Face it: you're not exactly the most organized individual when it comes to pretty much everything. While it may take a major overhaul to clean up your act, why not start small with a handy potting table? Even if the inside of your home looks like it's been hit by a tornado, at least your garden and patio space can be a neat and tidy haven for aspiring green thumbs.



Repotting can be a pain, but with a handy and sturdy potting table everything is right at your fingertips. From the very basic to the more ornate the overall design of these tables are more or less the same. Start with a counter space for all your horticultural work, add some shelves for storage and go wild from there. Typically, counters reach to about waist height for someone standing up, but there are lower benches available to accommodate seats. Some of the larger models have multiple shelves and tiers for added space, while other models come with a lipped edge around the counter to prevent loose soil from spilling over onto the ground. And since its main function is the repotting of plants, most varieties of potting table come with a sliding tray for storing soil. The addition of a water hose or drainage system makes cleanup especially easy. Even if you're not the type to get your hands dirty, these attractive benches are often used to display indoor and outdoor plants in and around the home.

The material from which a potting table is made varies in some respects but is similar in others. The most popular benches are wooden and different tree species produce different looks and grains. Some common types include aspen, cedar, pine, shorea and fir. Teak, the sturdiest and one of the most attractive of hardwoods, is more expensive but a good investment if you've got extra to spare in your budget. Aside from wood, metal and plastic are also employed for benches, but these materials each pose their own problems. Metal, even if coated, still runs the risk of rust and corrosion after a period of time, not to mention the fact that some metals, like wrought iron, though beautiful, are heavy and cumbersome to move. Plastic, on the other hand, while cheaper and lighter, does not hold up well over time and is subject to cracking and warping. Regardless the material, each potting table needs to be resistant to water, sunlight and decay. Even if kept in a garage or sunroom, these hardworking benches are subject to the wear and tear owing to their main function.

Many gardeners choose to build their own potting table. This is because a lot people's needs are different as far as the space available, storage needed, etc. is concerned. Potting benches are relatively easy to make when it comes to DIY home construction projects. Most people opt for freestanding potting tables, though there are some built affixed onto greenhouses and other structures. If you're especially gifted with a hammer, try your hand at a foldable potting table for one that's easy to put away and store when the growing months are over.

Leave cleaning out your closet and your car for another day. Baby steps towards a more organized you starts in the backyard. The result? A flourishing garden bounty you can enjoy with the help of your indispensable new potting table.