4 Easy Steps to Organize Your Gardening Shed (Plus 9 Great Tips)

Organizing a gardening shed is something we all have difficulty with. Whether you are using an outdoor gardening shed, or your own garage, hopefully this article can help you make your life slightly more organized.

Step 1: Where Do I Put My Tools?

For step 1, I want you to think about where you are going to put everything. Are you going to put your tools in the mudroom of your house, your garage, your shed, or someplace else? If so, buy some shelves, drawers, and organizers. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, it is extremely necessary. Next time you think you have lost your pruning shears; all you will have to do is look in the drawer they are supposed to be in.

If you want to store your tools in your garage or house, but think they are too messy, you have two options. You can either wash them off before you put them up (such as with a hose, or in a sink), or you can put them outside. If you want to get a shed, the Lifetime Outdoor Storage Shed is a good option. Be sure to check with your HOA (Home Owners Association) before you buy a shed of any type (or build a structure at all). Also, check with local building codes. Make sure to not stack too many things in these sheds, as it could be a fire hazard.

Step 2: Buy Shelves and Organizers

You will want high quality materials so that your shelves don’t degrade. For drawers and organizers, make sure you are getting either thick plastic, sealed wood, or metal (your best choice). The last thing you want is for the organizer to start to breakdown or rot. Also, make sure any shelves you have are safely secured either to the wall or to the floor (or both if possible). The Gladiator 3/4 Door Option is a good option for something to organize all of your small tools and materials. It also has a lock for safety.

Warning: Don’t store chemicals in anything plastic or wood. They can combine with the plastics to create toxic substances (that is more toxic than the chemicals already are), and they can damage wooden shelves. They can also catch on fire, explode, or release gaseous vapors. Store them in an air-tight metal container if at all possible. Check with the fire department to make certain that everything you are doing is fire safe.

For hanging shovels, rakes, pitch forks, and other long handled tools, you may want to consider installing wooden pegs on the side of the wall. Some people just have a nail or screw partially put into the wall, with just enough room to put the tools on top of them. Do whatever you want. The nail or screw will probably work just fine, but the wooden pegs give a nice finished look. If you don’t like the idea of hanging your tools (perhaps you live in a place with a lot of earthquakes), then open shelves would be a good idea. The Whitmor Supreme 4 Tier Adjustable Shelves are very sturdy and well rated.

Note: Always secure all shelves either to the ground or to the wall if at all possible. Make certain that tools are above the reach of your children, and always educate them on tool safety. Do not let them garden with you or use the tools, unless they are sufficiently old enough. Make the judgement yourself, and make safety the number one priority.

Step 3: Get the Right Tools

There are many tools required for gardening. What is the point in having an organized gardening shed if you don’t have the tools for gardening? Here are some great options for various tools you can use! Be careful, these tools are sharp and dangerous. When gardening, always use extreme caution.

Large Tools:

These are the heavier tools you will either want to hang or store on open shelves. Be sure to keep safe with them.

Shovels:

You probably already have a shovel, but the Radius Garden Root Slayer Shovel has a very specific design made to where it can easily dig through roots, making your job a whole lot easier. If you don’t have a shovel, the Fiskars 46 Inch Steel D-Handle Shovel is an excellent one to start out with. Always use caution with shovels, they can be heavy, sharp, and dangerous. Also, never fling dirt at someone else.

Rakes:

A good, high quality rake is necessary for all gardeners. The Iggro Rake is made out of sturdy metal, and is especially useful for uprooting plants, or getting roots out of the ground. It is a little short though, so if you don’t feel like leaning over, the Ames Adjustable Thatch Rake is much better.

For raking leaves, though, you’ll want one specifically made for this task. This 63 Inch Adjustable Rake is great for raking leaves. In case you don’t like picking up leaves with your hands (a dirty, messy, and inaccurate job), here are the Aspectek leaf scoopers you can wear on your hands that will help you pick up leaves quickly, and leave your hands clean.

Gardening Hoes:

These are vital any time you want to disturb the soil, such as for planting seeds, or removing a plant. The Rogue Prohoe is an excellent quality one that can be used many times without dulling or wearing out.

It is small, however, so keeping with the longer handled options, the Bully Tools Warren Hoe offers a long enough handle to where even people over 6 foot shouldn’t have to bend over too much. The handle on it is 4’ 8”.

Wheelbarrows/Carts:

Carts and wheelbarrows probably won’t get stored on your shelves, but they should get put right next to them. The WORX Aerocart Multifunction Wheelbarrow is an excellent option for a gardening cart, dolly, and wheelbarrow combination. If, however, you just need a gardening cart, the Gorilla Carts Heavy Duty Cart may be more suitable.

Hoses:

Hoses are a must have for every garden. The Zalotte Expanding Hose is a great option and is extremely highly rated. It also comes with the water wand attachment already, although you may want to buy a longer version. If so, then the Orbit Ratcheting Hose End is a great extension.

Shears:

These are very dangerous, and often very large, but a necessity for anyone wishing to have trees and/or bushes in their garden. Here are various good options, each of which offers different pros and cons. The Roamwild Multicutter can convert from a shear to a limb cutter to a bypass looper. It also has additional grips on its handles.

Fiskars Power Level Grass Shears allows you to trim with one hand (similar to pruning shears), and is also the cheapest. The Tabor Tools Hedge Shears are regular shears, with no added specialties, but are very high quality. Be sure to store all shears them safely.

Small Tools:

These tools will probably fit in your cabinet or closed shelves. Although some of these tools are safer (gloves) than others (machetes), it is important that they all be kept in the safe place, if only to serve as a reminder that you should always stay safe.

Trowels:

Always useful for making small holes, or precisely digging something out, trowels are a must have for all gardeners. The Wilcox Trowel is a great option, highly rated, sturdy, and made in the USA. The Edward Tools Bend-Proof Trowel is also a great option for gardening.

Gloves

There are many options for gloves. The best covered one (made fully out of goat skin and cowhide) is this pair of  Rose Pruning Gloves for Men and Women. It is slightly expensive, but they don’t fall apart quickly or easily, and are especially useful if you are dealing with plants that have thorns.

If you want a better looking choice, than there is this pair of Professional Thornproof Gardening Gloves (it comes in different colors). If you want one that is very breathable and eco-friendly (made only out of plants), then there is Pine Tree Tools Bamboo Gardening Gloves.

Machetes (for Gardening):

This one is extremely good at its job. If you ever have something difficult for cutting through (tree roots, vines, thick weeds, etc.), the Condor Warlock Machete Knife is extremely useful. Being a knife, though, it will eventually wear dull (despite that it is made out of extremely refined Carbon steel). The Lansky Puck is a blade sharpener for blades (and tools). It will allow you to keep your tools nice and sharp, but always be careful.

Warning: NEVER leave a knife out. Always put it back in sheath when you are finished, and lock it up. You do NOT want your kids, or someone else, to accidently cut themselves. A blade this heavy and sharp can leave permanent scars and fatal gashes. When sharpening tools, sparks may go flying (which could catch on fire). Be careful, as always.

Gardening Fork:

This is, in essence, a hand rake. It is useful for getting weeds and small roots out of the ground and can also serve as a precision tool for stirring up soil before putting a seed in the ground. The Flexrake Classic Hand Fork is a great, sturdy option.

Kneeling Pads:

This is to help alleviate the pain of standing or squatting for hours while gardening. The Ohuhu Garden Kneeler can double as a seat, or a kneeling pad. The RED Home Club Thick Kneeling Pad is simply a foam pad, that is thick enough to allow you a lot of comfort. The first one offers more comfort and choices, while the second one is cheaper and easier to store.

Pruning Shears:

Anyone growing flowers, bonsai trees, or a small bush, should have pruning shears. They let you remove the exact dead parts of a plant, and to prune flowers before they die (not injuring yourself or the plant). The Gonicc Professional titanium Pruning Shears is a more heavy-duty, sturdy pruning shear. It is great, but it is a little pricey. Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears is less heavy duty (meaning it could break more easily), but it is still good.

Chemicals:

All chemicals should go in a safe place. Above I mentioned that you should put them in a fireproof box with a lock and key.

Pesticides:

Used by many gardeners to kill unwanted bugs such as cockroaches, aphids, beetles, millipedes, cockroaches, centipedes, ants, etc. If you are the type of gardener that prefers a more natural method of killing bugs, or repelling them, consider buying ladybugs, or planting pine trees (which release a natural bug repellant).

Fertilizers:

These are used to stimulate plants. However, most fertilizers contain nitrates, phosphates, nitrites, potassium, all of which are highly flammable. Keep these away from children, and in a safe place. You might also want to consider more natural fertilizers (buying natural soil, or manure). If you do choose manure or natural soil, consider keeping those in a separate location, so you don’t have to always smell it.

Dangerous Machines:

These machines need to be handled with extreme care. I recommend putting them inside of a safe metal box or cage, or at least locking them down so children can’t easily access them.

Chain Saws:

Dangerous! These need to be handled with care. Always wear a mask, and always point it away from people (including yourself). Store this in a safe location, and always use caution.

Hatchets/Axes:

Not technically a machine, an ax can cause serious injury to you. Never throw a hatchet! Always be careful with these. Always put a hatchet sheath on the ax (usually made of rubber or leather).

Lawn Mowers

A very dangerous, yet common machine, always use extreme care when mowing the lawn. Depending on the size, you might not even want to put it in your shed.

Weed Whackers

A line of rotating plastic used for cutting the grass where a lawn mower can’t reach. This isn’t completely deadly, but it will hurt extremely bad if you hit yourself with it. Wear pants, and don’t aim this at yourself or others.

Edgers

These are used to cut the grass at the edge of a lawn. It is basically a rotating block of metal on a stick. Be careful, if you hit concrete or metal with it, it will spark and possible catch dry things on fire. Like all of the other tools in this list, it can also cut off a limb, so be careful.

