Garden & Outdoor Living

How to shop for garden and outdoor living gear online

Seeds: open-pollinated, heirloom and hybrid. Open-pollinated varieties grow true to type, so you can save seeds year after year. Heirlooms are open-pollinated varieties with a long history. Hybrids (F1) often offer disease resistance or uniformity but do not breed true from saved seed. Non-GMO is standard for home garden seed; almost no genetically engineered seed is sold to home gardeners. Check days to maturity against your frost dates and USDA hardiness zone, and look for the packed-for year, since germination rates fall as seed ages.

Pollinator plantings. Native milkweed supports monarchs; choose species native to your region. Wildflower mixes should list species and be free of invasive plants for your area.

Pizza ovens. Check fuel type (wood pellets, propane or dual-fuel), the opening and stone size (12-inch versus 16-inch pizzas), and the maximum temperature; Neapolitan-style pizza needs 800F-plus stone temperatures. An infrared thermometer is the most useful accessory. Place ovens on a non-combustible surface with clearance from walls and overhangs.

Fire pit tables and patio heaters. Look at BTU output, whether the propane tank hides inside the base, and lid or cover availability. Check local burn rules and HOA restrictions, and never use propane appliances in enclosed spaces.

Gazebos and pergolas. Hardtop gazebos with steel or polycarbonate roofs handle weather better than soft canopies; check the stated snow load and wind rating for your climate. Cedar resists rot but benefits from sealing. Ask whether your town requires a permit for permanent structures, and plan for anchoring into concrete or a deck. Assembly of a large gazebo is a multi-person, multi-hour job. Freight is delivered curbside, so you move the boxes yourself.

Replacement canopies. Match the exact model number of your gazebo, not just the dimensions, since frame designs vary.

Sale-item and freight traps. Pizzello's 60-day window excludes sale items, and its ovens were on sale when we reviewed, so treat those as final. Sunjoy excludes sale, discounted and coupon items from returns, and most of its catalog was marked down; full-price returns need pre-authorization, six photos, shipment within 7 days of approval and a possible 15 to 20% restocking fee. Inspect freight on delivery and note damage before signing.

Warranty. Pizzello includes a one-year warranty, extendable to three years for $25 on its own site. Sunjoy points canopy and netting warranties to each product's manual.

Budget tiers. Seed packets run under $5; collections up to a few dozen dollars. Entry pizza ovens start around $150; fire pit tables $200 to $500. Hardtop gazebos range from roughly $1,000 to several thousand.

Which brand fits which buyer

• Home vegetable gardeners and seed savers wanting heirloom and open-pollinated varieties: The Living Seed Company.
• Pollinator gardeners planting milkweed and wildflowers: The Living Seed Company.
• First-time pizza oven buyers wanting to try outdoor pizza under $150: Pizzello, knowing sale items are final.
• Homeowners wanting a hardtop or cedar gazebo with free curbside freight: Sunjoy, confirming sale status first.
• Owners of warehouse-club Sunjoy gazebos needing an exact-fit canopy or netting: Sunjoy.