloom and Wild

For flowers that last, these dried bouquets from Bloom & Wild are the perfect offering. They have recyclable packaging and send no waste to landfill. 60% of their flowers are grown in Europe in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

Price: from £30

Buy Dried Flowers from Bloom & Wild

Christmas gardening tool gifts

Our top Christmas gardening tool gifts.

Kent and Stowe Capability Trowel

This BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner is more like a Swiss army knife than a simple trowel. It has both a sharpened and serrated edge to the trowel blade, a depth gauge, and a hammer end to the handle. Named after the inimitable gardener Capability Brown, this essential tool makes short work of all trowel tasks and promises to be a much-loved gift.

Price: £14.99

Buy the Kent and Stowe Capability Trowel from Amazon

Read our tests of the best trowels.

Niwaki GR Pro secateurs

These BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winners are our best premium bypass secateurs and feature hand-forged, carbon steel blades that cut stems cleanly and smoothly. They're comfortable, light, and easy to use, and a great gift for any gardener, but especially useful for those with weaker hands or grip issues. They come in a choice of sizes, including small, regular and large and for both left and right handed gardeners and a replacement spring is included in your purchase. A holster is also available to buy and they come with a two year warranty.

Price: £99.99

Buy the Niwaki GR Pro secateurs from Crocus

Read our reviews of the best secateurs.

Greenman stainless steel border fork

This BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner is a beautiful, traditional handmade fork with a mirror polished stainless steel head and a sustainable ash handle. The tines have a high carbon content so they’re strong and the soil doesn’t stick to them and they're also pointed, which makes for a comparatively effortless digging experience as they penetrate the soil easily, even on stonier ground. The forkt feels sturdily and thoughtfully made and, with a 20 year warranty, offers a quality long term investment.

Price: £390.95

Buy the Greenman stainless steel border fork from Sarah Raven and Greenman Garden Tools

Read our reviews of the best garden forks.

Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection High Performance Gloves

Winner of a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gloves for Summer use, these stylish gloves are immediately comfortable to wear. Made from non-padded leather with polyester backs that ensure breathability, hands stay comfortable, even in very hot weather. There’s a small loop on the wrists for easy hanging and storage and the gloves come in sizes small, medium and large. A donation to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is made with the sale of these gloves.

Price: £18.99

Buy the Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection high performance gloves from Amazon

Read our review of the best gardening gloves.

Fiskars Xact Hand Weeder

Help the gardener in your life maintain a beautiful, weed-free garden with this tool, which was given a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best-Buy award. Tested by our readers, it features a long, comfortable handle which gives great leverage, as well as a sturdy stainless steel blade. It copes well with all weeding tasks, and has an impressive 25-year guarantee.

Price: £16

Buy the Fiskars Xact Hand Weeder on Amazon

Read our reviews of the best hand weeders.

Christmas gardening gifts for kids

The best Christmas gardening gifts for kids.

Our World In Pictures

Help kids grow a love of gardening with this educational gardening book from Dorling Kindersley. Packed with hints on how to identify a wide range of flora, each plant feature includes an illustration of its weird and wonderful cross-section.

Price: £12.49

Buy Our World in Pictures: Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds from Amazon

You can also buy Our World in Pictures: Trees, Leaves, Flowers & Seeds on your Kindle, and our friends at RadioTimes.com have put together a guide on the best Kindle deals.

The Den Kit

Encourage intrepid explorers in your family to turn the garden into an adventure with this fun den kit. With a groundsheet, rope, and camouflage tarpaulin, it’s great for introducing kids to the great outdoors and the basics of camping.

Price: £45

Buy The Den Kit on The Den Kit Co.

Spear and Jackson Gardening Set

Get kids gardening with these traditional garden tools. Made of sturdy ash and mirror-polished stainless steel, they’re designed just like adult gardening tools - so no flimsy plastic that won’t stand up to children’s enthusiasm.

Price: £14.49

Buy the Spear and Jackson Children's Trowel and Weed Fork Set from Amazon

Robert Dyas Kids' Wheelbarrow

Another tool made for real use, this kids’ wheelbarrow from Robert Dyas is made from metal and has a working rubber tyre. It’s great for both play and introducing kids to the basics of gardening.

Price: £47.99

Buy the Kids' Wheelbarrow with Front Pneumatic Tyre from Robert Dyas

This product guide was last updated in December 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

There are child-sized versions of classics like croquet and skittles, as well as rocket launchers and bubble-making toys to discover. We’ve curated a joyful selection of children’s garden games, which are sure to encourage them to get outdoors.

For more guides for gardening with children, browse our selection of best kids' gardening tools, best kids' wheelbarrows and best wooden playhouses.

15 of the best children’s garden toys

Browse our selection of some of the best outdoor toys below.

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe

This pretend car is a classic garden toy. Let kids burn off some energy by propelling themselves around the garden, with their feet sticking out of the bottom of the car – Flintstones-style. Or, this updated version, from Little Tikes, has a removable floor so toddlers can keep their feet inside while an adult pushes them along.

Price: £50

Buy Little Tikes Cozy Coupe at Argos

Adjustable Basketball Stand

Great for developing hand-eye co-ordination. This basketball hoop and stand is height-adjustable to suit children of different ages. There’s no need to attach it to a wall – when you have it in position, simply fill the base with water to keep it steady. It comes complete with two inflatable basketballs and a pump.