Question: Why isn’t the Machete in this section?
Answer: Because all though it is dangerous, it isn’t mechanized. Of course use extreme care with it, but unlike machines, you can easily “turn off” a machete. An ax, like a machete, can also be turned off, but you are more likely to swing an ax, than a machete. Swinging an ax builds up the momentum of an ax, so that it can be difficult to stop at a moment’s notice. That is why the ax is in this section, yet the machete is not. Take care when using any saw, ax, knife, etc.

Safety Tools:

These are vital for yard work. Use them when doing anything remotely dangerous or toxic.

Masks:

These allow you to breathe without worrying about breathing toxic fumes.

Goggles:

Protect your eyes. Many people wear clear goggles, but I recommend getting safety goggles that are also UV protective, and slightly tinted, to protect you from the harmful rays of the sun during the day.

Jeans:

Wear jeans, or long pants, when you are out working.

Long sleeve T-shirt:

You can wear sun shirts (UPF50+), or just regular old long sleeve shirts while gardening. This will protect your arms. Wear breathable shirts that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Sun Hat

 

Step 4: Sort by Use

When gardening, you are bound to use one tool more than another, and are likely to use multiple tools at the same time. For example, if you are planting seeds in a vegetable garden, you might use a hoe to loosen the soil, then rake the soil into straight lines, and finally use your trowel to dig holes to plant the seeds.

Here are some that are helpful. If you think of anymore, or you do different things on a more regular basis in your garden, you might want to consider something else.

Yard Maintenance:

Consider putting your lawn mower, weed whacker, and edger together. This will allow you to easily access them at any time, and it also helps you to remember to do all of them together.

Tree Cutting:

Put your chainsaw, protective mask, and ax together. This will allow you to safely cut wood and have all of the materials you need on hand in your garden.

Weeding and Planting:

You might want to put your gardening fork, your kneeling pad, your trowels, and your gloves together. This will allow you to quickly grab them all at once.

Raking:

Try grouping your leaf rake, your plastic bags, and your leaf scooper together. This promotes efficiency, helping you to finish jobs up very fast.

Tips:

Here are 9 great tips to help make your shed a better fit for you!

1. Hang your tools on the outside!

If you want to have your tools on the outside, it might make things easier to access (but they may also rust faster). Weigh the pros and cons of the choice.

2. Wash your tools off!

I recommend doing this for everything. Don’t forget to dry them off. This will help prolong their life (so that the acids in the dirt aren’t eating at them while you are not using them) and it will help keep the inside cleaner.

3. Use a paint bucket to transport tools.

If you have a lot of empty paint buckets and don’t know what to do with them, try using them to carry your tools when you are moving from one part of your garden/yard to another. It might make things easier to keep track of, and if it gets worn out, you can always use something else.

4. Move Heat/Cold sensitive Objects Out of Your Shed.

If you have any items that can’t stand the heat or the cold of your location, move them inside your house. A shed has much less insulation than your house, and provides minimal shielding from the weather.

5. Do not Put Your Tools on the Ground!

Tools on the ground cause major problems. Besides being a safety hazard, it can also damage the floor in your shed, or can damage other objects that are in your shed.

6. Make a Supply Storage Post Externally!

This makes certain tools easier to access and helps protect them from the elements.

7. Use a Golf Bag.

If you don’t want to invest in shelves, you might want to use a golf bag to store your garden tools. It offers one place for all of your large tools, and could easily fit in a shed.

8. Organize Your Waste

You might want to consider building an outdoor shelf to hold all of your smelly materials, and all of your trashcans and recycle bins.

9. Recycle Old Furniture

Next time you think about throwing out a piece of furniture in your house, consider if you can use it in your shed. That bar stool, bookshelf, or old table might not look so bad in your shed.

If you liked this article, be sure to check out other articles at planandorganize.com. We have amazing articles on everything from astronomy to schoolwork. Have fun with your transformed gardening shed. As always, remember to stay safe!

Shop More >> Top Gardening Products at Amazon.

Sources:

Thomann, Lauren. “15 Shed Organization Ideas You Need to Try.” LifeStorageBlog, https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/organization/how-to-organize-a-shed/, November 15, 2018.

Crawford, Jaclyn. “8 Easy Tricks to Organize Your Shed.” ImproveNet by CraftJack, https://www.improvenet.com/a/8-easy-tricks-to-organize-your-shed, September 21, 2016.

Lacoma, T. “11 Ideas for Organizing Your Shed.” family handyman, https://www.familyhandyman.com/sheds/11-ideas-for-organizing-your-shed/.

Tharp, Maggie. “15 Organization Ideas That Will Make You Love Your Shed Again.” HGTV, https://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/outdoor-spaces/organization-hacks-that-will-make-you-love-your-shed-again-pictures, September 6, 2017.

“27 Outdoor Shed Organization Ideas for Clutter-Free Storage.” SPACE WISE by Extra Space Storage, https://www.extraspace.com/blog/home-organization/room-organization/outdoor-shed-organization-storage-ideas/, April 20, 2018.