If you have a garden shed, you probably know how easily it can get cluttered and messy. It seems like it ends up being the “garage” of the backyard, and all sorts of things get tossed inside of it. Organizing your garden shed can be a big project and can easily be put on the “maybe someday I’ll get to it” list. If you are ready to tackle this project, I hope this article can help!
Here are some tips for organizing your garden shed.
Tip #1: Take everything out and get rid of anything you don’t need.
The first step in organizing your garden shed is to sort through everything. You need to figure out if there are things you can get rid of. Chances are likely that there are! It’s easy to get into the habit of throwing things into the shed that you might use “someday”.
If you have multiple sets of the same tool, consider paring it down to just one of each item. Are there old hoses that have leaks? Potting soil that is past its prime? Old seeds that you will probably never plant? Try to be realistic about what you truly think you will use in the future and what you can let go of.
While your garden shed is empty, take the time to do a quick cleaning. Get rid of cobwebs, sweep the floor, wash windows if you have them, etc. Starting with a clean shed will help you feel more organized right from the start.
Tip #2: Add some shelving.
With added shelving, you are able to better utilize all that vertical space. You have a lot of options when it comes to shelving. Depending on what your shed is made out of, you could choose to install permanent shelving. Or you can just add shelving that is removable. This might be a better option as it gives you more flexibility down the road if you need to move anything around.
Don’t feel like you need to spend a lot of money on shelving! Search craigslist or hit up some local garage sales and you will probably be able to find some very reasonably priced shelving in good condition that will work just fine. Even an old bookcase can be an easy solution for adding more shelving to your shed.
Tip #3: Sort through your garden tools.
Designate one area for bigger garden tools such as rakes, shovels, hoes, etc. You can stand them up against a wall or you can buy a tool holder that you can attach to the wall that allows you to have them up off the floor. And again, if you have more than one of each type of item, consider donating or selling the extras.
For smaller tools like garden shovels, hand-held clippers, hose nozzles, etc., I would recommend having a separate storage container to place these in, so that they are all together and easily accessible. If you have one designated spot, then they won’t get lost amongst all the bigger items. Nothing is more frustrating than when you are looking for something you need and can’t find it!
You can get a small metal or plastic tub, or even install a small rod somewhere in the shed and use hanging baskets to organize these smaller tools.
Another idea is to install a pegboard on one of the walls or the inside of the shed door. You can store a variety of smaller tools on a peg board for easy organization. You can even clip gardening gloves to the bottom for easy access.
Tip #4: Coil your hoses or use a reel.
Hoses can take up a lot of space and can be hard to store. Investing in a hose reel can save you a lot of headache and time wrestling with uncooperative hoses. If you want to store hoses inside your garden shed when not in use, you can actually find portable hose reels with a handle and wheels. These allow you to cart around your house wherever you need it.
You might have multiple hoses to organize. Coil each one as tight as you can, getting out all the kinks. Then put some kind of strap around it (there are a variety of different kinds—some are bendable, some are made out of heavy-duty Velcro, you could even use heavy twine) to secure the hose. Hoses can then be stacked on top of each other, so they don’t take up as much space. Or you can find a heavy-duty hook to hang them on a wall.
Another option is to attach a house reel (or two) to the side of your house that holds your garden hose.
Tip #5: Use stackable containers with lids.
I am a huge fan of stackable containers with lids for your garden shed. First, if you want to keep any bird seed, or other things that might be tempting for critters to break into, it’s best to have this in an animal proof container to avoid a huge mess. This is especially important if your shed isn’t varment proof. (You would be surprised out how sneaky they can be!)
Second, you can store small items like garden seeds, Miracle Grow packets, small garden stakes, etc. in smaller containers and those can be neatly organized on shelves. And if these are items you only use once or twice a year, like garden seeds, they can be stacked on a high shelf. That will make room on a lower shelf for other things you use throughout the season. Add some labels to each one for next level organization!
I hope these ideas have helped you think about the various ways you can organize your garden shed. Even if you just store similar items together, that will make a big difference in helping you easily locate an item more quickly. And if it all seems overwhelming, just tackle it a bit at time! Good luck!