Price: £44.99

Buy Adjustable Basketball Stand at Smyths Toys

2 Junior Football Goal Set

Young football fans will love having their own set of goals.These are supplied with ground pegs to secure them outdoors, or they are suitable for use indoors – for rainy days. The set includes two goals with nets, a ball, hand pump and ground pegs.

Price: £24.99

Buy 2 Junior Football Goal Set at Smyths Toys

Wooden Handled Children's Skipping Rope

You can’t go wrong with a classic skipping rope, and this wooden handled version should be sturdier than plastic alternatives. Skipping is great exercise – perfect for at-home PE lessons. And this is a toy that children can play with on their own or with siblings.

Price: £3.24

Buy Wooden Handled Children's Skipping Rope at Amazon

Kids' Boules

A children’s version of the classic game Pétanque. The brightly coloured plastic balls should be light enough for children aged six-and-up to throw, and the grooves make them easier to grip. They come with a handy carry case, to make them easy to transport and to pack away tidily.

Price: £6.99

Buy Kids Boules at Amazon

Stomp Rocket

Encourage budding astronauts with these air-powered rockets. You can use them to try to teach children about gravity and trajectory or, more realistically, you can simply let them have fun stomping and launching their rockets high into the air. The rockets and launch pad can be easily assembled in a few minutes and then kids (and adults) can send the rockets into orbit (or at least the air).

Price: £10.00

Buy Stomp Rocket at Halfords

Junior Lawn Croquet

Up to four players can enjoy a game of croquet with this child-sized set. The mallets are 75cm long, and the set includes mallets, hoops and balls, as well as a canvas storage bag to make it easy to carry around and to keep all of the bits together, so nothing gets lost.

Price: £29.99

Buy Junior Lawn Croquet at Amazon

Mookie Catcher Ball

Make the simple game of ‘catch’ more fun with these Velcro pads. Children throw a tennis ball to each other, which sticks to the hand-held pads – ideal if you don’t have space for a tennis court in your garden! Suitable for children from the age of three, this set will help develop hand-eye co-ordination and comes with two Velcro bats and one ball.

Price: £5.25

Buy Mookie Catcher Ball at Waitrose

Orange Tree Toys Woodland Friends Skittles

These colourful skittles play music when you knock them over. Designed for tiny hands, the skittles are small and topped with animal characters to catch children's attention. The set includes six hand-painted wooden skittles and two balls. In the garden or indoors, they will help develop children's co-ordination and their listening skills. Other sets available include safari animals and Paddington Bear skittles.

Price: £15.99

Buy Orange Tree Toys Woodland Friends Skittles at Amazon

Dr Zigs Giant Bubble kit

These are no ordinary bubbles! With this kit, children can make super-size, colourful bubbles. The concentrated solution makes enough bubble liquid for at least 1,000 bubbles. It's non-toxic, and suitable for children from the age of three (adult supervision recommended).The starter kit includes a wooden wand, cotton rope and 100ml of concentrated bubble solution – everything kids need to get started.

Price: £10.99

Buy Dr Zigs Giant Bubbles Kit at Amazon

Flickin' Chicken

Crazy fun for kids of all ages, the aim of the game is easy - simply throw the target disc and then try to get your rubber chickens to land on it, or as close as possible. Think of it like golf, the more times you have to flick your chick at the target, the more points you accrue - the winner is the person with the least amount of points after nine rounds.

Price: £22.82

Buy Flickin' Chicken on Amazon

Lawn Water Slide

Stay cool with this portable water slide. Over 15 foot long, it's made from a thick, sturdy, super-slick PVC sheet that will last for years, and comes with two water slip matts and a crash pad to provide a bit of peace of mind and help sliders come to a safe stop. Young or old, this a great idea for parties and family gatherings.

Price: £22.99

Buy the Lawn Water Slide on Amazon

Glow-In-The-Dark Capture The Flag

Once it's dusk, the excitement can start with this luminous version of Capture The Flag. Just the thing for a child's party, you can play using different scenarios - four people are needed for the Invader theme, while over twenty can join in for Treasure Thieves and Ninja-style adventures.

Price: £49

Buy Glow-In-The-Dark Capture The Flag on Amazon

My Adventure Kit Rucksack

Little explorers will have everything they need to make a sturdy den with this great kit, which includes tough tarpaulin, para cord and steel pegs. There's also a ground sheet and hammock to make it cosy. Once they're set-up in the garden, woods or even the park, they'll be able to enjoy using the catapult and binoculars to make it an adventure to remember.

Price: £85.95

Buy My Adventure Kit Rucksack from Not On The High Street

Inflatable Batons Gladiator Game

Play just for fun or use it as a novel way to resolve family feuds, players must stand on the podium and use the gladiator-style pugil stick to whack their opponent until they knock them off balance and are forced to step off their mark. Easy to inflate and deflate, this portable game promises hours of entertainment.

For garden seating ideas for children, try our list of the best kids' garden furniture.

This Product Guide was last updated in July 2021 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Designed to allow plants to draw up water when they need it, self-watering planters are a convenient option to prevent overwatering, look after plants when you go away or simply provide a little peace of mind. Most importantly though, they provide plants with a consistent supply of water, reducing plant stress and helping to produce healthy, vigorous growth.

