Free Potting Bench Plans: Build a Potting Bench

A potting bench is an accessory outdoor furniture, designed for performing various gardening activities such as mixing the potting soil, filling up soil in the pots, transplantation of plantlets and adding fertilizers to the potted plants. At times, it is used for displaying the potted plants both indoors and outdoors. A typical potting bench should have a work place and a storage area for keeping the empty pots, potting soil, fertilizers and gardening tools. Hence, with a potting bench, you can organize all the gardening requirements in one location.

Free Potting Bench Plans

Potting benches are available in various designs. As many of the gardeners prefer building custom potting benches, the basic plans and building materials are according to the individual choice. Some are small and portable that are designed with wheels for carting the bench in the garden; whereas others are large and fixed at one location. There are simple projects for building potting benches, which can be accomplished easily with basic carpenter skills.

You can access free potting bench plans from the Internet, from which you can download a particular design as per your requirements. In case, you are comfortable with advanced woodworking skills, you can choose elaborate designs of potting benches. Such free potting bench plans are provided with complete instructions for building the functional potting benches. Constructing a potting bench can be completed within 2 - 3 days.

Building a Potting Bench

Since the potting benches are mostly exposed to soil, atmospheric moisture, water and sunlight, they are susceptible to rots, termites and other microbial attacks. Considering this, pressure treated woods (resistant to rots) is the most popular material for building potting benches. Regarding other material options, potting benches made up of plastic are lightweight and less expensive. However, a major drawback of plastic potting benches is that they are less durable.

For this potting bench construction project, you require a measuring tape, small and larges squares, saw, drill, hooks, hinges, screws and nuts. A simple cedar potting bench can be built by fixing cedar plywood over two wood holding frameworks or sawhorses. This structure, which is more or less similar to a table, can be used for filling or mixing the potting soils. Depending upon your requirements, you can add additional features to the potting bench for multipurpose uses.

First of all, sketch the potting bench plan, including all the features that you want to build. As per your utility plans, you can add two or three shelves. You can also consider adding partitions and soil storage bins underneath the work surface. If you are planning to place the potting bench outdoors, then roofing may be necessary to protect from rains and harsh environmental conditions.

After making the design of the potting bench, purchase construction wood and cut the parts accordingly. Make straight and accurate cuts for easy fixation of the parts. Ensure that the joints are tight fitting and properly aligned. If you have completed making the necessary cuts and joints, then assembling a potting bench takes less time. Once you complete building the potting bench, apply polyurethane to reduce water absorption and/or increase longevity. If you find a limited storage area in the potting bench, you can add hooks on the sides for hanging the garden tools.