Storage Secrets for Your Garden Shed

There's no doubt about it -- a well-organized tool shed can save you time, energy, and money: You won't waste 10 minutes looking for that trowel. You won't be frustrated moving the wheelbarrow and that extra bag of potting soil out of the way so you can get to your lawn mower. And you won't spend extra money to buy a set of gloves because you can't find yours. Read our tips for making your garden shed shine.

If you've ever tripped on a coiled-up hose, you know what a pain they can be. Make your garden hose easy to find and get it out from underfoot by wrapping it on a large hook.

Here's a hint: Select large hooks with a steep angle to help hold the hose in place.

Long-handled tools are best stored where they're out of the way but still accessible. Attaching a sturdy tool hanger to the inside of your shed's door frees up the walls for shelves and a potting bench.

In tight quarters where there's never quite enough light, open metal shelving that lets the sun filter through is an ideal choice. Adjustable shelves give flexibility to match shelf height to tools.

Having a great set of shelves doesn't do much good if your stuff just ends up piled up on them. Take the organization one step farther by using plastic or metal bins to stash your stuff.

Mechanics have long taken advantage of magnetic bars to hold and organize their tools. The strips work just as well for metal garden gear such as pruning shears and trowels. Choose a bar with a magnet strong enough to hold the weight of your tools and you'll always have them within reach.

Little things like twine or thin wire can be some of the most useful objects in your shed. They can also be some of the hardest to find. Make it easy by turning a toilet paper holder on its side. It makes it a cinch to reach and cut.

Tidy up your shed and look for room for a potting bench. That way you can plant or repot your favorite container plants even when it's raining. And it keeps your bags of potting mix dry.

Keep a calendar of landscaping activities and you won't have to guess when you last fertilized the lawn or planted seeds. This one is metal, creating a convenient place to secure plant tags, seed packets, and small parts with magnetic holders.

A simple wicker basket suspended from a shed door is a receptacle for frequently used small garden gear, such as shears, trowels, garden gloves, and a favorite reference book. It's quick and easy to grab what you need and get to work.

Old bushel baskets are just the right size for holding mulch, birdseed, or potting mix underneath a potting bench. You can usually find the baskets at a very low price at flea markets, but just about any sort of basket or bin will do the job.

A vintage milk bottle carrier is the perfect place to store seed-starting supplies. A trio of blue canning jars holds row markers, pens, and clippers. Peat pots, fertilizer, and hand tools have a place in this convenient little carrier, which seems like it's designed for grab-and-go trips to the garden.

If you have a lot of garden gear, you'll want to make use of every bit of space. Here, an old window shutter is transformed to a sturdy shelf over a shed window.

A good shelf doesn't have to be a big production. This old chick feeder (a flea market find) is an ideal spot to store old seed packets, catalogs, markers, reference books -- and even small potted plans.

Keep track of what needs to be planted each month with a simple ribbon organizer. Each ribbon represents a different month; use clothespins to attach seed packets that need planting during the month. It's pretty -- and an especially visual way to keep up.

Keep track of garden chores with a slate surface -- or coat a sturdy flat surface with chalkboard paint. It's a great way to help you remember what you need to do when.

Use hinges to get more in a small spot. This shelf is actually the chalkboard from the previous slide; when space gets short, use it as a horizontal surface. Fold it back down when you have room to spare.

Here's another great example of getting more in your space. An old stool is perfect for sitting on -- and for storing seeds, small tools, and other objects.

Make storing anything with wheels an easier ride by using a portable ramp to get in and out. This one was easy -- just a couple of scrap 2x4s and a piece of 1/2-inch plywood combine to create a ramp high enough to wheel things right in the shed and small enough to store easily when not in use.

Cast-off cultivator tines are perfect perches for a host of summer bird treats. Oranges, apples, and a mesh bag filled with sour cherries beckon birds. When the season for fresh fruit passes, dangle suet cakes and protein-packed peanut-butter-filled pinecones from the curved tines.

This iron sink allows for easy tool clean-up (no more hauling out to the hose or into the house!) and quick watering of potted plants. 

All garden sheds need a wall of shelves as they play an important role in keeping your space clean and tidy. To make your unit work best for you, organize your tools in order of what you use most. Store everyday items on the middle shelves within reach and seasonal up top or down below.