Making your backyard look lush, whimsical, and professionally crafted doesn’t have to require a ton of effort. This list of professional gardeners is here to spill all of the easy (and super low-effort) tricks to enhance every piece of your outdoor space. There are tips for pest control, impressive greenery, styling furniture, and more. Plus, it has all of the budget-friendly gardening-helping tools and gadgets to make this refresh even easier.

Power on this rechargeable mosquito repeller to keep pests away without the need for messy Deet-based sprays or lotions. The lithium-ion battery runs for over 5 hours on a single charge, and each refill of mosquito repellant offers 12 hours of long-lasting protection. Benjamin McMilian, a senior biologist and entomologist at Thermacell, explains that this mosquito repeller “provides a 20-foot zone of advanced mosquito protection. It would take 11 citronella candles to cover the same amount of space, making this the perfect device to protect gardeners from mosquitos as they tend to their grounds."

With a semi-pointed tip, these soil scoops can efficiently dig into the soil and pick up seedlings and plants. The funnel design limits spillage, something that Aileen Carroll, the nursery manager at Van Windens appreciates. She likes to use the scoops "for sneaking dirt in between tightly packed plants on planting day without getting soil on the leaves or flowers." And the scoops can be used beyond the garden — they also work well for picking up pet food and ice.

Use this waterproof tarp to haul leaves, cover equipment, or spread it out as a backyard camping floor. It features four durable nylon handles for easy transport and the PE-coated and tear-resistant fabric can stand up to all sorts of weather. It’s great for hauling and covering, but the tarp is handy for small gardening jobs as well. Carroll says, "[These tarps] allow me to pot up plants on a porch without making a mess."

Whether you want to clean up dirt with a dustpan or get the perfect finish on concrete and other masonry, this beaver tail brush can deliver. The brush measures 13.5 inches long and features horsehair fiber bristles attached to a hardwood handle. And it’s the perfect tool for cleaning up after transplanting plants. Carroll says she likes to use it “for cleaning up and making sure there is no soil clinging to the rim or sides of pots."

This stainless steel weeding knife is the ultimate outdoor multitasker. It’s serrated and straight-edge blades can be used for pruning, weeding, or digging, and the measurement markings help you to plan planting depth. It also won’t take up a ton of space next to your other supplies, and it comes with a handy cover. Carroll says, "It often takes people a while to start using this garden tool after they are gifted it... but once they do WOW is it their favorite thing."

This tapered beechwood dibber tool might look unassuming, but Carroll says that it’s "a great tool for sneaking small plants into already full beds [and] pots without severing roots." The dibber features a ergonomic handle and soft-oiled finish to make the grip comfortable. And the tool is compact and lightweight, so you can take it along wherever you want to plant seeds, bulbs, or seedlings.

Use this hose-end sprayer to avoid skin contact and apply pesticide and fertilizer formulas evenly. Carroll explains, "Liquid fertilizers and pesticides can be applied easily with this tool. This style of sprayer makes it so that you do not waste any product by accidentally mixing up too much (which is a common problem with traditional pump sprayers.)” It features three modes: cone, stream, and fan. Use one of the three depending on what you’re applying to your garden. Plus, the sprayer connects to hoses quickly, so you won’t slow down your gardening process.

There’s nothing quite as handy as a garden hose, and this durable version features SwivelGrip technology, which allows the hose and grip to rotate independently. AKA — it’s easy to add attachments and coil it up for storage. "I bring a hose to many of my job sites. Hard to trip over this neon hose! It doesn't kink up either,” says Carroll. And if you’re feeling thirsty on the job, this hose features an inner tube designed to be drinking water-safe.

Use this multi-function hose attachment to water plants and seedlings with a gentle shower or clean surfaces with a strong jet. Carroll says, "Instead of a trigger pull, this sprayer has a slide bar meaning you don't have to continually squeeze it to keep water coming out. [It has] two spray functions, shower and stream, the only two you really need!” At under $20, this nozzle is an inexpensive way to keep your home and garden looking good.........

© Mic