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A garden shed can be much more than a storage area for garden tools. In fact, if you design and maintain your garden shed properly, it can become a lovely home for some of your favourite plants.
Garden sheds can provide a stable environment in which your plants can grow while shielding them from harsh outdoor elements. But achieving that benefit requires a few key insights. This article will provide you with the information you need to add a garden shed to your yard that will soon become a plant lover’s haven.
Basic Tips for Choosing the Right Garden Shed for Your Yard
Before we get into the specifics, let’s cover a few general considerations you’ll need to make before adding a garden shed to your yard.
Size and Space Considerations
One of the very first elements you should consider when starting a shed project is the size of the shed you hope to build. Start by defining the area in which you intend to place your new shed. Take careful measurements of the area. Once you have those measurements on hand, you can then begin looking for or designing a garden shed that will fit within your desired location.
Materials Options
After determining the size of your shed, you should then consider what materials you would like your shed to be made of. There are many different garden shed materials out there, and some of the most common options are metal, vinyl, and wooden sheds.
As you evaluate shed material options, you’ll find that some prove to be more durable while others prove to be the better option for your budget. Beware of cheap sheds that may be alluring due to their low price but may not last over the long haul. By contrast, sheds that are a bit more expensive may often have better durability and, therefore, will last longer.
Customisation Potential
If you are purchasing from a manufacturer that has garden sheds for sale, you should keep an eye out for customisation options. The right customisation will allow you to tailor the design of your shed to the way you intend to use it. However, if you are most concerned about the cost of your project, you may find it is most sensible to choose a shed that does not include any customisation.
Likewise, if you choose to design your shed on your own, the customisation options are essentially limitless. Simply add whatever features you like that are feasible to construct in your space – for example, corner sheds are ideal for those of you who have a limited amount of garden space.
Functional and Aesthetic Garden Shed Considerations
With some of the basics out of the way, let’s take a more in-depth look at the functional and aesthetic considerations you should make during this project. After all, functions and aesthetics determine both how your garden shed will look and how it will operate once it is built.
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How to Ensure Your Garden Shed is Functional
Regarding function, it is helpful to write out a list of all the main ways that you hope to use your garden shed. After generating such a list, you can then compare the items on your list to the overall design of your shed. It’s often best to design your shed so that each main use has a specific space dedicated to it.
For instance, if your shed is mainly a place where you hope to store tools and garden materials, you should include plenty of wall hooks, storage space, and containers. Alternatively, if your shed becomes the home for some of your favourite plants, you’ll need to provide ample growing space, access to sunlight and water, and an area in which you can work to maintain your plants.
How to Ensure Your Garden Shed is Aesthetically Pleasing
After meeting the functional needs of your shed, you can consider the way it looks. The best way to make your garden shed aesthetically pleasing is to carefully select the interior and exterior features. Do your best to choose colours and textures that complement each other and work well with your overall stylistic preferences.
It’s also vital to consider how your shed looks in relation to the rest of your outdoor area. In an ideal situation, you’ll want to integrate your shed into your garden so that it builds on the continuity that already exists. When done well, your garden shed can even become a beautiful focal point within the lush plant life of your garden.
Creating Different Types of Garden Sheds
Not all sheds are alike. In fact, there are a few main types of garden sheds that may be appealing to you, depending on your intended shed use. The next few sections will introduce you to a few popular shed types and how you can create them.
How to Create a Potting Shed
A potting shed is a type of shed that gives you plenty of space to work on your plants. There are a few main features that every great potting shed should include.
First, a potting shed should include a table or counter that provides a generous surface on which you can work. This working space is where you’ll plant and transplant all your plants into pots, so it’s crucial that it is not too small.
Next, it’s essential that your potting shed includes a large window with sun exposure. This sun exposure will allow your plants to survive well before they are ready to live outdoors. But while it’s important to allow sun exposure, it’s just as important to ensure that your shed provides complete protection from the outside elements.
