This diy step by step article is about free potting bench plans. We show you how to get the job done like a professional, if you like to spend time in your garden and need a place to grow your flowers and herbs. Generally speaking, there are many designs and products to choose from, but most of them come at prohibitive prices. Therefore, in this article, we show you simple plans to build a potting bench and to keep the expenditures under control. If you know several woodworking techniques and use the right tools, you will build the garden potting bench in just a day.
Select the lumber with great care, ensuring you choose the boards that are perfectly straight and don’t have any kind of visible defects. From our experience, we recommend you to buy pressure treated lumber, cedar or redwood, as they are resistant to moisture and extreme temperatures. Using the right materials for this project plays a significant role on the final look and on the durability of the bench, therefore pay attention to this aspect.
The size of the potting benches can vary from just 1′ up to 5-6′, therefore you should study this aspect before starting the project. In addition, there are many ways in which you can build it, but you should choose the one that fits your needs and tastes. Irrespective of your choice, make sure you pre-drill holes before inserting the screws, otherwise the wood might split. Moreover, plumb and align the components before securing them into place, otherwise the bench won’t have a neat look.
Made from this plan
Materials
- 2×6 beams – to build the legs
- 2×4 slats – to build the support braces
- 1×2 slats – to build the shelves
- 2-3” and wood screws – to fasten the slats
Tools
- Circular saw, jigsaw
- Drill machinery, wood drill bits
- Hammer, spirit level, carpentry pencil, tape measure
- Safety gloves, glasses
Tips
- Measure the boards attentively, before making the cuts
Time
- One day
Free potting bench plans
A potting bench is a great project if you like to spend time in your garden and take care of your plants. If you use the right plans and techniques, you will get the job done as a professional in just a day. Just follow our step by step instructions and you will save a great amount of money, by doing the job by yourself.
In order to get the job done like a pro, we recommend you to select the lumber with great care and attention. If you will place the potting bench in your garden, you should use lumber designed for outdoor use (pressure-treated, cedar, redwood).
In order to build the the components, use a tape measure to mark the cut lines and a circular saw to make the cuts.
First of all, you have to build the legs of the outdoor potting bench, using our free plans. Use 2×6 lumber and cut it at 40”, as in the image. Don’t forget that you can adjust these dimensions, to fit your needs and tastes best.
Use a sand block to smooth the edges of the components, otherwise you might injure yourself. Afterwards, apply several coats of varnish to protect the wood against decay or water damage.
Next, continue the project by building the front legs of the garden potting bench. Therefore, use 2×6 wooden boards and cut them according to our free plans.
Next, you have to secure the legs together, by installing the 2×4 braces. In addition, you could also make the structure more rigid, by fitting the 1×2 x shaped screeds.
Pre-drill several holes with a drill machinery and insert the 3” screws. Make sure you place the screws at least 1/2” from the edges, to avoid wood from splitting. Plumb the components with a spirit level, before inserting the screws.
Afterwards, you have to get the job done, by installing the wooden shelves. Therefore, you have to install 1×2 braces to the legs of the bench, as in the image, using 3” screws. Next use 1×2 or 2×2 slats to build the shelves of the potting bench.
Continue the project by installing the rest of the shelves, using our free plans. As you can see in the image, a diy potting bench is easy to build, if you use our plans free.
Thank you for reading our article about free potting bench plans and we recommend you to check out the rest of our projects. Don’t forget to share our articles with your friends, by using the social media widgets.
EXPLORE MORE IDEAS: