A potting bench is the gardener’s workbench. Gardeners use a potting bench to complete routine tasks such as transplanting, fertilizer and soil preparation, and garden pot sanitation. A potting bench can be used as a permanent growing location for garden pots. A greenhouse bench is a specific type of potting bench that is used in greenhouses to raise crops to an easier working height and to assist with drainage. Potting bench designs are as varied as the specific needs they fill within each garden. A potting bench can feature dry storage for soil, water and drain hookups for cleaning garden pots, single- and multi-tiered construction, or a cold frame for cool weather gardening.

Cedar is naturally resistant to decay and warping, and is very cost effective, making it an ideal choice for wood potting bench designs. A cedar potting bench should be painted with copper naphthenate to prevent decay. Teak is another great choice, but it is very expensive. Wood is not inert, so fertilizer salts will leach into the wood and the wood may leach oils or compounds into soil or substrate that contacts it. If this concerns you, staple 6 mm thick plastic sheeting to the soil contact area.

Greenhouse benches are important for reducing the risk of uncontrollable root zone temperatures and uncontrollable moisture retention, and for decreasing back strain while working with your garden. While designing your greenhouse bench system use the following guidelines: do not exceed 36 inches in height or 36 inches in width per work side (a freestanding greenhouse bench may be six feet wide, but greenhouse benches against the wall should only be 3 feet wide) and maximize the use of floor space in your greenhouse by using sectional greenhouse benches with wheels so that you can roll a greenhouse bench aside to work with an inaccessible area (some libraries use a similar design).

A plastic potting bench is lightweight, portable, and low-maintenance. A plastic potting bench is a good choice where the potting bench contacts soil because it wont leach chemicals or react with fertilizer salts, but a plastic potting bench frame can sometimes be less durable or able to support less weight than a wood potting bench. A plastic potting bench with wheels is a quick and effective way to maximize the available floor space in a greenhouse. Click here for a growing guide.