Keep Your Backyard Tidy With An Outdoor Table That Stores Gardening Tools
After a long winter spent mostly indoors, the arrival of spring has a way of awakening the inner gardener in many of us. The warmer weather and longer days bring about an urge to get outside and work in the yard. However, gardening requires an array of tools and equipment that can easily clutter up garages, sheds, and other storage areas. An outdoor gardening table with storage provides the perfect solution for keeping all your gardening gear tidy yet easily accessible.
Outdoor storage tables are designed to offer both a convenient work surface and a place to organize the myriad hand tools, gloves, pots, soil bags, and other items that accompany backyard gardening. With everything stored right in the table, you'll have what you need close at hand when inspiration strikes to do some planting, pruning, or other garden chores.
Benefits of Utilizing Outdoor Storage Tables for Gardening Supplies
Outdoor gardening tables with built-in storage offer many advantages that make them a useful addition to any yard or patio.
- Keep tools organized - Shovels, trowels, pruners, and all your other gear can be neatly arranged in the table's shelves or drawers.
- Free up other storage spaces - Storing tools outside frees up room in the shed, garage or basement.
- Convenient access while working - You won't have to constantly run back to the shed to retrieve something you need.
- Reduce clutter in your outdoor living area - Tools will be hidden away inside the table when not in use.
- Provides a decorative accent - Stylish storage tables look great on a deck, patio, or next to garden beds.
Having an outdoor storage table for gardening supplies allows you to quit wasting time hunting down misplaced tools. You'll always know right where to find what you need when it's time for planting, weeding, pruning or any other backyard task. Your potting soil, fertilizer, spare gloves, and other items can be close by without leaving a mess across your patio.
Key Features to Look for in Outdoor Gardening Tables
While storage options may vary, outdoor gardening tables often incorporate features such as:
- Interior shelves and compartments - For organizing hand tools, pots, bags of soil, gloves, and small accessories.
- Flip-top or lift-top table tops - Allow easy access to storage space underneath.
- Slide-out work surfaces - Pull-out trays provide extra workspace.
- Locking doors - Help secure fertilizer, chemicals, tools and other items.
- Durable and weather-resistant materials - Such as powder-coated steel, cedar wood, or plastic to stand up over time when left outdoors.
- Drain holes - Allow excess water to escape so the interior doesn't get soaked.
Consider how much gardening equipment you need to store when choosing the right size table. Compact styles work well for small patio gardening setups, while larger tables offer ample room for bigger gardening jobs. Look for smooth rolling casters if you'll need to move the table around your yard.
Setting Up and Using Your Outdoor Gardening Storage Table
Follow this advice for successfully incorporating an outdoor gardening table into your patio or yard:
- Measure your space - Make sure to pick a table sized right for where you plan to place it. Allow enough room for people to still sit around it.
- Position for convenience - Spot it near garden beds or work areas for easy access as you work.
- Anchor if necessary - Use anchors or braces to secure the table in place if it will be on an uneven or sloped surface.
- Organize the interior - Use small bins, hooks, shelves and other organizers to neatly arrange everything inside.
Take time to think about how you'll use your outdoor gardening storage table. Will it mainly serve as a potting station for sowing seeds and working with seedlings? Or more of a general work table for tasks like pruning roses, dividing perennials and cleaning up cuttings? Place frequently used items where they are readily accessible. Store chemicals or tools for occasional use towards the back.
Get the Most from Your Outdoor Gardening Table
You can maximize the usefulness of your outdoor gardening table storage with tips like:
- Add locking casters to make it portable.
- Use interior bucket organizers to corral smaller items.
- Attach exterior hooks and racks for hand tools and gloves.
- Install grow lights underneath for starting seeds or cuttings.
- Line deep drawers with plastic bins for organizing seeds.
A few handy extras can help keep your outdoor gardening storage table both functional and clutter-free:
- Hanging tool racks to keep essentials within reach.
- A bin for collecting weeds, pruned stems and other garden waste.
- Trays to contain spilled soil, water or fertilizer.
- A power strip for plugging in grow lights or other electric devices.
Choosing the Right Table for Your Gardening Needs
Gardeners shopping for an outdoor storage table should keep the following criteria in mind:
- Available space - Measure the footprint to find a table that fits without crowding.
- Portability - Caster wheels allow moving the table around as needed.
- Seating capacity - Some tables double as food prep stations or seating.
- Interior storage - Shelves, cabinets, and drawers provide optimal organization.
- Exterior hooks - Handy for hanging tools right on the table.
- Durability - Seek weather-resistant materials able to withstand sun, rain and year-round use.
- Style - Choose a table that matches your outdoor furniture and decor taste.
Think about your own gardening habits as well. Do you frequently pot plants or prefer assembling cut flower arrangements? Opt for a design that offers ample counter space. Are you a tool junkie who needs room to stash the latest gizmos? Seek lots of interior storage. Creating a wish list of the features you want will help match you with the ideal outdoor gardening storage table.
Creative Ways to Use Your Outdoor Gardening Table
An outdoor gardening table with storage doesn't have to be relegated strictly to garden duty. Consider these other possibilities:
- Potting station for houseplants
- Workbench for DIY projects
- Buffet or bar for outdoor entertaining
- Crafting table for hobbies and kids' activities
- Outdoor office setup or homework station
Placement also doesn't have to be limited to patios or decks. An outdoor gardening table makes a great addition next to a garden shed, by the grill, or alongside beds and borders. Use your imagination along with your needs to find creative ways to work this piece into your yard.
Follow this advice to help your outdoor gardening table last for seasons:
- Keep the interior dry and free of standing water.
- Use outdoor-rated finishes and weatherproofing.
- Check for cracks, loose hardware or other wear annually.
- Touch up nicks, scratches or damaged finish as needed.
- Cover or store table indoors during winter in cold climates.
- Avoid placing extremely heavy objects inside the table.