The Potting Bench

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The Potting Bench
Not every gardener needs a potting bench. An old picnic table, the covered top of a compost bin or a couple of planks over a pair of sawhorses can certainly be used to plant a few containers. In my vegetable garden, I've used the top of the compost bin for years. For the tedious transplanting of lettuce seedlings, from flats to six packs, I sat down at a table on the porch.

But when it came time to build a small garden shed, I decided to incorporate a small porch and room for a potting bench. It took me a year or so to get the bench built, but now that's it's completed, I'm sorry I waited so long.

I studied pictures of potting benches in some of the garden catalogs and I'd scribble down their dimensions or tore out the photograph to refer to later. I'd make note of the material used in construction and then the cost of the potting bench including shipping and handling. Each of the photographs I studied gave me an idea or two. Some of the bench designs were too fancy, others too bland. None seemed to be the exact size I wanted.

Finished potting bench looks like a pack rat moved in.
Plants, pots, potting mix, slow release fertilizer, flats, watering can, misting bottle, and a place to sit down in the shade for those hot summer days.

At one time I considered purchasing some metal bench legs so I could add the work surface. After I considered how hot those metal legs might get when the sun reached them I abandoned the idea.

Finally I took a tape measure, pencil and a piece of paper and went under the garden shed porch and did a bit of number crunching. I wanted my bench to be five feet long and about 28 inches deep. Height would be a little higher than my kitchen's 36 - inch countertops.

I also decided I wanted a shelf (about 12 inches off the ground) below the main bench to store pots, potting soil, flats or whatever else I might need for gardening.

I would have been content with a large work surface, and a storage shelf. However many of the potting bench photographs showed one or two shelves above the main work surface. I had two options. I could attach shelves directly to the garden shed above the potting bench or I could make an attachment for the bench. I decided to make a shelf unit for the potting bench in case I ever decided to move the potting bench to some other location in the garden. One shelf had a 5 1/2 - inch width and a larger one had an 8 1/2 - inch width. Now that the potting bench is completed it's amazing all the gardening paraphernalia that finds its way to the shelves. Slow release fertilizer, pruning shears. plant ties, peat pots, plant labels, a container of fresh peanuts for a hungry gardener, small pots, and lots of seed packets have all found their way to the shelves.

Completed five foot long by 271/2 - inch wide potting bench.
Two shelves were added to hold miscellaneous garden supplies.
Metal strap from Ace hardware hold shelf unit to the potting bench top so it doesn't tip over.
Underside view shows one of two cross braces that hold the 2 by 6's together.

The potting benches in the catalogs were made from either eucalyptus, cedar and the tropical hardwood shorea which had the appearance of teak. I went for fir because my bench would be under a porch and pretty much protected from rain and most sunshine. I also had some old pine shelving sitting around that would get used in the construction of the bench. A coat of wood preservative went on the bench after I gave it a quick sanding.

The only change I might make in the bench construction is the material used for the bench work surface and I might use some of the composite materials that's used in outside decking instead of wood.

If you can saw a straight cut, take accurate measurements and know how to drill holes and drive screws you should be able to make a potting bench to suit your needs. The only cut that wasn't straight was for the sides of the shelving unit which I rounded off strictly for appearance. Lumber was standard 2 by 4's, 2 by 6s and some 1 by 6's and 1 by 10s because I happened to have them. A 2 by 2 was used in the construction of the top shelf and 1 by 2's were used for construction of the bottom shelf.

To finish the project I purchased an inexpensive wooden bar stool so I could sit at the bench, sip iced tea, look at garden catalogs, or pot up a few plants.

Underneath the top show 2 by 4 construction. The two sides of the bench were constructed then joined using more 2 by 4s.
Outside corner and top of potting bench. All wood was straight cut so no fancy joints were used.
End view of lower shelf and 2 by 4 legs.
Bottom shelf boards sit on top of 1 by 2s attached to the two by 4's. The shelf boards were not attached and could be removed. Pieces of plywood would also work. Gaps could also be left between the boards so that potting soil and other debris could fall through.

A search on the internet for "potting bench" should give gardeners in search of a bench lots of ideas for what's available and the cost. A couple of on line sources include FarmTek, RealGoods, and Target.

No, not every gardener needs a potting bench. But if you happen to have the need and a useable space, a garden bench can be a great addition to the garden, greenhouse or garden shed. (2006)