Oaks Cottage, Cronulla Transitional Landscape, Sydney

18. Potting station. Potting benches can get a little messy. Keep your garden workstation tucked away to the side, where it’s both convenient and out of the way.

6. Green it up. Plants are a cost-effective way to create shade, and they have the added benefit of creating a lovely light quality underneath their foliage. A rugged structure such as this steel lattice can be softened with plants trained to climb overhead. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), which explodes with sweetly perfumed white flowers in spring, is a great climber that won’t take over your garden but can be trained to thoroughly cover an overhead structure.

4. Repurpose an outdoor table. Alternatively, you can repurpose an old piece of furniture into a potting station — wooden desks, narrow tables and side tables can all work well. “A good height for working is important,” Acheff says. Look for pieces that have work surfaces about 3 feet off the ground. Also consider the materials of the furniture and how they’ll hold up to your climate. “Weather can do a number on indoor furniture,” Acheff says, and things like peeling paint can be harmful to the garden. If your furniture is not made for the outdoors or you’re otherwise unsure as to whether it will hold up to the weather, choose a site under a covered patio or in a garage.Pros: It can be free or inexpensive if you can find a piece to recycle.Cons: It may be limited to sheltered use only.

How should I store garden tools? An outdoor shed is the perfect location to store tools; otherwise, a spare wall in the garage will do. The key is to store them safely where people won’t trip over them or bump their head as they walk past. Hang tools on the wall using hooks, L-shaped brackets or hanging pegs. Ideally, hang them so the handles are about shoulder height, so they’re easy to access. Make sure blades aren’t touching, as this will blunt them prematurely.

Propagating area on wall not seen

Don’t know why I find this appealing