Outdoor Storage: the Cedar Potting Table, the Garden Shed and the Storage Bench
The different parts of your home have a spot for everything and designated storage: garages for tools, basements for miscellany, etc. But for gardening equipment it's not convenient or sometimes big enough to store tools indoors. With the combination of a cedar potting table, a storage bench and a garden shed, you'll keep the outdoors out of doors and organized all at the same time.
Cedar Potting Table
Simple and effective in design, the cedar potting table makes for a convenient workspace that also doubles as a spot to store soil and small garden hand tools. Think of it as one-stop shopping when you need to re-pot a plant. The basic form usually starts with table that's slightly high set than usual so that you can work standing up without having to hunch over or work in the dirt. Next is a lower shelf unit, all held together with a tall backboard. Along the back wall, you can choose to either have extra shelves for storage, or a pegboard or latticework back along which tools can be hung. The table surface usually has a lipped edge for catching loose soil and a sliding tray or an attached catch for holding soil. A cedar potting table is nice in particular because cedar and other hardwoods are amazingly resilient and perfectly cut out for outdoor use. Cedar doesn't require massive amounts of maintenance, but a little oil and TLC will keep the wood from cracking, warping and rotting. Plus, cedar has that naturally attractive brownish-red hue and faint but enticing aroma. Apply oils and sealants once to a few times per year as needed. To clean the wood, you don't need to buy expensive cleaners. Soap and warm water or Murphy's soap work well, and can be rinsed off afterward using a hose. For tougher stains, diluted chlorine is good, or you can use a power washer, but be careful it doesn't strip the surface of the wood.
There are obviously potting benches made from such materials as metal, vinyl and resin but wood remains a popular and classic choice, as well as the choice for DIYers.
Storage Bench
Next up is the storage bench which holds slightly larger objects than does the cedar potting table.
Storage benches are used both indoors and outdoors, and are made from different materials. Some of the outdoor benches are made from extremely durable, waterproof materials like Rubbermaid. Other models are made from wood, which is also popular for indoor storage benches. The design of the benches can vary like any average bench, some with arm and backrests, other without. As far as the storage underneath, some benches are on a hinge wherein the storage is built into the base of the bench. Other versions come with pull-out shelves or baskets that tuck underneath or slide into place.
Any number of mid-sizes tools and knick-knacks can be stores within.
Garden Shed
The largest storage option is the garden shed, good for those longer tools like rakes and shovels which won't fit onto your cedar potting table or underneath a storage bench. Even if you don't have much room in the backyard you can find one to match your space and also just how much stuff you plan on storing. Sheds come in endless sizes, shapes and materials, including brick, siding, stone and more, with shingled roofs to match. Some of the smaller wooden sheds come unassembled so that they can be sold at a cheaper price and usually aren't too difficult to put together. Like the potting table, cedar is a suitable wood out of which to build. The more expensive and ornate sheds come with all sorts of amenities, including windows, glass doors and electrical wiring. Some sheds are actually so massive they could be mistaken for the old-fashioned servants quarters or very small homes. For most people though, unless you're heavy into gardening or really need all of the extra space, a simple, unlit, walk-in shed should prove more than adequate.
Cedar Potting Table
Simple and effective in design, the cedar potting table makes for a convenient workspace that also doubles as a spot to store soil and small garden hand tools. Think of it as one-stop shopping when you need to re-pot a plant. The basic form usually starts with table that's slightly high set than usual so that you can work standing up without having to hunch over or work in the dirt. Next is a lower shelf unit, all held together with a tall backboard. Along the back wall, you can choose to either have extra shelves for storage, or a pegboard or latticework back along which tools can be hung. The table surface usually has a lipped edge for catching loose soil and a sliding tray or an attached catch for holding soil. A cedar potting table is nice in particular because cedar and other hardwoods are amazingly resilient and perfectly cut out for outdoor use. Cedar doesn't require massive amounts of maintenance, but a little oil and TLC will keep the wood from cracking, warping and rotting. Plus, cedar has that naturally attractive brownish-red hue and faint but enticing aroma. Apply oils and sealants once to a few times per year as needed. To clean the wood, you don't need to buy expensive cleaners. Soap and warm water or Murphy's soap work well, and can be rinsed off afterward using a hose. For tougher stains, diluted chlorine is good, or you can use a power washer, but be careful it doesn't strip the surface of the wood.
There are obviously potting benches made from such materials as metal, vinyl and resin but wood remains a popular and classic choice, as well as the choice for DIYers.
Storage Bench
Next up is the storage bench which holds slightly larger objects than does the cedar potting table.
Storage benches are used both indoors and outdoors, and are made from different materials. Some of the outdoor benches are made from extremely durable, waterproof materials like Rubbermaid. Other models are made from wood, which is also popular for indoor storage benches. The design of the benches can vary like any average bench, some with arm and backrests, other without. As far as the storage underneath, some benches are on a hinge wherein the storage is built into the base of the bench. Other versions come with pull-out shelves or baskets that tuck underneath or slide into place.
Any number of mid-sizes tools and knick-knacks can be stores within.
Garden Shed
The largest storage option is the garden shed, good for those longer tools like rakes and shovels which won't fit onto your cedar potting table or underneath a storage bench. Even if you don't have much room in the backyard you can find one to match your space and also just how much stuff you plan on storing. Sheds come in endless sizes, shapes and materials, including brick, siding, stone and more, with shingled roofs to match. Some of the smaller wooden sheds come unassembled so that they can be sold at a cheaper price and usually aren't too difficult to put together. Like the potting table, cedar is a suitable wood out of which to build. The more expensive and ornate sheds come with all sorts of amenities, including windows, glass doors and electrical wiring. Some sheds are actually so massive they could be mistaken for the old-fashioned servants quarters or very small homes. For most people though, unless you're heavy into gardening or really need all of the extra space, a simple, unlit, walk-in shed should prove more than adequate.
