The potting bench is an essential workstation for the avid gardener.
Potting benches act as a sort of gardening seat and are a dedicated space for many daily and seasonal gardening tasks. Keep all the tools of the trade in one place with ample storage space for pots, soil, fertilizer, hand tools and more.
Here you can transplant, transplant, sow, mix the soil and prune the plants, all without worrying about the mess. Standing and working from an elevated surface is also much easier on your back!
A potting bench can be as simple as a lightweight wooden table that can be moved around the garden. Add a few decorative touches and the potting bench can become a garden centerpiece and a place to display colorful plants and outdoor artwork when not in use.
Potting benches can be as simple as an old table, or they can be much more elaborate pieces with ample storage space, a sink, and running water.
Tips for Designing the Perfect Potting Bench
Whether you’re recycling a piece of furniture or building a potting bench from scratch, here are some things to consider when selecting a design:
Height
Make sure the work surface is at the correct height.
It should be almost the same as your counter; a lower surface will force you to bend over while you work, and a surface that’s too high will prevent you from seeing what you’re doing.
Materials
Choose high-quality, durable wood that can withstand prolonged exposure to moisture and sunlight. Red cedar is best, but pressure treated lumber would also work.
Storage
Built-in drawers, shelves, hooks, pegboards, trellises and more provide plenty of storage options for garden tools and accessories.
Think about what items you use the most and how you want to store them.
Place
Outdoor potting benches should be close to the garden and allow plenty of natural light. Place it under a tree or against a wall for a bit of protection from the elements while you work.
Of course, you can also place your potting table in a shed or garage. If possible, try to place it near a window for better air circulation and light.
Mobility
Add wheels to the sofa and you can move it easily.
Outdoor potting benches need to be moved indoors for the winter, so adding 2-4 wheels will definitely make the job much easier.
Extras and Features
Do you want an integrated sink? A fitting for your hose? A mesh surface to collect (and save) the earth?
Here are some of the bells and whistles you can add to the finished potting bench. Plan ahead and incorporate them into your overall design.
putty
Give your potting bench a long life by applying a wood sealer.
Once treated, you can paint or stain the sofa to your liking.
10 DIY ideas for a bench
1. Drop Leaf Table Pot Bench
This tutorial shows you how to upcycle an old drop-leaf table into a beautiful potting bench.
Drop leaves are a bonus for this DIYer, as the back flips up to become a support board, while the front folds down when you need a bigger work surface.
Small details are included like a small shelf, an enamel bowl for a sink, and hooks and baskets on the sides for storing garden supplies.
Get DIY from Garden Gate Magazine.
2. Potting bench with floor grid
A modern looking coffee table with clean and simple lines. This scratch-off build isn’t too difficult to put together and includes an illustrated cut list and step-by-step diagrams.
It also has decent storage space, with two lower shelves and a wire mesh back that uses S-hooks to hang garden tools.
The best part about this piece though, are the slats on the work surface which collect soil in a box below – no more waste!
Get DIY from rebel engineer.
3. Bench for pot pallets
For a quick and dirty DIY that’s also ridiculously cheap, the Pallet Planter Bench should do the trick!
The only material you need is about four pallets, two of which need to be completely disassembled. Remove the nails from the pallets and reuse them when assembling the bench.
Once it’s built, lightly sand it down and add a series of nails to the support board to hang your gear from.
Get DIY from Amber Olive.
4. Potting bench with sink and running water
The Cadillac of potting benches, this handyman is a super functional garden workstation, complete with stainless steel sink and faucet, hose adapter for running water and side reel .
It also has several holes drilled in the work surface to collect soil in a bin on a lower shelf.
And there’s plenty of storage: large shelves below and small shelves above. The back top of the potting bench is a pegboard for easy tool storage and organization.
Get DIY from setting for four.
5. small bench for pots
Perfect for smaller garden setups, this potting bench won’t take up too much space with a footprint of approximately 4 feet long and 2 feet deep. Add four wheels for easy portability around your outdoor space.
The simple two-shelf design is a great DIY for people who have no experience building furniture from scratch. This tutorial includes materials and a cutting list, as well as project plans that you can refer to while building.
Get DIY from white anne.
6. Vintage Planter Bench
This one is less about building and more about bargain hunting!
The example is an old wooden desk from an antique store with a second-hand cabinet on top. No sanding, painting or drilling required.
Of course, you can always dress it up with hooks, wheels and possibly a coat of paint.
Garage sales, thrift stores, antique stores, and local classifieds are good sources of table and shelf combinations that can be recycled into a potting bench.
Get DIY from sara joy.
7. Butler Pot Bench with Tray
Portable, foldable and small in size, this potting bench is made from an inexpensive folding table top with a shallow drawer attached to the table top.
Inspired by a butler’s table, raised sides help contain dirt and debris for easy cleaning.
It is also lightweight and foldable, just put it in the shed when not in use.
Get DIY from Sadie’s Seasonal Products.
8. Reclaimed Wood Potting Bench
A great potting bench with a rustic aesthetic, this DIY is all about storage space.
Although the potting bench can be modified to this design depending on the materials you have available, it is made from reclaimed 2×4 and 1×8 fence posts and windows. In the end, it became a spacious 7-by-2-foot workspace above the table.
With trellises in the back and on the top and bottom shelves, there’s plenty of room for storage too.
Get DIY from the summer umbrella.
9. Headboard potty bench
An old wooden headboard is a great accessory for a potting bench, and this DIY shows you how to add a table frame and two front legs.
Once everything is painted or dyed the same shade, this makes a good workspace for potting and pruning.
When not in use for gardening, it can easily be used as an outdoor bar or buffet table for entertaining guests.
Get the DIY from happiest housewife.
ten Antique Sink Potting Bench
Antique farmhouse sinks often have a high back, a single sink and one or two drainboards, an ideal arrangement for creating a countertop.
Keep your eyes peeled for these wonderful treasures of yesteryear. They were very popular in the 1920s and are extremely durable as they are made of cast iron and porcelain.
If you’re lucky enough to find one, it’s not that hard to turn it into a potting bench.
Measure the sink to determine the size of the frame it will fit in, then add legs and a bottom shelf.
Additional details, such as reclaimed antique table legs, can be screwed onto existing legs to maintain the antique look. Vintage fabric can be tied in the front like a skirt to conceal stored buckets and pots.