Self-watering pots and planters work using a clever process called capillary action or wicking, whereby the plant pulls water up through the soil to the leaves, until it's absorbed and it pulls up more. Within all self-watering planters is an in-built reservoir that stores water away from the plants root zone. This is connected to the compost by a wick or capillary system and the plant then simply draws the water up into its roots as and when it needs it.

Self-watering planters are best watered directly into the reservoir rather via the surface of the soil to prevent compost washing into the reservoir where it will contaminate the water and cause it to become anaerobic and smell.

It is possible to set up your own self-watering system but investing in a more sophisticated, ready-made self-watering planter may be more helpful if you intend to use it often. Those from a retailer or garden centre often have extra features that can be useful, including a water level indicator to show when the reservoir needs filling or an overflow valve to allow excess water to escape.

For more advice on looking after house plants, read our guides to best watering cans, indoor plant pots and the best plant misters. For help with pots outside see our reviews of the best garden hoses and the best garden hose spray guns.

The best self-watering planters and pots in 2025

Cole and Mason self-watering herb keeper triple

Price: £40

Available from Harts of Stur and Amazon

This triple herb keeper from Cole and Mason is designed to extend the life of any fresh potted herbs. Each plant rests on its own felt pad and draws up the water it needs. Nine replacement pads are also provided and can be washed and reused. The base features a lip to make it easier to fill without spillage.

AutoPot Tray2Grow

Price: £69.99

Available from AutoPot 

Endorsed by the RHS this versatile watering system feeds and waters your plants, wherever they’re growing. From seed trays and grow bags to pots and planters your plants will be kept watered without the need for electricity, running mains water or a timer. Fittings and pipework is are included and all parts are made in the UK from recycled plastic. Other kits are available.

Lechuza Balconera Self-Watering Planter

Price: £48.99

Available from Amazon and B&Q

Available in four colours including slate, nutmeg and white, the Balconera planter from Lechuza features a removable planter liner, water level indicator and plant substrate. The pot is also UV and frost resistant.

Lechuza Trend Puro Textured Self-Watering Spherical Planter

Price: £19.99

Available from Amazon and B&Q

This spherical planter is lightweight and recyclable. It has a water indicator to help prevent overwatering and an overflow valve allows excess rain water to escape. The inner plant liner is also removable to make planting fuss-free.

LSA International Canopy Self-Watering Planter

Price: £95

Available from Amazon and LSA

For a more modern, luxury feel, try this self-watering planter from LSA International. Water is drawn up the rope in the reservoir whenever plants need it. The transparent glass is not only a clean, bright option, but a rare opportunity to see the roots of your plants at work. Available in 13m and 22cm height planters.

Symple Stuff Self-Watering Plant Pot

Price: £244.99

Available from Wayfair

The Symple Stuff Self-Watering Plant Pot is a great option for those with limited floor space. It has a modular design so you can customise the height, colour and plant pot angle. Symple Stuff also promise that the plant pot's irrigation system has a range of more than 30 days.

Lechuza Cubico Rattan Self-Watering Plant Pot

Price: £57.99

Available from Amazon and Lechuza

This tall, robust polyrattan pot makes a bold design statement. We think it would look fantastic by doors or arches when planted with bay or box. H75 x L40 x W40

Self-Watering Plant Pot Insert

Price: £8.99 - £18.99

Available from Waitrose Garden

These inserts are a brilliant idea, providing a self-watering mechanism for any pot. Simply pot your plants in the insert, and then add the insert back to your chosen pot. This will save you swapping all your pots for self-watering ones - a boon for house plant lovers.

Available in seven sizes for 17cm - 44cm pots

Recycled Self-Watering Grow Pot Tower

Price: £35.99

Available from Crocus

Ideal for fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers, this tower includes a self-watering pot with a 1.5m cane support frame. The pot has a 11-litre capacity, is made from recycled BPA-free plastic and is also supplied with a float indicator so you can check the water level quickly.

This Product Guide was last updated in March 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Issues with peat-free composts, such as expense, availability and performance have hindered its take up in the past but thankfully, compost manufacturers have responded to these concerns with research and investment and a broad range of high quality, peat-free composts are now widely available.

Peat free composts contain a variety of organic, sustainable ingredients as alternatives to peat. Proportions of these core ingredients are mixed with inorganic materials such as perlite, grit and sand as well as fertiliser. Specialist composts use the above as a base and other ingredients are added depending on what they’re for. These include:

• Coir, or coconut fibre. This by-product has good water holding ability and a porous structure, but doesn’t retain nutrients well.
• Woody materials, such as wood fibre or composted bark. Easily tailored to suit different plants, these provide an open structure and have good drainage
• Green waste. Collected and composted by local authorities, this is high in nutrients and must abide by industry standards to ensure consistency
• Sheep wool. A waste product from farming, it's high in nitrogen with good water retention.
• Bracken. Sustainably harvested and composted this invasive plant is high in potash and a great soil conditioner

Peat-free ranges have expanded hugely and as well as multipurpose, many now include tailored composts for specific uses, such as seed sowing, container growing and grow bags, as well as for cultivating particular plants, from veg and citrus to ericaceous and bulbs. Take care to choose the right compost for the job and always check the label for instructions about the suitability of the compost for a particular purpose; peat-free soil conditioners for example are for working into the soil rather than potting or seed sowing.

