A Buyer's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Potting Shed
A potting shed brings function and convenience to any gardener’s backyard. If you’ve ever wanted a dedicated space to pot plants, start seeds, organize yard tools, or store extra gardening supplies, a potting shed could be exactly what you need.
Continue reading to learn what sets a potting shed apart from a greenhouse or standard garden shed and how to choose the right one for your space. From location and size to design features and storage, we’ll cover everything you need to consider when deciding which potting shed is right for your garden.
What is a Potting Shed?
A potting shed is a small backyard structure designed to give you a dedicated place to work while keeping tools and supplies organized. Unlike a standard garden shed, a potting shed is specifically set up for tasks such as starting seeds, repotting plants, and preparing containers for the growing season.
In addition to providing workspace, a potting shed should have room to store materials like soil, fertilizer, pots, and gardening tools. A well-designed potting shed typically includes a work surface, natural light, proper ventilation, and storage.
Potting Shed vs Greenhouse
Not to be confused with a greenhouse, a potting shed prioritizes storage and workspace; greenhouses prioritize providing a controlled environment for plants to grow. Here are two main ways to tell the difference:
Lighting: Greenhouses maximize sunlight for plants; potting sheds provide partial natural light
Storage: Potting sheds have shelving, a workbench, and storage for tools, pots, and garden equipment; greenhouses maximize space for housing plants
If you want to maximize the functionality of your potting shed or greenhouse, both can feature insulation, electricity, ventilation, and/or heating. These are typically custom additions added to sheds by gardeners like you.
Potting Shed vs. Standard Garden Shed
Standard garden sheds are the most common sheds found in backyards and are primarily intended for storing yard tools and equipment. Typically, garden sheds don’t have the natural light, ventilation, or dedicated workspaces you can expect to find inside a potting shed. Potting sheds are more functional for avid gardeners.
Features of a Good Potting Shed
If you’ve decided a potting shed is the right choice for you, it’s time to compare the features and accessories that can make your space more functional. Consider the following as they relate to your own gardening priorities:
Lighting: Ensure your windows face the right directions to optimize natural light. This will help support seedlings and other growing plants.
Cleanability: Easy-to-clean materials and work surfaces will help your space stay usable and durable.
Wall Space: If you have ample wall space, you can add hooks, shelves, and other necessary storage as you see fit.
Year-Round Usage: If you live in a climate with fluctuating temperatures, consider how well the shed is insulated and whether you need other climate-control options.
Ventilation: Without proper airflow, potting sheds can become overly hot and humid.
Workbench: Before purchasing your potting shed, measure the available bench space to ensure it meets your needs.
Storage: Proper storage will help keep you organized and make your supplies easily accessible.
Water Access: While not a necessity, if you need water access, ensure there is an entry point for plumbing in your potting shed.
Electricity: Adding electricity can help if you need extra lighting, fans, power for equipment, and more.
Entryway Access: Consider whether you need a single or double entry door based on how often you’ll be moving plants, large tools, wheelbarrows, or other items in and out.
The best potting shed is one that supports the way you garden today while giving you the features and flexibility to adapt the space as your needs change over time.
Best Location for a Potting Shed
When selecting a location for your backyard potting shed, consider how often you’ll need to access it. You’ll want to place it close enough for convenience while also choosing a location that fits naturally into your landscape. If you live in an HOA community, be sure to review any rules or restrictions regarding shed placement.
At Alpine Buildings, we recommend placing your shed in an area with good drainage and positioning the windows to receive sunlight at your preferred time of day. Access to water and electricity may also influence your final location. Before installation, double-check local setback requirements and permitting guidelines.
What Sizes Do Potting Sheds Come In?
There’s no one-size-fits-all potting shed. The right size depends on how much gardening you do, what you need to store, and how much room you want to give yourself to work. However, here are some standard shed sizes:
8' × 10' or 8' × 12': Typically the most compact of options.
10' × 12' or 10' × 16': A great standard choice for those who require more storage for tools, pots, and other supplies.
12' × 16' and larger: The avid gardener's dream. Ideal if you want a spacious workspace and room for large equipment, extra storage, or other uses.
At Alpine Buildings, we recommend choosing a potting shed that gives enough space for your current gardening needs with a little extra room to grow into over time.
Potting Shed Costs
The cost of a potting shed ranges significantly depending on its size and customizations.
Factors that will increase the cost of your shed include your choice of windows, doors, flooring, electrical packages, construction quality/material, and more. It’s also important to purchase your potting shed from a reputable retailer, many of which offer great warranties
At Alpine Buildings, we stand behind the quality of our sheds with a 10-year workmanship warranty. Many of the materials we use also include separate manufacturer warranties, including LP® SmartSide® siding with a 5/50 prorated warranty and select metal materials with a 40-year warranty.
Carefully choose a potting shed with strong warranty coverage to help ensure your shed is built to last.
Personalizing Your Potting Shed
Personalizing your potting shed can be the most exciting part of the buying process. As you make the shed your own, consider exterior features such as:
Exterior color
Window placement
Door style and design
Other architectural details
On the interior, you can opt to:
Add a custom height to your workbench
Choose your storage type from open shelving to peg boards
Customize flooring
Add lighting for plant growth
Add a fan
And more
The options are endless when you personalize your potting shed.
What to Store Inside
Common items that store well in a potting shed include:
Rakes, shovels, garden hoes
Watering cans, hoses
Gloves, boots, and other gardening clothes
Larger equipment like wheelbarrows or lawn mowers
Seeds, bulbs
Pots, seed trays
Soil, fertilizer
Handstools
And more
The goal is to create a storage setup that keeps everything organized without getting in the way of your workspace.
Shop Potting Sheds
Now that you know the ins and outs of choosing the right potting shed, it’s time to start shopping.
If you’re looking for a traditional potting shed with added growing space, consider Alpine Buildings’ Sunridge Greenhouse Shed. It combines a dedicated growing area with separate storage, clear roof panels for added natural light, and plenty of workspace. It’s also fully customizable, allowing you to add features such as a covered porch. Or, explore other Alpine Buildings’ customizable shed options and start designing a potting shed that meets your needs.
