DIY Network

Outdoor Improvements From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-125

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Build a Potting Bench

Potting up houseplants and patio planters and be messy, backbreaking work — unless you have a potting bench right in the backyard. Here are some tips for building one that will not only make potting easier; it makes clean-up faster, too.

• Build the frame for the bench to the size you want. Make sure it's at the right height for comfortable work; about 36 inches is a good average. Use pressure-treated lumber: 2x4s and 5/4 1x6 and 2x2s. Plan ahead and put together your shopping list, then order the lumber ahead of time. They'll cut it for you to the lengths you specify.

• You'll need a hammer; a sanding block or palm sander; a square; glue; 2" galvanized screws; and a drill. Assemble the frame with 2x4s and 2x2s; use the carpenter's square to make sure the corners are square and plumb. Fasten the frame together screws. Sand down the frame to remove any splinters.
  

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• When you install the top, which is made of 2x4s, leave a gap between each pair of boards. That lets dirt and debris fall through to the ground. Use spacers to keep the gaps even. The lower shelf is simply 2x4s cut to length and laid across the stretchers. You don't have to fasten them.

• Use 2x2s and tempered hardboard (Masonite) to build a tray that's the same size as the top of the table. Glue the 2x2s along three edges of the hardboard, then nail the hardboard to the 2x2s about every 6 inches. If you pre-drill the hardboard, it will be easier to nail through it.

• When you put the tray on the potting bench, place it so that the open side is against the backboard of the bench. It will serve as a large dustpan; when you're ready to clean up, you can just dump the dirt in it into the trash or out in the yard.

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