Jump to:

• The best peat free composts
• How to grow with peat free compost
• How to make your own peat free compost

The best peat free composts

Wonderfuel

Price: from £12.99 for 25L

Available from Quality Garden Supplies

Wonderfuel's peat free compost has been developed over eight years of testing and research. It's created with a blend of by-products and waste materials that provide a nutrient-rich, high-performance alternative to traditional compost. There are two versions available, Stage 1 which is perfect for seeds, cuttings, young plants and house plants, and Stage 2 which is ideal for pots, baskets, containers and garden plants.

RocketGro

Price: from £18.99 for 40L

Available from Dobies

Created on a Somerset farm, all these peat free compost are part made with the by-product of renewable energy production and completely free from animal products. The range includes compost for seed and cutting, multi-purpose, fruit and veg, containers and baskets as well as ericaceous plants, roses and beds and borders.

Heart of Eden all purpose natural compost

Price: £12.99 for 50L

Available from Ample and Amazon

Enriched with naturally occurring nutrients and fertilisers to support plants at all stages of their growth, this peat free compost is suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants.

Moorland Gold

Price: from £24.99 for 40L

Available from Dobies and Thompson & Morgan

Moorland Gold is free from dug peat but has naturally filtrated peat particles that have been collected from reservoirs and which would have otherwise ended up in landfill. The particles have naturally released their CO2 before being washed down the river and all their composts are certified organic and Soil Association approved. They include seed and cutting, potting and container, and multipurpose composts.

For Peat's Sake!

Price: £5.00 for 3L

Available from For Peat's Sake! and Crocus

Compact and easy to store, check out these expanding coir blocks from For Peat’s Sake! Once you add water, a 140g block of this dehydrated coconut coir will expand to 3L of compost. A great option for eco-warriors, this sustainably sourced coir compost is versatile too, and is ideal for sowing seeds, edible crops as well as houseplants and cacti.

Melcourt (SylvaGrow)

Price: £11.99 for 40L Multipurpose compost

Available from Crocus and Thompson & Morgan.

The SylvaGrow peat-free range includes multipurpose, organic, ericaceous and tub and basket composts as well as grow bags. Most contain a mix of fine bark, wood fibre and coir plus a balanced mix of nutrients that will last four-six weeks. The grow bag and organic compost are RHS and Soil Association endorsed. Composts are available in 15L and 50L sizes

New Horizon

Price: £9.99 for 50L All Plant compost

Available from B&Q, Marshalls and Amazon.

Westland’s peat free range contains their patented Bio3, a peat free technology that includes West+ wood fibre and coir. Their All Plant compost comes in 10, 20, 40 and 50L bags, an All Vegetable compost is available in 50L bags and a medium size Tomato planter is big enough for two plants.

Fertile Fibre

Price: £25.00 for 60L Multipurpose compost

Available from Fertile Fibre and Amazon.

These coir based multipurpose, seed and potting composts are available in organic, vegan and biodynamic ranges. They contain no green waste and are fully accredited by the Soil Association. Bag sizes range from 10 - 60 litres but you can also buy in bulk in loads of 1000 – 2000 litres. They’re not available in garden centres but they will deliver – just one bag or an entire load.

Dalefoot

Price: £11.99 for 30L

Available from Crocus and Sarah Raven

A nutrient rich blend of sheep’s wool, comfrey and bracken this Wool Compost range is Soil Association approved. Naturally water retentive with enough nutrients to last a season the extensive range includes Potting, Seed, Bulb, Vegetable and Salad and Ericaceous composts as well as a specialist Tomato compost. Dalefoot also restore peat bogs, including some previously owned by peat compost companies. Sizes range from 10 to 30 litre bags

Miracle-Gro

Price: £10.99 for 40L All Purpose compost

Available from B&Q and Amazon

A wide range of wood fibre and coir-based composts, which includes All Purpose, Bulb, Houseplant, Ericaceous, Pots and Baskets and Fruit and Vegetable composts. Each contains their patented Aquacoir technology to help plants stay hydrated and enough nutrients to last three months. Composts are available in a range of sizes including 10, 20 and 40 litre bags.

Verve

Price: £7.00 for 50L Multipurpose compost

Available from B&Q

With an extensive range including multipurpose, seed and cutting, bulb, houseplant, cacti and succulent, citrus and container and basket compost, B & Q’s peat-free compost is based on a mix of coir, composted bark and green waste. Depending on the compost it’s available in 10L – 50L bags and is cheaper than their peat-based compost.

Harmony Gardens

Price: £12.99 for 50 litres multi-purpose compost

Available from B&Q and Amazon

Harmony Gardens composts are the first to claim carbon-neutral status. Coir-based with a balanced mineral fertiliser, the range comes in recyclable bags and includes a multipurpose in 50-litre size, as well as a handy growing bag for vegetables, fruit and salad.

Carbon Gold

Price: from £12.99 for mulit purpose

Available from Marshalls Garden

Soil Association and FSC approved, Carbon Gold Biochar composts are peat- and synthetic chemical-free. A coir-based mix, including a high carbon charcoal that locks in carbon and has great water and nutrient retention, the range comprises Biochar All Purpose and Biochar Seed in 10-, 20- and 40-litre bags.

For more inspiration browse peat free composts at Suttons, Thompson and Morgan and Primrose.

