There’s a new addition to the garden this year, thanks to my brother and brother-in-law. Tommy, my brother had some left-over lumber from a deck they had built and so he got creative and built him and Mark a potting bench. Well, I fell in love with it and somewhat, ok, strongly, hinted how I would love to have one. So, for my birthday a few months ago, they came over and built me one too!
We bought the lumber from Home Depot and they cut some of the boards for us, so putting it together went fairly fast. The wire back, Tommy found from an online company…it’s actually a garage organizer but it works so well for our potting bench purpose. It even has an adjustable basket which is so handy. Mark found some neat hangers….dragonflies and owls from a nearby home store. I’m waiting until I can stain the lumber before I put up the hangers. Here’s a few pics……
We started with the sides. The back 4×4’s are 6 ft tall. The front ones are 3 ft. tall. The side connecting boards are deck boards that are cut 18 1/2 inches long.
To make attaching the two sides together easier, we laid them down and then attached a deck board that’s been cut to 57 3/4 inch long to the front and one to the back.
After we stood the bench up, we attached the top boards around the perimeter.
The 8 bottom shelf boards are cut to 21″ long and the 4 boards that make up the top of the potting bench are 60″ long. ( The back one we had to notch around the 4×4). Two back boards connecting the top were added for the metal grid.
Here it is with the grid work in the back. It serves as a great place to hang tools or whatever!
And here we all are……the bench is sturdy enough, it could have probably held us all! I’m anxious to get the bench stained, but because we used pressure treated wood, am waiting for it to dry out some.
I finally have a central place to put some of the smaller gardening stuff. No more searching the yard for lost tools! 🙂
steven1111 said:
Hi Annie! So nice to hear from you again after so much time has gone by. It’s seems your pattern of posting is much like my own – post awhile, not post, post, not post…. I’m glad you’re still reading my blog. Thank you! I hope your garden is doing well and that you’re having a glorious time puttering about in it this spring. It’s beautiful here and I’m sure it is in your garden too. I love your potting bench. Very sturdy looking and functional. Good job to all involved. I’d guess it’s weathered the test of time by now and is an integral part of your work. I hope you get to a chance to go out naked and garden like I do. It’s quite nice…. 😉 Happy Gardening! All the best, Steve
Robbie said:
I Hope you come back again:-) Miss your blog!
annie said:
Hi Robbie! I’ve been meaning to write but with this warm weather and so much needed doing in the garden…….well, you know how it is with us gardeners! 😄. I’m on a mission to add some hard scape to the garden this year….hoping it will add some structure. I’m ready for the more reflective garden activities and hopefully I can discipline myself to do some blogging. 😉
Robbie said:
hardscape…oh my goodness..that is one hard job and who has time to do anything after that:-) Do look forward to when you can write-love your blog!!!!
Robbie said:
Hi Annie!
love the bench!!!! I purchased onr on line that is NOT as nice as what you made. I have to say I am “potting bench envy”-lol
I finally got a chance to stop by and see what you were doing. I have missed visiting your blog this year. I am so excited you are back and I can can stop by and visit each week. How is your hill side garden? I bet beautiful:-)
annie said:
Thanks Robbie! I love having something so useful in the garden! This summer has been so hot and dry, that I’ve been having to water quite a bit…..I’m ready for Fall! Too hot for any projects, so I’m just biding my time until cooler weather….so many things I want to do in the garden! 🙂
thecontentedcrafter said:
Oh ho Annie! I’m not surprised at all that you strongly hinted your need for one of these – and how lucky are you to have a couple in the family with the design and building skills to make it happen! I shall look forward to seeing it finished and bedecked with various flying creatures in due course. Love the photo of you all at the end – looking very pleased, proud and happy! ❤
annie said:
Thank you, Pauline! Having such awesome help definitely makes a project more fun!