Any seasoned gardener knows the value of a good cedar potting bench. The durable hardwood workspace makes expert gardening a cinch. Plus, you save yourself a backache while keeping organized at the same time. But once you've got the basic bench setup, how do you accessorize? If this is your first time around the block, you might not be familiar with what tools of the trade are best kept in your cedar potting bench.
Seeds
There are a few different ways to start your garden: you can use seeds, bulbs or saplings, or smaller versions of mature plants. Seeds and even bulbs can easily be stored in a cedar potting bench. The best way for keeping seeds is in repurposed mason jars. These containers are airtight and can be stacked easily on the shelves of your potting table. As far as bulbs, these are more delicate. Once they are dry, keep bulbs cool and dry and store in mesh bags or old stockings.
Soil
Equally important to gardening is keeping the appropriate soil in your cedar potting bench. Garden and potting soil is made from a mixture of organic and inorganic ingredients that
include rock particles, microorganisms, decaying plant and animal matter and more. The main ingredients also include clay, silt and sand.
Different plants require drastically different soil compositions. For example, clay holds water and nutrients much more easily than sand, but it's harder for roots to get a firm hold. Sand, on the other hand, is easier on roots but moisture dries much more quickly. Hence, sand is best for warm weather plants, like cacti, as evidenced in its naturally desert surroundings.
Another chemical aspect of soil is the level of acidity, which varies naturally in the earth, but can be manipulated for gardening purposes. The desired pH level of most plants is a neutral 7, but some plants prefer more acidic soils (below a 7), while others like alkaline compositions (above a 7). Soil acidity can and should regularly be measured using litmus paper.
In general, though, a good type of soil to store in your cedar potting bench is loam, a tested good mixture of the aforementioned ingredients. Soil should be stored either in the pull out tray of potting tables or underneath in sturdy containers. These containers should be dry but also have a hole or some sort of ventilation for air to circulate so that there is no mold buildup.
Author Resource:-
Todd Arend is a freelance writing professional whose expertise covers a variety of areas, including patio and backyard furniture, landscaping and design. He regularly writes about Cedar Potting Bench and Potting Table.
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