Costco's Highest-Rated Outdoor Essentials From Spring & Summer

Nothing beats a cool spring day or a toasty summer one. While warmer seasons can offer a great excuse for more time outside, sometimes your property needs a little bit of help to make it extra appealing. Weeds will grow in your garden beds, your patio furniture will begin to wear out, and your friends and family might not want to spend time in your yard without the right essentials. Fortunately, Costco has tons of products that are perfect for spring and summer activities. 

Whether you consider yourself an avid gardener, a bird watcher, a consummate host, or just someone who wants to sit back with a cool beverage, there are specific seasonal items that are highly rated for outdoor use. A new set of Adirondack chairs can take your patio from sterile to homey, while a fresh sectional can make a basic Midwestern backyard feel like you're at a resort. For plant lovers, a raised garden bed or greenhouse can drastically improve your gardening, and some shade sails or a gazebo are perfect for long, lazy summer afternoons. Whatever your flavor of outdoor activities or needs looks like, Costco's essentials can help you make the most of this year.

There might be no better option for your outdoor area this spring and summer than a good Adirondack chair. The Polywood Long Beach Modern Adirondack Chair ($179.99) is a heavy-duty option that has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Costco buyers. It has a 4.6 rating across over 1,000 reviews, many of which mention how comfy it is. This model is ideal for gathering around a fire pit with loved ones or kicking back with a cool beverage on a weeknight. While some reviewers mention issues with installation, others say that the manufacturer helped them troubleshoot.

A good outdoor side table is an absolute essential this spring or summer, allowing you a secure place to leave a glass of water, a beer, your phone, or a portable speaker. The Leisure Line Adirondack Side Table ($94.99) is a crowd-pleaser, with a 4.5-star average from more than 1,900 reviews. Buyers comment on the durability and attractiveness of this simple side table. The versatile appearance makes it a great aesthetic addition to your outdoor area, while the lower shelf gives you a natural spot to place a potted plant.

If this is the year that you're going to up your outdoor hosting game, the Agio Valmar 5-piece Outdoor Patio Fire Seating Set ($2,999.99) can knock out a number of essentials in one fell swoop. While $3,000 isn't cheap by any means, the fact that you get substantial seating, as well as a fire feature to gather around, could make this a great purchase. All of the four seating pieces have gliding capabilities, and two are also swivel models. Customers have also offered very positive feedback, giving the set an average rating of 4.8 stars.

If you love your indoor sectional and want to bring that same level of relaxation to your yard or patio, it might be time to consider an outdoor model. The Thomasville Dillard 3-piece Convertible Outdoor Patio Sectional ($2,599.99) is highly rated (a 4.6-star average) for its appearance and performance. Equipped with Sunbrella fabric, the upholstery should last for many seasons of sunny weather. Customers praise it for meeting their every desire in terms of comfort, and several reviews mention the firmness of the piece, which is a plus for those seeking supportive seating.

You should always account for outdoor storage during the spring and summer. Instead of stashing your items in the back of a dirty shed, purchase a dedicated bin that can hold a variety of items. The Keter Cortina 30 Gallon Resin Deck Box for Patio Outdoor Storage ($59.99) has received high marks from buyers (4.7 stars on average) and is great for storing extra patio cushions, gardening gear like a trowel and potting soil, or even extra flower pots.

Whether you have a large backyard or a postage-stamp-sized lot, a nice garden bench can revolutionize your relationship with the outdoors this spring and summer. The Polywood Long Beach Garden Bench ($299.99) is affordably priced with a 4.7-star average rating, and it's praised for being durable and attractive. The bench is big enough to accommodate a couple of people and is said to be relatively easy to assemble — though one reviewer says that its heavy weight makes it a bit of a challenge to move afterward.

A good rocking chair is the quintessential element that your outdoor space needs to truly feel ready for the warm-weather months. While finding a good one can be a challenge, there are many that can give your patio a nostalgic, relaxing feel, such as the Leisure Line Outdoor Rocking Chair ($199.99). Customers give it a 4.8-star average rating across more than 1,300 reviews, with many noting how comfy it is. They also appreciate how easy it is to put together and say that it seems durable and ready to use for many years.

Spring and summer mean more opportunities to work in the garden. If your current set of digging tools is suffering from telltale signs of wear and tear like rust, purchasing a new set could be wise. The Corona Garden Digging set ($59.99) from Costco has a number of important gardening tools in it: A hoe and cultivator tool, a 7-tine rake, a transplanter, a hand cultivator, and a large scoop, each equipped with ComfortGEL hand grips to improve your experience while using them. As of this writing, the set has a 4.7-star average rating across almost 100 customers.