 How to grow with peat free compost

Peat-free composts can require slightly different handling to traditional composts:

Watering. Peat-free composts often differ in colour to peat-based compost and recognising whether they’re dry or wet can take some getting used to. Some can look well-watered, others dry, when the opposite is true just below the surface. Check carefully with a finger or by picking up pots to see if they feel heavy or light, and therefore need watering. Some also dry put quickly while others hold on to water well so if you’re growing plants that require good drainage add grit or sand to the mix.

Feeding. Most peat-free composts have enough nutrients in them to last just three or four weeks so be prepared to give potted plants a liquid feed after this or add a slow release fertiliser at planting to help sustain your plants throughout the season. Also avoid compost that's been sitting around the garden centre (look for faded or saturated bags) as fresher compost will perform bettr.

Storing. Use peat free compost as soon as you can and close any you have left and store in a cool, dry place.

Choosing the right one. Peat free composts vary greatly in texture and coarser, cheaper multipurpose mixes with a higher wood content are best avoided for seed sowing. It's worth investing in a higher quality compost and ensure successful germination.

How to make your own peat-free compost

It's also easy to make your own peat-free potting mix, using a mix of different ingredients, including well-rotted leaf mould, garden compost, vermiculite and garden soil. Monty Don recommends a mix of three parts coir, one part sieved garden compost, one part sieved loam and one part sharp sand, perlite or horticultural grit. Find out more about the some of the ingredients used to make peat-free composts, below:

Leaf mould - An excellent soil conditioner and easy to make yourself. If you have lots of leaves, try making a leaf mould bin to process large amounts, or on a smaller scale you can use plastic sacks.

Home-made garden compost -  Every garden should be able to produce this and the key is balancing green, leafy nitrogen-rich material with carbon-rich brown material, like woody stems and cardboard. Take a look at our full guide to making compost and if you're looking for a compost bin see our review guide to the best compost bins.

Loam - Essentially garden soil, you can buy good quality loam (or topsoil) from the garden centre. Alternatively you can use old sections of turf, which you stack up, grass side down, and cover with tarpaulin. After around a year it will have broken down into good, loamy soil, which you can use in potting mixes.

Coir - A waste product from coconut plantations in tropical countries like India and Sri Lanka, you'll often come across it in compressed blocks that expand when watered. It's absorbent and an excellent open growing medium for sowing seeds and growing plants. Buy coir blocks from Amazon, Suttons, Thompson and Morgan and Fertile Fibre.

This Product Guide was last updated in May 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

There are a number of materials and styles to choose from, so we’ve put together a selection of lawn edging ideas to help you choose. We’ve included everything from metal and brick-style lawn edging to eco-friendly and wooden lawn edging ideas.

If you want to complete the look by giving your lawn a fresh trim, we’ve also tried and tested the best strimmers and the best cordless lawn mowers and have a range of in-depth, individual lawn mower reviews to help you select the best model for you. If you're looking for a hammer to hammer in your lawn edging, consider our test of the best hammers.

Once you’ve cut the grass and added your lawn edging, we’ve also got some inspiring garden seating ideas to help you relax after all that work.

The best lawn edging ideas

Corten steel lawn edging

This edging, created from corten steel alloy, will naturally form a rust patina as it weathers. It arrives with a rusty patina already, which will continue to evolve and age over time and will make a stylish addition to any lawn or border.

Gloves are supplied to ensure safe installation.

Price: £26.29

Available from Amazon

EcoBlok FlexiBorder Garden Edging

This EcoBlok border is just the thing for your brick lawn edging ideas, as the material is designed to look just like red brick or stone. Made from recycled rubber, it's an environmentally friendly choice, plus it's soft with rounded edges so it's child friendly too. It can be cut to size and curved, up to 70 degrees, so it’s ideal for trimming around trees or flower beds.

Price: £70.99 for 6 x 1m pack

Available from Amazon

Eco Garden Roman Stone Recycled Garden Border Edging

If you’re looking for eco-friendly brick lawn edging ideas then this is for you. Made from recycled rubber it comes in lengths of 120cm and thanks to the installation spike is easy to install yourself. It can be cut to size and is flexible enough to bend around curved borders, paths and tree pits.

Price: £19.57 for 120cm length

Available from Amazon

Rowlinson Easy Fix Spiked Border Roll

This simple wooden lawn edging is made from natural timber that's been pressure treated for strength and to protect it against rot. The lawn edging is spiked, so it's simple to install without the need for fixing pegs and it's available with a flat finish or domed with a rounded top.

Price: £64.99 for pack of 4, 120cm length

Available from Amazon

Tsugaru Picket Fence

This picket-fence style border is ideal for anyone looking for more traditional wooden lawn edging ideas. Made from pine, the timber has been pressure treated to protect it against the elements and prevent wood rot and insect attack. For extra peace of mind it comes with a two year guarantee.

Price: £19 for 110cm length

Available from B&Q

Blooma Pine Horizontal Log Edging

This wooden lawn edging is crafted from pine with three stacked, narrow logs for a contemporary look. It's ideal for neat, straight edges and uses spikes to secure it to the ground. It comes with a two year guarantee.

Price: £13 for 100cm length

Available from B&Q

Blooma Steel Border Edging

Made from wound steel to create a classic loop design, this lawn edging from brand Blooma is ideal to define lawns and flower beds. Coated in green plastic for extra durability, it's easy to install and the colour helps it to blend in with grass and leaves.

