Garden DIY: Creating a Beautiful Potting Bench

by Bill and Aby Brooks, REALTORS® 09/12/2021


 Photo by Andy via Pixabay

A potting bench can provide you with a place to work on your garden, from starting seeds to grafting and transplanting. Ideally, your bench should be at a comfortable height for you to work at, be sturdy enough to support plants and tools and enhance the look of your yard. You have several options when it comes to creating a potting bench; choose the one that works best for you: 

Reinvent an existing piece: Think outside the box and update an existing piece to make it into a potting bench. A fresh coat of exterior paint, some hooks for tools and a few other extras are all you need to convert a piece of furniture to meet your needs. Sideboards, dressers, desks and other pieces of furniture that are sturdy but that have gone out of style are ideal candidates. 

Build it yourself: A potting bench is an ideal beginner's building project; a drill, wood screws, hammer and nails are usually enough to make your own potting bench. You do not need to have a saw-- most big box stores will cut lumber to your specifications when asked. A potting bench made from construction 2x4's is sturdy and affordable to make and free plans can be found online from a wide range of sources. If you have some tools, want to develop your skills and make something that is uniquely yours, then this approach will do. 

Use a kit: Love DIY, but not sure where to start? You can purchase a kit to make your own potting bench from a variety of sources. Kits come with pre-cut lumber, fasteners and other items to create your own piece; you'll need to decide what finish to use when you are done. A kit combines the ease of repurposing another piece with the customization of a true DIY build. 

Before you begin, list out how you'll use the potting bench and what you want it to do. You should also measure the space you want the bench to go and determine the right height for you -- the height will vary depending on your own physical stature and how you like to work. Once you have these details, you can look for peices to repurpose or plans to build from. Give yourself a weekend to complete this project, then expect to enjoy it for years to come. 

About the Author
Author

Bill and Aby Brooks, REALTORS®

Aby’s understanding of excellent customer service stems from her extensive professional background. Prior to earning her real estate license in 2005, along with her college degree that focuses on business and engineering, Aby was the head of purchasing, inventory and quality assurance for an OEM medical and aerospace manufacturing company. Known by her clients and fellow realtors for her tenacity, honesty, integrity, and attention to detail, as a full-time realtor, she is also appreciated for her quick response to her client’s needs. Aby has been an avid horse rider and owner since the age of eight, with her husband Billas a local firefighter/EMT they are very active within the community. Bill served as a US Army Airborne Ranger in 75th Ranger Regiment, he is a combat-wounded veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart. Bill's background as facility Manager for an International metals company and as a firefighter/EMT gives him the experience, attention to detail and the desire to go above and beyond to serve his customers. The Brooks' serve on the board of a local non-profit (501c3) that gives back to the veterans, first responders and their families. The Brooks family resides on their small ranch in Manatee County. Aby& Bill excel in all types of real estate and their passion is helping people. “We genuinely like people, growing up in Sarasota and Manatee counties and now raising our own family here, it is an absolute pleasure to share our growing area with newcomers and reminisce with longtime residents. Our area has so much to offer and it is our business to help folks buy and sell their own piece of paradise.”