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CartEZ Potting Bench Plans - How to Build a Potting Bench the Easy Way |
For most gardeners, repotting a plant means you'll be down on your hands and knees in a pile of loose dirt making a mess. A better solution for anyone who has a few simple hand tools and some inexpensive materials from a home improvement center is to find a do-it-yourself potting bench plan on the Web. The good news about a potting bench is that many of the plans out there are fairly easy to build. That means that people who are handy in the garden will probably be handy enough to tackle a project like this. You'll need some basic power tools, though. A circular saw, jig saw, and a cordless hand drill will cover just about any potting bench design you take on. The lumber and hardware will be easy to find at any home center. |
Potting Bench Plans - PlansNOWBest part about this potting bench plan is that everything goes together with simple but joints and wood screws. No fancy joinery or table saw tricks needed here to bring the project together. |
Potting Bench Plans - FreePlantsSimple 2x4 legs and stretchers (rails) that span between them. The plan starts with two frames...one for the bottom and another frame that forms the upper support for the table. |
Potting Bench Plans - WoodThis plan is more a woodworking endeavor than a DIY project. That becomes immediately apparent where you can see the bench being glued up and assembled using 50" parallel clamps. |
Potting Bench Plans - UBildSimple but joint construction using woodscrews and glue. The only exception being the lower part of the legs - where you'll need to cut out notches for attaching the side rails. |
The selection of potting bench plans on the Web range from easy-to-build projects - like the Potting Bench / Compost Bin plan from PlansNOW - to a top-of-the line potting bench from Wood magazine. Watch out for plans that are designed by woodworkers - for other woodworkers. If you're not a woodworker, these kinds of project plans will likely be more complex and intricate than what a DIY hobbyist really needs for this kind of project. For example, If DIY describes the knd of builder you are, stay away from plans that want you to first cut-to-size all the dimensional lumber you bring home. This is a common prep-stage for more complex woodworking projects (especially if using hardwoods like oak and cherry), but it's not really necessary for simple, functional projects like a potting bench. A nice, handy feature to look for in a potting bench plan is a bench top with a drop hole for excess soil (the dirt falls into a plastic bin underneath the top). Some plans also include a drain-off area for watering your freshly-potted plants. Both of these features are well-worth the effort to include, and will make your potting bench more useful than you ever imagined. Another nice feature in some plan designs is a storage shelf mounted to the back of the bench. This is a perfect way to keep tools and accessories within easy reach as you stand in front of the bench. One final consideration in looking for a potting bench plan is the type of wood you'll be using. Most of the plans on the Web suggest using some type of rot-resistant wood - like cedar, redwood, or at the very least, treated pine. You'll have to decide for yourself how particular you want to be in choosing your lumber. Some are more particular about how a potting bench looks in the backyard...while some just want a bench that gets the job done. If you fit the latter description, the less-expensive treated pine will probably work fine for you. Otherwise, if you think you might want to venture into more expensive material like redwood or cedar, be prepared to take on a little more woodworking to get the project built. |
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