Happy Gardening Season! Organize Your Gardening Essentials for Success

There is never a bad time to take stock of your gardening essentials, but it is especially helpful to do it before the busiest time of the year here in New England gardening. Whether you are a seasoned year-round gardener or a seasonal grower, organizing your gardening supplies is an essential first step in setting your plants up for success. Gardening can look very different depending on your climate and physical environment. As a renter, I have been relying on planters, raised garden beds, and temporary storage solutions for all of my supplies. If you are a homeowner or have a generous landlord, you may have broader options for gardening or storage.

Sort & Purge Your Gardening Supplies

As always, start any organizing project by sorting your gardening supplies and purging any that are no longer needed. This is a great first step because it helps you understand exactly what you have, prompts you to identify what you really need to keep, and allows you to come up with the best solution for your needs and your space.

Pick Your Gardening Zone

Zoning is one of our favorite organizational principles and also one of the most helpful for my clients. When gardening tools (or any other category) are spread out around your space, it makes it difficult to know what you have, where to find it, and where to put it back. Choosing a home for your gardening items, whether it is a single bin in a closet or a whole outdoor shed, will help you keep track of your items in the short and long term.

Identify Specialty Storage Needs

While zoning is important, keeping your delicate gardening items safe is more important. Seeds, bulbs, and fertilizers need to be stored more carefully than rakes or shovels. These items all need to be kept dry and shouldn’t be stored in a place with significant temperature fluctuation. Bulbs should be stored with plenty of space to breathe, in an open container or one with plenty of ventilation, otherwise they may rot. On the other hand, seeds will last longest if they are kept cool and in an airtight container. You may need to keep these more delicate items in a different location than the rest of your gardening supplies to keep them healthy and usable for the long-term.

Get Vertical with Gardening Tool Storage

If you have a space that allows it, take advantage of vertical storage. Many gardening tools are tall and shallow, making them most space efficient when stored standing up. They can hang from a wall, be consolidated into a bin or basket, or leaned against your storage space. To hang large gardening tools, we often recommend installing a storage track. Give each tool its own home on the track to keep everything in order.

Garage+ by Elfa Tool Storage Hooks

Home Depot Garage Tool Storage Rack

Contain Small Gardening Tools & Accessories

Store smaller tools, planters, and gardening accessories in bins or boxes. Milk crates with dividers can be a great option to allow the dirt to filter out, and a wide variety of larger storage containers exist if you have a large inventory.

Home Depot Outdoor Storage Deck Box

Home Depot Outdoor Storage Metal Shed

If you can set up a dedicated space, make a spot for each item. You will be more enthusiastic about pursuing your gardening hobby if you know where to find all of your supplies.

Garage+ by Elfa Planting Bench Solution

Have fun playing in the dirt!