How to Pick the Right Garden Tool Storage Solution
Over the years, you have probably acquired many gardening tools. But, now you have no idea how to manage them. You do not want handles and sharp edges creating confusion or injury when your garden chores call. Instead, you want to swiftly find the tool you need so you can get directly to work. Good storage solutions provide the answers. The wide choice of sheds, racks, shelves, garden bins, buckets and boxes can help you organize all of your gardening tools for easy access. Determine your needs and select what is most appropriate for you.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Count the number of long-handled, short-handled and small hand tools that you own. If you have less than five or six tools total, one storage box or bin can hold all of them. However, if you have several rakes, shovels, hoes, a pitch fork, a pickaxe and a dozen small tools, you can create hanging areas in an existing garage and add a bucket for small hand tools. If you own many tools plus larger items, a shed will work much better.
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Measure the length of your long-handled tools to help you choose a rack or hanging system. Group all of your tools together loosely and measure the area they take up; this measurement indicates the space you'll need to store your tools.
Lean the longer tools against a wall to see how much space they would occupy when they are hanging and organized. You may just need a wide wall space along a garage or shed wall.
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Visit two or more home improvement stores to see what types of storage are available. Many stores display different sized sheds and rack solutions; plus they'll have the individual items if you want to build your own storage system. Some manufacturers offer a simple rack which can be adapted easily to any space wide enough to hold it. Visit your local nursery since they often have displays for varying storage needs.
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Decide on your preference of wood, metal or plastic. Wood is beautiful, but it also needs to be painted or varnished. If you have do-it-yourself skills, look for basic kits and designs to build your own shed. Alternatively, you can choose a prefab metal building that will fit into your yard or garden. Choose one that has opening windows for ventilation, since these sheds can get very hot. Plastic is lightweight and seldom needs maintenance.
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Tips & Warnings
The larger the shed, the more it will hold; but it still needs to be organized. Shelving can hold pots, small bags of potting soil, hand tools and other items.
Hooks and clamps keep longer tools organized and accessible.
A lawnmower takes up a substantial bit of space, and may be hard to maneuver into and out of a shed unless it has a ramp and an easy to reach area strictly for the mower.
If you keep your tools indoors or shield them from the elements, they will last longer, especially if you live in an area that receives a lot of rain or where it gets extremely hot.
Be disciplined about keeping only garden tools in your garden tool shed. Don't add other items that need "storage" or you'll soon have a new problem to resolve.
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