I used to be one disorganized gardener.  When it was time to pot up my transplants, it was one major undertaking. The whole operation took place on my back steps and strewn on the surrounding ground. Where were my pots? My trowel? My potting soil and fertilizer? My gardening gloves? Good question – and the answer took hours. Everything was either in the basement, the garage, or in some illogical place it had no business being. And the process of doing the transplanting wasn’t much fun either. I had to stoop and bend over multiple times to pot everything up.  I love gardening, but my back certainly wasn’t.  If only there was a way to have all my gardening paraphernalia in one place and situated in such a way so that I didn’t have to break my back”¦
The Advantages of a Potting Bench
I didn’t know it at the time, but the solution was really simple. A potting bench! A potting bench is essentially a table or workbench, used for potting, pruning, transplanting and other gardening activities, indoors and out. The potting bench may feature shelves, drawers and hooks, helping you store and organize all your gardening stuff. This will save you a lot of hunting and pecking, allowing you more time to spend gardening! Potting benches are also constructed of different types of materials, including wood, metal or plastic – and some even have built in sinks, which are perfect for watering plants or rinsing off newly harvested vegetables! And, best of all, potting benches are at a comfortable height so you can garden to your hearts content while standing up, instead of gardening like one of those drinking bird toys – bobbing up and down.  As a result, you will find that gardening with a potting bench is much easier on the neck, back, knees and legs.
CedarLast Potting Bench Features
I recently had the opportunity to experience the CedarLast Potting Bench with Sink from Gardener’s Supply Company.  There are many features that are attractive about this all-in-one potting, washing, and watering station. Take, for instance, the slatted backboard and sides. These provide opportunities for additional storage with add-on accessories such as mounted baskets and hooks. The more storage, the better! As the name suggests, this product is made of cedar, which I find to be delightfully aromatic. You can preserve this naturally rot-and-insect-resistant cedar with Gardener’s Clear Waterproofer, or let it weather to gray naturally.  I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the inset sink, which is another great feature. The sink does not impact your tabletop real estate because a wire grid sink cover is included, maintaining a full work surface.
CedarLast Potting Bench Installation
The installation of the CedarLast Potting Bench really needs two people in order to keep things lined up and square. I enlisted my husband for the job and the installation took us under an hour and a half.  As you very well know, the installation of anything out of the box will always present some challenges. Whatever minor challenges we encountered (one minor missing part) installing this potting bench, the folks at Gardener’s Supply were quick to answer and resolve them with excellent customer service.  My only suggestion would be to add a word of caution to the printed instructions about installing the slatted backboard the right side up to prevent it being installed wrong side up like we did, but I am willing to take ownership of that one because we should have been paying better attention.
Using the CedarLast Potting Bench
One of the first tasks for my potting bench was putting together some fall containers using a mix of mums and pansies, some kale for a dash of purple and herbs mixed in between for greenery. Given that everything I needed was stored in the bench I was able to get right to work and remain focused. I think I had finally achieved my “gardening zen”! After I had finished potting my plants, I watered them in the bench’s sink. The cleanup was easy, I just had to set everything back on the bench’s hooks and shelves.  The aches and pains of gardening past were no longer there either.  The only pang I felt was the pang of regret for not getting a potting bench sooner!
