Essentials for your Potting Shed

When creating a space for your gardening projects, you'll have quite a few decisions to make. Once you've already browsed steel garages and sheds, checked out window options, and chosen whether or not to lay stones for a walkway, you'll need to furnish your structure. But what do you need? There are so many ideas online that just looking at them makes you a little dizzy, and then many of them are way too elaborate for your budget.

Don't panic! Before you worry about putting floral hangings on the walls and adding stained glass to the windows, here are some absolute necessities that you should get squared away.

A Table

You'll need this when you are doing the plant potting that the shed is named for, as it's a heck of a lot easier than bending down and doing it all on the ground. Many people have more than one table, often set up against the walls to be used as makeshift counters. They should be made of materials that are either easy to clean or that you don't mind getting dirty. If you're looking to save money, consider using an appropriately-sized salvaged dresser with the drawers taken out and shelving put in.

Shelving

Speaking of shelving, you'll want to have as much of it as you practically can in your shed. Empty walls and spots over your tables can be taken up by basic wooden shelves that will hold everything from pots, fertiliser and bags of gardening soil to watering cans, germination kits, and an assortment of seeds in jars. Keeping organised is, after all, the key to a good garden, and that starts in the potting shed.

Hooks

Shelving isn't the only kind of storage that matters. There are quite a few tools and other accessories that hardly lend themselves to being placed in baskets or on shelves. Hooks are a great way to manage items like gardening hats and jackets, oddly-shaped tools like spades and clippers, and drying herbs.

A Bench or Stool

It may seem obvious to say so, but you really should get a bench or stool that sits comfortably at the level of at least one of your tables. Standing for long periods while planting and preparing can be tiring, even for the young and hale, and many of the people who enjoy gardening are older. Benches are solid and often offer extra space for multiple people, but a stool offers easy manoeuvrability. Pick the one that suits your needs best!

A Sink

If you have the money for this one, a sink is an incredibly useful addition to any gardening shed. Having one will allow you to water the flowers with ease before or as you plant them (immediate watering is crucial for the newly-planted) and without having to trek across the yard to find the hose. In addition, you'll be able to wash your hands when you've gotten them so dirty that you don't want to touch the doorknobs to get into the house.

No matter how old you are or what kind of life you lead, gardening can be incredibly therapeutic and rewarding. However, in order to get the best result from your efforts, having a potting shed with all of the right furnishings is key. By working hard and ensuring that you have the basic necessities, your flourishing garden can become your pride and joy (and potentially, the envy of the neighbourhood).