Potting Benches | Potting Tables

Building a Potting Bench

Introduction:

A potting bench is a workstation for potting flowers and small shrubs. Usually a potting bench is located in a potting shed or just outside the door although it could be located anywhere that is convenient to do your potting chores.

Potting benches, often called gardening tables, are a kind of workbench used for small gardening tasks such as transplanting seedlings. A basic potting bench has a work surface at bench height that is comfortable for a standing person and storage for potting soil, pots, and tools. The more decorative potting benches are often used to display potted plants indoors in kitchens or on porches.

Because the potting bench is often exposed to soil, water, and sunlight, it must be made from weather resistant materials or it will decay rapidly. Cedar or teak wood is a popular choice although pressure treated wood works just as well.

Potting bench

Some potting benches are small and portable while others are fixed inside the potting shed or greenhouse. Potting benches are usually custom built by the DIY homeowner that has a flare for gardening but they also can be purchased at garden supply centers. There are many different designs and styles but most include a dry sink for soil storage, and a water hookup and drain. Garden centers and home improvement stores have several different styles of potting benches.

Potting benches can be made from any kind of scrap lumber. An inexpensive bench can be built from using old pallets that you most likely can get free at a large supply center. Once you have come up with a plan and assembled the bench, you can attach salvaged or inexpensive hardware along the countertop edge to hold gardening tools, or screw casters to the leg bottoms to make the bench more mobile. Your plan should contain an old drop sink in the top for holding potting soil or a seed-starting mix. When you have completed the potting bench you can paint it in lively colors or stain it with a basic stain.

A potting bench is a must have item for most backyard gardeners. It is a convenient place to do potting tasks and keep the mess centralized in the backyard or garden area.

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How to Build a Potting Shed

Instruction for Building a Potting Shed

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