Price: £25.68 for 67cm length

Available from B&Q

This article was last updated in April 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Without a safe place to shelter and a reliable food source, hedgehogs are unable to hibernate through the colder months, but clearing out a space for a hedgehog house in your garden will provide a secure habitat where hedgehogs are able to sleep, nest and hibernate without the threat of predators. While it's possible to make hedgehog houses yourself, not everyone has the time or resources to do so. Many of the best hedgehog houses have also been especially designed to be insulated throughout the winter, ventilated in the summer and are made with materials that are not always readily available in our local gardening centre or hardware store.

All of the hedgehog houses below should last numerous years due to weatherproofing and have helpful features such as removable roofs to make them easy to clean.

Want to encourage more wildlife? Check out our guides to the best nesting boxes, bird feeders, bird feeds and bird tables and bird baths. We’ve also rounded up the best bat boxes to help bats roost and hibernate in your garden. For a gift for the wildlife lover in your life, take a look at our guide to the best wildlife cameras or 25+ wildlife gifts.

Jump to:

• Best hedgehog houses for the garden
• How to choose a hedgehog house
• Frequently asked questions
• Creating a hedgehog friendly garden

Browse our pick of hedgehog houses for the garden below:

Best hedgehog houses for the garden

CJ Wildlife deluxe hedgehog house XXL

Designed to blend into its surroundings and with built-in ventilation, this roomy house has been well thought out with a long entrance hall that's wide enough for pregnant hedgehogs but won't allow predators to enter.  The removable roof makes it easy to fill with nesting material and clean, and it's pitched to protect the house from heavy rain.

Price: £129.99

Available from  CJ Wildlife

Garden Life hedgehog house

Along with a pitched, waterproof roof, the Garden Life Hedgehog House is built with wood that has been pre-treated with a hedgehog-safe varnish to protect it against the British weather. The internal chamber is concealed from the entrance. A Hedgehog Care Guide is included with advice on how best to care for your hedgehogs and keep them safe and happy.

Price: £29.99

Available from Thompson and Morgan and Robert Dyas

Wildlife World Hogilo hedgehog home

Used by the Hedgehog Preservation Society, the Hogilo’s lid swivels to provide easy access for cleaning or monitoring any hedgehogs that may be sheltering. Constructed from plywood, the Wildlife World’s Hedgehog House is finished with recycled agricultural plastic. The battened feet keep the house raised to prevent rot.

Price: £80.00

Available from Amazon

Riverside Woodcraft hedgehog house

Handmade in the UK, this hedgehog house features a narrow tunnel entrance, large chamber and a weatherproof lockable lid. The house itself is made from solid wood, which has been treated with an antifungal and antibacterial coating.

Price: £79.99

Available from Amazon

The Hutch Company hedgehog heat reflecting hibernation house

This hedgehog house from The Hutch Company is hand-built from sustainably-sourced timber and treated with an anti-bacterial coating. Other features include Airtec 1500 heat reflecting ground insulation to make it comfortable for hedgehogs looking to hibernate and a full removable roof that has a locking system to keep it firmly in place.

Price: £67.99

Available from Amazon

Wooden hedgehog house

With a narrow tunnel entrance, the Deluxe Hedgehog House should keep its inhabitants safe from larger predators. The removable panel at the back of the house allows for easy cleaning and all interior wood is left untreated.

Price: £120

Available from Not on the High Street

How to choose a hedgehog house

Choosing the right hedgehog house can be difficult and these wildlife homes can come in a range of shapes and sizes. House materials can also differ and will affect how sturdy the habitat will be, how resilient it is to adverse weather and how long it will last, so bear the following in mind:

Size: If your hedgehog house is too small, it won't be a suitable habitat for a hedgehog to build a nest for hibernation. You're also unlikely to attract more than a single hedgehog

Value for money: The prices of hedgehog houses can vary. Solid wood and Eco-Plate homes are  more expensive than simple brushwood styles but they will last longer and are therefore more sustainable in the long run.

Durability: Good quality hedgehog houses are typically built from water or weatherproof materials such as Eco-Plate and should ensure your hedgehog house has longevity. Treat those built from solid wood with varnish to improve durability.

Protection from predators: A narrow or tunnel-like entrance is essential to prevent predators such as foxes and badgers gaining access to the hedgehog house. Camouflaging the house with soil and leaves can also help.

Removable roof: A removable roof allows you easy access to clean the hedgehog house. They're also useful if you're rehabilitating hedgehogs and need to keep a close eye on them. Overhanging or pitched roofs will protect against high rainfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do hedgehogs use hedgehog houses?

A hedgehog house isn’t just for Christmas. While it provides a safe place for them to snuggle up and snooze during their winter hibernation, it’s also somewhere for them to sleep during the day when they’re up and about again.

April and October are the two best months to put out a hedgehog house, either side of their hibernation season. These are also good months to do any cleaning out and this should be done every year.

If there's an unusually cold winter, the length of hibernation can be extended and you may need to wait a few weeks for temperatures to rise before putting out a new hedgehog house. This particularly applies to cleaning an already established house so as not to disturb hibernating inhabitants.

How do you encourage hedgehogs into a hedgehog house?

