Put Up a Potting Shed

Ask a dozen shed owners what they keep in their sheds, and you’ll probably get a dozen different answers. But a shed doesn’t have to be a catchall for storing extra household items. It can have a special use and provide a pleasant space in which to work on hobbies.

This 10-by-11-foot structure is the perfect size for a potting shed. It’s big enough to store all the necessary garden equipment and still provide ample room. It features a 4-by-6-foot skylight, which floods the interior space with natural light, and it has an overhang in back for additional storage.

The directions specify using cedar timber framing with simple lap joints; however, they can be easily adapted for 2x4 construction. The walls are built with 1x8 shiplap cedar, but any siding, including board and batten, can be used. Similarly, any roofing material can be used.

If you don’t want to build your own windows, you can order single-sash barn windows from a lumberyard. Or, to save a bit of money, salvage windows from old houses to use in your shed — just make sure they’re all the same size.

To view more illustrations detailing this project, search for “How to Build a Potting Shed” on www.MotherEarthNews.com.

Floor Framing

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