Whether you are an avid gardener or are just beginning, a raised planter is a worthwhile investment that makes gardening more enjoyable. Once you have familiarized yourself with the ultimate guide to starting a raised garden bed, you can check out the Self-watering Elevated Garden Planter ($199.99). It's highly rated, with a 4.6-star average across over 1,600 reviews, and it's designed to be sturdy and easy to assemble. And though it is a generous size, its design makes it simple to access the backside when pruning current plants or adding new ones.

Want to add some charm to your outdoor area this spring and summer? One of the best ways to elevate the appearance of your yard is with some high-quality planters. These affordable models, the Theo Resin Planters by Trendspot, 2-pack ($42.99), have an average rating of 4.8 stars, and their large size means you can fill them with your favorite seasonal blooms. On top of saying they look nice, customers say they're durable and lightweight, which is a big plus when it comes time to move them or repot your plants.

Birdwatching is an excellent way to pass the warmer spring and summer days, but avian amigos won't necessarily come to your yard without good reason. A bird bath can provide just what your yard needs to lure them in for your admiration, and the Pure Copper Standing Bird Bath ($74.99) is a beautiful purchase with an average rating of 4.6 stars. It will improve the visual appeal of your yard, and it can be easily tucked into any corner. Another perk is that this bird bath is crafted from copper, an antimicrobial material, so it will stay cleaner for longer.

If you're interested in enhancing the overall feel of your yard this spring and summer, now might be a good time to invest in the soundscape. This Metal Wind Chime Stand ($58.99) is a statement both visually and audibly, providing some respite from the hustle and bustle of normal life. Customers who have purchased this chime stand say that it's sturdy and easy to assemble, and it has an average rating of 4.7 stars. Just remember: You'll need to also purchase a compatible wind chime to pair with it, like this Stylecraft Double Wind Chime ($44.99).

Nothing says spring quite as well as bulbs that sprout up in gorgeous blooms. For a surprising purchase, consider the Longfield Gardens Lily Collections, 35-count ($59.99) from Costco. These bulbs have received positive ratings in the past (an average of 4.5 stars), so you can be pretty confident that they will come up well in your own garden. They're great for adding gorgeous color that you can appreciate during the warmer seasons. Before getting started, however, check out this must-know bulb-planting tip from our expert gardener.

Looking to keep your lawn's appearance as good as can be? The Greenworks 80V 8-inch Gen 2 Brushless Edger ($299.99) is an affordably priced set that can deliver impressive results in your back or front yard. Its rechargeable capabilities mean no more lugging around heavy cans of gasoline, and the edger comes with extra blades, so it's easy to keep operating in peak condition. Many customers are happy with their purchase (it has an average rating of 4.5 stars), with some saying it gives a professional-level appearance to their lawn. 

Maintaining a pristine garden in the spring and summer can often be synonymous with endless weed pulling and yard maintenance. If you want to save some time and give your back muscles a break, artificial turf could be a good choice. PreGra 50-ounce Premium Artificial Turf ($109.99) offers the same appearance as grass — choose between Bermuda and Fescue — without requiring the same amount of upkeep. Customers who have purchased this turf give it a 4.6-star average rating, saying that it works well in lieu of a patio rug or as a base for a kiddie pool.

Spring and summer are prime time for gardening, and if you're a true enthusiast of all things plants, investing in a greenhouse might feel like a splurge. That being said, choosing the right model for your yard can truly catapult the success of your garden work. If you're looking for a greenhouse that will transform your backyard, the Yardistry 8-by-10-foot Greenhouse ($1,999) available at Costco could be a good option. It has an average rating of 4.6 stars, and customers who have purchased this model say that it is high quality, although it does require a good amount of time and effort to construct.

For all there is to love about summertime, the blazing heat of the sun can be unpleasant. One way to beat the heat without missing out on fresh air is with a shade sail, which provides relief from direct sunlight without an involved structural assembly. The Coolaroo 13-by-7-foot Rectangle Shade Sail ($42.99) is affordable and easy to implement into your outdoor space, no matter your yard's size or shape. It has an average rating of 4.6 stars, and one customer from Florida writes that the product transformed their patio from brutally hot to pleasant in mere minutes.