Inside this edition: Are four gardening tool storage solutions to help you.
Hey, hey y’all. It’s your girl Rainey with cool gardening tips for YOU – my tribe – the Rainey Crew. Gardens are an extension of our homes, but they require care with tools. The tools you need depend on the size of your garden, and they must be stored when not in use. You also need a place to work on your new plantings, and a place to keep your pots. This does not have to be complicated. You just need to find the right tools and the right space to manage your gardening tool storage.
Gardening Totes/Caddies
If your garden is the balcony of your apartment and is an assortment of plants in pots you don’t need a potting shed or bench. All you need is a tool bucket, caddy or tote. It does not have to come as a set from a store. In fact, if you go to the Home Depot or any hardware store you can buy the tools separately.
Re-purpose a small wooden box or an old handbag or canvas beach bag as your caddy/tote. However, if you want to simplify your life you can find pre-assembled gardening totes in stores and online. I found a cute one at Target for $34.95 made of a poly-canvas material and already comes with three tools. However, cute does not always translate into durable. My first and only gardening tote which I bought from Smith and Hawken before they were acquired by Target is made of leather and canvas. The tote is now over 21 years old, and shows no signs of failing.
Gardening Stool
I want to mention this only because I find it practical. Not having one myself but I wanted to be sure to put the options out there for your consideration. I saw this gardening stool available at Staples online along with quite a few other stores. It costs about $50.00 and comes with a full set of tools and folds flat when not in use. When gardening you are generally in a stooped or squatted position. As a personal preference I would not use this stool to actually work in the garden, but maybe a place to rest and take a break to relieve the awkward positions you find yourself in.
For those of you with kids, if you still have those step stools that you used in bathroom so they could brush their teeth, re-purpose them. Use those stools to get you low enough to the ground to weed and plant in the garden. I use mine for gardening, feeding the fish in the pond and washing the car. Don’t have kids just look them up online. I got mine at Ikea many moons ago, and they are still going strong.
Potting Bench
A potting bench is a worktable gardeners use for small gardening tasks. It must not be too tall and should be at a comfortable height for the user. Not only can you use it for tasks, you can also store pots, soil, your garden boots, and most importantly your tools. Consider re-purposing an old workbench. Give it new life with a coat of paint and find a new home for your garden supplies. You can also use wicker baskets for your storage to keep seed and like items together.
An old hutch is also a great item to reuse as a potting bench. Most hutches have drawers and doors, so you can store your gardening supplies. My potting bench is located in the utilitarian side of our basement. It is an old workbench and does the job. If your bench is going to be exposed to the elements you may want to consider building it or purchasing one made of cedar or teak. If you have the room in a shed or a sheltered area along the side of your home; placing your potting bench there would work if space is not in your favor.
Some families if it is available to them can use a small nook in their garage. Full disclosure, I do not have a garage and I am of the mindset that a garage is for cars not for storage. The reality is that many Americans use their garages, and believe that garages are for storage. If the garage is big enough and well organized then I surrender to carving out a space for your potting bench.
Potting Shed
For homes with larger yards you may want to consider a separate potting shed. Larger gardens require more maintenance and more tools. You will need a place for brooms, rakes and the like. A potting shed may end up actually being your garden shed, and that’s okay. What is important is that your potting table and the area under it does not become a catch-all for other yard items.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to gardening tool storage nothing has to cost an arm and a leg. Maybe all you do need is a bag for your tools, a stool, and a broad rimmed hat. To be honest that is all I needed at first, but as my garden grew so did my needs to upkeep it. Examine your situation and purchase or make only the tools you need to be successful in your gardening adventures.