One of my favorite gardening acquisitions in the last few years has been my potting bench. I do a lot of my seed-starting and transplanting on my screened-in back porch to avoid the mosquitoes that haunt my Florida backyard twelve months a year. My old method was to throw a sheet over our patio dining table and do the work there, but somehow the mess just seemed to travel everywhere, and I never really had all the things I needed close at hand. A potting bench allows me to keep my soil, tools, and more all in one place.
My favorite part about my particular potting bench is the latticed top on one side, which has a container beneath for catching soil overflows. I don’t waste soil now, since I can catch my messes and dump them back into my soil container, stored below. There are hooks for tools, and a shelf above for storage as well as storage room inside. Below, find my potting bench along with some other options you might like, including a few for small spaces and budgets.
Do you have a potting bench? Tell us why you love it in the comments below!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
My dad made me a cedar potting bench about 25 years ago. It has a large removeable stainless bowl that sits in a hole so it is at the same level as the bench. There are enough shelves along the back to hold all my potting needs and a large storage area below. There are lots of reasons to love it, but the #1 reason is that my dad made it for me.
That is the best reason to love it. I also love anything my dad has made for me.
Aren’t dads great like that? My dad made me a special birdfeeder for my backyard to keep the muscovy ducks from eating all my seed. Check it out here: http://myfloridabackyard.blogspot.com/2011/01/diner.html
I have always wanted a potting bench also. Like Jill used to – I use our kitchen table, covered with plastic, but I do loose a lot of dirt, and I have to run here and there to get the tools, trays, pots etc. that I need. Also this leaves our kitchen in real disaray until I have finished. Also if you have company, you have to clean it all up. Then start all over again. One day I hope I will have my bench (I can only hope).
Check out garage sales. That’s how I got mine for only $50. It looks kind of like Jill’s. It also makes a great gift
I think that is the BEST reason for loving your bench!!!
Our old kitchen counter and double stainless steel sink were moved to the garage in front of the window. A plastic dishpan fits perfectly into one side of the sink. I fill it with potting soil or compost from my compost pile. The second side a garbage can or bucket is placed on the floor under the drain opening. As I split plants and trim roots to pot the recycled parts fall through the drain into the container and can be carried back to the compost pile. The counters hold pots and supplies. A perfect work height, easy clean up, relaxing garden view, sheltered in the spring or cool with garage door open when it is warm. My favorite play area.
Our old kitchen counter and double stainless steel sink were moved to the garage in front of the window. A plastic dishpan fits perfectly into one side of the sink. I fill it with potting soil or compost from my compost pile. The second side a garbage can or bucket is placed on the floor under the drain opening. As I split plants and trim roots to pot the recycled parts fall through the drain into the container to go back to the compost pile. The counters hold pots and supplies. A perfect work height, easy clean up, relaxing garden view, sheltered in the spring or cool with garage door open when it is warm. My favorite play area.
Our deck is on a second level so it was a bother to keep going down the steps to find my equipment. I was using our metal deck table, but like everyone else was making a mess. Then I found a 2 level plastic shelving unit (just an inexpensive one that has open weaving on the shelves) in our house. Swiped it and it makes a wonderful spot to work. Perfect height for working. I have it near the railing with a tub of potting soil underneath. When I work on the top the excess soil can fall right back into the tub. Rain doesn’t bother it. Cheapest thing I’ve done in a long time!! Shelves hold equipment and potted plants.
That’s why I liked it