The following will make your garden a welcoming place for your spiked visitors:

1. Make sure hedgehogs can get into your garden. If you have a fence or wall, make a hole that’s about 5”x5”, to allow hedgehogs to wander through, but that's small enough to deter most pets.
2. Leave a corner of your garden to go wild if you can, as this makes the perfect location to place a hedgehog house - plenty of vegetation provides shelter and privacy, as well as a habitat for their favourite food - insects.
3.  Ensure there are plenty of leaves close to the hedgehog house, as hedgehogs typically build their nests from materials that are nearby.
4.  Give them a head start when it comes to building a nest by placing dry leaves, straw or hay inside the main chamber of the hedgehog house

While you may want to tempt hedgehogs into their new home with food, it's not advised to do this. Hedgehogs don't like to eat in the same place they sleep and food can also attract predators. Consider building a separate feeding station instead.

Creating a hedgehog friendly garden

Make ponds safe - Hedgehogs are adept swimmers, but if they can’t climb out of steep-sided ponds or pools they will drown. Use a pile of stones, a piece of wood or some chicken wire to create a simple ramp.

Clean up litter - Hedgehogs can get tangled up and trapped in litter. Polystyrene cups, plastic and elastic bands are all common offenders. Also avoid using netting for crop protection. If you have to use netting, keep it taught and store inside when not in use.

Provide food and water - Hedgehogs benefit from being given extra food to supplement their natural diets. They enjoy hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food or chopped, unsalted peanuts. Water can also be scarce at certain times of the year and is the only thing you should give them to drink.

Avoid chemicals - Lawn treatments reduce the populations of worms, while pesticides, insecticides and slug pellets kill off other invertebrates that hedgehogs feed on. A healthy, well-managed garden shouldn’t need to rely on chemicals.

Check before strimming - Hedgehogs will not run away from the sound of a mower or strimmer – check before you cut to avoid causing horrific injuries or death. Single hedgehogs are easily moved, but use gloves! Moving a hedgehog family is more complicated and ideally they should be left undisturbed – call The British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801 for advice.

Be careful with bonfires - Piles of debris are irresistible to a hedgehog seeking shelter, so only build a bonfire on the day of burning or move the pile just before lighting it, to avoid a tragic end.

Build a log pile - One of the best features for encouraging all kinds of wildlife – and so easy to make. It will encourage insects and provide somewhere for hedgehogs to nest.

For more advice on how to make your garden a hedgehog haven, take a look at our guide on the ways to help hedgehogs.

This Product Guide was last updated in April 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Material, capacity, shape and additional features such as handles and internal supports can all contribute to how easy the garden waste bag is to fill and empty, as well as how long it lasts.

The most common materials used include polypropylene fabric and canvas, although more environmentally-friendly options such as waterproofed paper and jute are becoming more common. Polypropylene fabric is often used for heavy-duty garden waste bags because it's tear-resistant, lightweight and relatively cheap.

The size of bag you choose will largely depend on what gardening tasks you intend to carry out and the corresponding waste these will create. If its main purpose is to hold waste from everyday tasks such as weeding or clearing leaves, a smaller capacity such as 75 litres should suffice. A capacity of 125 litres and above should be considered for bigger jobs.

Below, we explain the most popular types of garden waste bags and share a suggested list of some of the best garden waste bags to choose from.

For more storage solutions, read our guides to the best compost bins and garden storage ideas. Or, improve your tool kit with our pick of the best loppers, garden hand trowels and the best secateurs.

The best garden waste bags in 2025

From paper to pop-up, browse our selection of the best garden waste bags, below.

All-Green 75 Litre Paper Compostable Garden Waste Sacks

Made from two-ply waterproofed paper, these garden sacks are 100 per cent compostable and biodegradable. With 10 in a pack, each provides a capacity of 75 litres and a composting guide is supplied with the bags.

Price: £17.19

Available from Amazon

IvyH Canvas Fabric Heavy Duty Bags

These heavy-duty garden waste bags are made from durable canvas material with two rubber handles to make them more comfortable to carry. A PVC elastic band in the rim keeps them round and easy to fill. They come in a pack of two and each has a capacity of 125 litres.

Price: £28.99

Available from Amazon

Giant Heavy Duty Garden Bag

Made from UV-resistant and wipe clean polythene, this bag includes a stiff band that can be inserted into the top rim to keep it upright and open. Handles can be found on the top and side of the bag to aid emptying.

Price: £28.99

Available from Crocus

Fiskars Pop Up Garden bag

With a 73-litre capacity, this bag is large but is easily folded down and stored flat when not in use. An internal spring mechanism makes it simple to unfold and the two handles are tear-resistant.

Price: £27.28

Available from Amazon

Symple Stuff Garden Composter Bag

Made using UV-stabilised PE, this bag is designed to provide a home for garden waste that you wish to breakdown into compost. It's available in two different sizes and features include a zipped lid to maintain temperature and keep out rain, and a front-opening panel for easy access to compost.

Price: £12.99

Available from Wayfair

Jute Leaf Bags – pack of three

If you’re just clearing away leaves, check out these jute leaf bags. They’re compostable, so fill them up and put them in a to produce excellent leafmould.

For more help with clearing away leaves, check out our guide to the best leaf blowers.

Price: £7.99

Available from Crocus

Types of garden waste bags

Garden waste bags can vary in shape, size and material. The three most common shapes are cylinder, square and a traditional sack shape. However, dustpan-style bags that are flat on one side to aid with sweeping up leaves are also an option.

For those that are trying to be more eco-conscious, there are a number of bags now on sale that are biodegradable or compostable and can make a good alternative to plastic garden waste bags.

Pop-up garden waste bags

One of the main benefits to pop-up garden waste bags is that they can be folded down and stored flat. This makes them a great option for anyone with limited space in their shed or garage.

