Why You Need An Outdoor Potting Bench

Why You Need An Outdoor Potting Bench

Do you have a potting bench in your garden?  A place where you can plant seeds and pot your flowers?  This is something that I have been thinking about for some time.  While I do have a potting bench in Pinecone Cottage, I don’t really want to be dragging in potting soil and water.  So I decided to create an outdoor potting bench.

I’m using an area behind my garden shed because it has quick access to water and there is room to store a variety of garden tools and supplies.  And it’s a hidden area if I want a little privacy.

My potting bench is actually a metal work table that I discovered at our local metal junk yard.  It’s a sturdy table that I don’t have to worry about damaging.  It can handle water as well as any mess.  And it can sit out during the winter months without risk of harm.

So here are some reasons that you need a potting bench if you like to garden.  Whether you have a dedicated space for flowers, herbs and vegetables or if you just like to keep flower pots blooming all summer.  You need a place to pot up those plants.

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Why Every Gardener Needs an Outdoor Potting Bench…

A dedicated space to keep all of your supplies

If you garden regularly, then you definitely will have a stash of tools and supplies for your work.  Keeping them all together in one place makes the gardening tasks easier.  You are not constantly looking for your gloves or clippers.  If you have a place for everything and you consistently return those items then they will always be there when you need them.

It’s easier on your back

You can do many planting chores at your garden bench.  This decreases the amount of bending over and can help reduce back pain.  When you garden, you are bending, squatting and stretching.  Being able to work at table height can reduce some of the stress on your back.  If you have a stool to sit on that can help ease back issues as well.

A potting bench can serve other purposes

Depending on where your bench is located, you could use your potting bench as a serving area for a summer party.  I used mine for my daughter’s wedding shower last summer.  It could also be a staging area for your backyard projects.  You can dress your potting bench up for the seasons such as Autumn and Christmas.

It’s a place to plan and dream

Working at your potting bench can be a time of contemplation.  In the quiet of the morning you can think through your day as you listen to the birds sing.  When you need to get away from the chaos of life you can enjoy peace at your potting bench.  Whether you are dreaming of your future garden or life, the potting bench offers an opportunity to just be quiet and think.

Just because a potting table is your work area, this doesn’t mean that it can’t look nice as well.  Add your favorite decor touches to make it your own space.  I love vintage containers so I am including some of my vintage items to help add some charm.

Creating a potting bench does not have to cost a lot of money.  Use what you have to start with and then keep thinking and planning how to make it better.  This metal table is not my first potting bench.  Over the years I have used outdoor patio furniture, a homemade bench that my husband made and the zinc topped cabinet that I have in Pinecone Cottage.  I didn’t spend a lot of money on any of them but they all served me well as an area to plant and grow my garden.