Lastly, a potting shed also needs plenty of storage space. As you might have guessed, you’ll use this storage space to store your pots, tools, and materials like soil and compost.
How to Create a Plant Nursery Shed
What makes a plant nursery shed different from a standard shed is that its main purpose is to house plants that are not yet ready to transplant and grow outdoors in your garden. Think of a plant nursery shed as a holding zone in which your seedlings can develop in safety before they are ready to move to a permanent home.
Based on that main purpose, the key element to include in a plant nursery shed is plenty of plant storage space. Your plant storage space should be located near a large window to allow your plants to get sunlight, and it should be large enough to hold all of your seedlings and their pots at once.
A plant nursery shed will also need some storage and workspace. However, compared to a potting shed, a plant nursery shed is less suitable as an active work zone and instead mainly provides a place for your seeds and seedlings to progress through the early stages of their development.
How to Create a Garden Shed That’s a Greenhouse
Building a garden shed greenhouse is the way to go if you want to house a lot of plants over an indefinite period. Unlike in a plant nursery, the plants in a greenhouse are not there for a temporary amount of time. Instead, the greenhouse is their permanent home.
When building a greenhouse, you’ll need to make some special considerations. Most importantly, you’ll want your greenhouse walls and roof to be made of glass. This design choice allows a maximum amount of light into your greenhouse to facilitate ongoing plant growth.
Greenhouses do not necessarily need as much room for tool storage since storage is not their main function. Instead, think of your garden shed greenhouse as an extension of your garden. This means you can include walkways and seating areas where you can observe and enjoy your greenhouse plants.
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Garden Shed Maintenance and Upkeep
The functionality and longevity of your garden shed depend on the maintenance you provide. In general, you should aim to keep your shed’s interior neat and tidy. By storing materials, plants, and tools in designated spaces, you’ll be able to move and work freely within your shed.
You should also perform regular evaluations of the materials and structural integrity of your shed. Doing so will alert you to any needed repairs before they become a costly problem.
Additionally, you’ll also want to be on the lookout for pests. Often, your garden shed will provide a lovely shelter for many types of unwanted critters. Cheque for signs of pests often and add any pest prevention measures to your shed as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions about Garden Sheds
How Can You Build a Garden Shed on a Budget?
It’s possible to build a functional garden shed on a budget. However, the cheapest way to build a shed requires you to do the labour yourself. This approach eliminates any expense related to hiring a team of professional builders. When keeping the costs of your shed low, it also helps to select affordable materials and follow a simple design.
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Garden Shed?
Whether or not you will need a permit to build a garden shed is dependent on several factors. Mainly, the property laws in your neighbourhood should give you a good ideae of whether a permit is required to build the shed you want. As always, it’s best to contact your local governing body before undertaking a construction project on your property.
What’s the Best Way to Maximise Garden Shed Space?
One of the best ways to maximise the space in your garden shed is to incorporate vertical storage. Vertical storage can mean shelving or wall hooks that neatly hold your tools. After storing your shed items neatly, it’s also important to have dedicated workspaces to facilitate the way in which you hope to use your shed day-to-day.
Sources:
- This Old House – this is a well-established home renovation and improvement website that offers a comprehensive guide to garden sheds. The URL to link to is: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/sheds/21019222/all-about-garden-sheds
- Plasticine House – this is a home and garden blog that provides tips and advice on budget-friendly DIY projects, including building a garden shed. The URL to link to is: https://plasticinehouse.com/cheapest-way-to-build-a-shed/
- The Royal Horticultural Society – this is a highly authoritative source for all things gardening-related and has a specific section on garden sheds. The URL to link to is: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=523
- The Spruce – this is a popular online resource for home and garden advice, and they have a section on garden sheds that provides useful information and buying guides. The URL to link to is: https://www.thespruce.com/garden-sheds-for-every-budget-2132213
Gardenista – this is a design-focused website that provides inspiration and advice for outdoor living spaces, including garden sheds. The URL to link to is: https://www.gardenista.com/garden-design/garden-sheds/
