If you like plants and gardening, then you probably often find yourself needing a spot to work on trimming, potting, pruning and watering. You have most likely accumulated a fair amount of tools and accoutrements necessary for taking care of them. The dilemma is, where do you store all these items and create a space for working on them? Here is an easy build that can solve all your storage and plant care needs in one convenient space!
Step 1: Thoughtful Design
Since I was building this potting station for my sister, I wrote down all the specific ways she wanted to use it. She wanted a built-in tub that she could re-pot and soak her plants in water, but then dump out when finished (f you wanted to add a hose feature with a drain, you certainly could, however this bench wouldn't be stored near a water source).
She also requested a separate spot for seeds, soil and fertilizer storage, hand tools, and pots. I drew up several plans and this is the one she chose.
Step 2: Supplies
My sister had a large deck that had just been redone so she reclaimed all the used deck planks. By utilizing this leftover wood, we saved a ton of money! Each plank was sanded down and smoothed out. If your potting station will be sitting outside, you might consider treating and sealing the wood.
I chose Kreg wood screws to put this bench together. They are easy to use and high quality. I also used the following tools (which I listed with links if you are planning to purchase any).
Tools:
measuring tape
speed square
Step 3: Cut the Wood
Larger planks were cut using both the hand saw and miter saw, starting with the bottom base pictured below:
I included a 5-inch leg at the bottom to elevate the station above the ground. This was done for several reasons including standing water, for easy cleaning underneath, and to prevent your toes from hitting the bottom frame while standing in front of it.
Step 4: Building
I built a rectangular bottom frame using pocket holes and glue to attach the pieces. The legs were attached to the frame with a liberal amount of wood glue and screws and left to dry before continuing. Then I attached the long planks across the top of the frame. This would provide the storage underneath for larger items such as bags of soil or larger pots.
After building the bottom base, I built the counter top. A horizontal cross brace was screwed in 5 inches from the top of the legs on both sides, making sure they were level. The counter top planks could be rested on the braces and screwed down. If you are adding open shelves or storage slots under the counter, now is the time to think about how you want to space them out.
We purchased these gray plastic storage totes.
The spacing was measured so that we could fit four of the totes under the counter top. One of them would be left open from the top to act like a sink.
The spacer boards were pocket holed and glued into place as dividers between the sink tub and then the rest of the tubs would fit in a larger space without spacers.
Once the tub spacing was configured and installed, the top planks were placed on top and secured to the spacers and sides using the Kreg screws. Some of the planks were shorter to account for the opening in the "sink" tub.
A top shelf was then built upon the back of the counter to use as more storage for smaller items or to display plants.
Once all of the main portions were constructed, we decided to add a tool box to the right side of the potting station. I created a box that would match the length of the side piece of the counter. The box was open on one side because the side of the counter would act as the fourth side once it was attached.
Step 5: Style It!
Now came the fun part, adding some style! We purchased a fun garden sign, gardening tools, whimsical face pots and most importantly, plants!
You can see the video on my Instagram page by clicking here:
This project was an easy build for anyone with basic tools skills. The best part is that it’s functional and capable of storing a large amount of gardening items for everyday use.
If you’re not feeling up to building one of these, you can order similar styles at a reasonable cost.
I'd love to know if you build a potting station of your own, or use this plan to create your own version. Please follow Kellbellcan for more DIY inspiration!
Happy building!
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