A potting bench is a crucial part of any home gardener’s tool shed. If you are serious about gardening, having a space at arm’s length to do your work can make repotting much easier. Plus, you can organize your tools and keep space available to get your weekend gardening done that is completely dedicated to your backyard gardening.
One of the nice things about a potting bench is that it is simple and doesn’t cost a lot to put together. You can usually build your potting bench and make it durable enough for everyday use and years of gardening. We have put together some DIY ideas for building your potting bench so you can get some inspiration for your workspace.
Potting Bench with Shelf Boards
Image credits: TheLivingRoominKenmorea via CreativeCommons
Having some shelf boards above your potting bench can be a useful feature that can help keep your bench organized and put together. Plus, if you need to work with larger plants, you can have a space to set them while you get them potted. Having a few shelf boards is a great way to make your bench versatile and easy to work with.
Portable Potting Bench
Image credits: abarndweller
via CreativeCommons
If you don’t have a dedicated space to work on your garden, making a completely portable potting bench could be a great option. Being able to move your workspace around is also very important if you have a large garden. Then, you can bring the bench wherever you are working at the moment, so you don’t have to lug heavy pots back and forth between areas.
Simple Potting Bench
Image credits: simonov via CreativeCommons
One of the nice things about potting benches is that they don’t need to be very complicated. All they need to be is a flat surface on a pair of legs. If you don’t require any storage or space for your tools, you can more than likely build a potting bench in a few hours. Plus, this project can be as inexpensive as you want it to be.
Potting Bench With Hidden Garbage
Image credits: TheLivingRoominKenmore via CreativeCommons
Anyone who has worked with plants and done any gardening knows that it can produce a lot of waste. Having a place to hide that garbage and get it out of the way of your workspace can help make gardening easier and keep your potting bench clean and organized. If you can build a bench with a hidden trash receptacle, your potting projects will be much easier to do.
Potting Bench Made with Pine Boards
Image credits: simonov via CreativeCommons
Potting benches don’t need to be made of strong, expensive hardwoods. For the most part, all they have to hold up is some plants, pots, and potting soil. Pine boards glued together can have more than enough strength and durability for what you need.
Dry Sink Potting Bench
Image credits: peganum via CreativeCommons
It is simple to include a dry sink with your potting bench. A dry sink can give you a space to collect potting soil and can even be used with a garden hose to clean off plants or wash away errant soil. Simply place a plastic tub on the workspace, and you have an instant dry sink.
Wheeled Potting Bench
Image credits: cmoewes via CreativeCommons
Adding wheels to your potting bench can make it even more portable and easy to move around the garden. Putting wheels on the bottom of the legs can be as easy as screwing in some castors from a hardware store. If you get some locking casters, you can make sure that the bench is stable as you work on it, and they can unlock it as you want to move it around.
Potting Bench in Shed
Image credits: peganum via CreativeCommons
If you have a shed, one of the things you can do is install your potting bench indoors. One of the main advantages is that you can do some gardening even if the weather is poor. It can be a great way to stay consistent with your gardening work and not be bound to the whim of the seasons.
Decorative Potting Bench
Image credits: lavocado@sbcglobal.net via CreativeCommons
If you have a unique style and a sense of design, you can use your potting bench to express that. With just a few paintbrushes and different colors of paint, you can decorate it in almost any way you like. You can use this to make the bench a part of the garden as a whole and even as an accent piece that fits into the style of your garden.
Gravel Potting Bench
Image credits: peganum via CreativeCommons
Laying some gravel in a recessed potting bench can be a great way to add some drainage to your workspace. It can absorb moisture, which is incredibly important when you are repotting plants. Laying it down on the bench can keep your workspace clean and dry as well as the floor of your shed or garden area.
Cedar Potting Bench
Image credits: TheLivingRoominKenmore via CreativeCommons
Cedar is a great material to use for a project like a potting bench. It is strong and has incredibly water-wicking properties, which is why it is used for fences so often. Plus, it has a deep, attractive color that will fit into almost any garden workspace.
Potting Bench from Wooden Pallets
Image credits: thepaintedmill via CreativeCommons
Wooden pallets are perfect for reusing and building all kinds of projects. A wood pallet potting bench is a simple and inexpensive project that you can build in an afternoon. Plus, it will fit into your garden nicely, especially if you have a rustic, country style.
Make Your Potting Bench Personal to You
No matter what you choose to build your potting bench from, the important thing is that it works for you. The best potting bench should be comfortable to stand at and have everything you need at arm’s length. It will ensure that you look forward to working out in the garden and that your bench says something about your relationship with your plants.
Do you have a potting bench that you have built yourself and you love? Let us know about it in the comment section below!