Most will also have internal support in the form of a loop or spring mechanism that should ensure the bags keep their shape and are easy to fill.

Dustpan garden waste bags

Dustpan-style garden waste bags come in a semi-circle shape that allows them to lie flat on the ground lengthways. This style is particularly useful for gathering swept leaves and other debris on the ground.

Handles are usually found along the rounded side of the garden waste bags to make them easy to pick up and empty once you're done clearing the leaves.

Compostable garden waste bags

Though most garden waste bags are made from polypropylene fabric, compostable and biodegradable options have become more common.

Made from waterproofed paper or jute, these garden waste bags are best suited to lighter or everyday gardening work. The size can vary but they typically have a small to medium capacity.

What should you compost?

Once you’ve collected your garden waste, what should you do with it? Composting is a great way to turn unwanted waste into compost that you can use back in the garden. The best way to create compost is with a mix of ingredients. Combine soft, leafy material, grass clippings and kitchen peelings (green waste) with chopped up woody matter, cardboard and shredded paper (brown waste) in a ratio of around 50:50 green to brown.

This will maintain both moisture and aeration in the heap or bin, both of which are required for good decomposition. Fruit and vegetable peel, and produce that is beyond use, are valuable additions to compost, but don't add meat or fish (cooked or raw) to a standard compost bin or heap as it will be become rancid, resulting in harmful bacteria and attract rats.

This product guide was last updated in April 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Hammocks come in several sizes, smaller ones offering a private, cosy space for one, and larger ones providing a place to socialise with your partner, children or friends. With so many options on the market, you can choose one that will bring colour to your garden, add style to decked areas or be the centrepiece of your patio.

Unlike with sun loungers or deck chairs, you can curl up in a cosy hammock, staying warm when the sun goes down. And because you’re wrapped up, it could even reduce the risk of sunburn, insect bites and stings.

So check out our selection of the best hammocks on the market – with everything from double-width hammocks to chair-style slings, as well as free-standing options, you’re sure to find the perfect one for you.

The best garden hammocks in 2025

Browse a selection of our favourites below:

VEVOR Two Person Hammock

This two-person hammock is free standing with a weight capacity of 218kg. It has a detachable pillow for added comfort, and a quilted cotton surface. The curved-bar design helps with the stability, so you can nap without fear of falling out.

Price: £94.99

Available from Amazon

Habitat Metal Hammock

It can be a little tricky to string up a hammock between two trees, but this Habitat hammock is easy to set up. This free-standing hammock needs no extra tools, so you can be swaying in the sun in a flash.

Price: £90

Available from Argos

Barbados double Hammock

This wide garden hammock can take up to 200kg at a time and has been classically designed to exude that traditional beach island look. The hammock can be simply tied between two trees or posts and folds away into a drawstring bag for easy storage, so it's great for taking away on holidays. It also comes in 7 colours.

Price: £89.99

Available from Wayfair

TecTake Wooden Double Hammock

This double-sized hammock with a stand set is a sophisticated take on the traditional beach-side sling. The curved wooden stand provides a hull-like support for the extra-large swing which, thanks to adjustable stainless steel suspension cables, can hold up to 200kg at a time.

Price: £196.99

Available from Robert Dyas

Strawberry White Garden Hammock

Great for soaking up the sun, this colourful hammock (stand not included) would be the perfect addition to any patio or social area in the garden. Made from 100% cotton fabric with a strawberry-print pattern, it promises to provide optimal comfort.

Price: £145

Available at Oliver Bonas

Amazonas Barbados Natura Double Hammock

This hammock (without a stand) is great for families, as it can fit two people, or a parent and children, and has a 200kg weight capacity. Its fabric base is a natural white and promises not to fade if left outside.

Price: £88.99

Available from Robert Dyas

Vonhaus 2-Person Hammock With Stand

This lightweight, two-person hammock has a grey, weather-protected frame, so it can withstand unseasonal downpours and be kept in the garden during winter. The cheerful, striped sling can support up to 220kg, making it perfect for couples and families.

Price: £69.99

Available from Vonhaus

How to hang a hammock

The quickest and easiest option is to buy a hammock with a purpose-built stand. The stand is sometimes an additional cost, but it’s a versatile and movable option. You simply attach the hammock to each end of its stand, usually with hooks or clips, then tighten it so it hangs at your desired level. Always use the instruction manual that comes with the stand to ensure the hammock is attached correctly.

More traditional-style hammocks should be hung between two strong trees or similarly sturdy, well-anchored supports such as pergola posts. These need to be the right distance apart – the length of the hammock plus about two metres. It doesn’t matter if they’re a little further apart, as you can make up the distance with extra chains or rope if needed.

There are several ways to attach the hammock to the trees. One is to drill hammock fixing into each tree, at a height of about 180cm. This allows the hammock to sag in the middle when in use, and it should hang at about 50cm off the ground, depending on how stretchy the fabric is. Then, using lengths of chain and carabiners, clip your hammock to the fixings, and suspend it so there’s a little slack in the middle.

Alternatively, you can use hammock straps, which simply tie around tree trunks or branches, or you can even use strong rope. These are less reliable options though, as rope and straps can slip, so take great care to check they’re tight enough and will withstand sufficient weight. If in doubt, it may be safest to use a hammock stand.

This review was last updated in April 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.