Why Smart Gardeners are Buying Plastic Storage Bins in Bulk This Spring
Stop spending money on expensive specialist equipment! Here are 9 ways you didn't know you could use a storage bin in your garden.
Okay, I wanted to say it as a surprise, but you’ve probably already read the title. I’m about to give you 9 uses for…wait for it…a plastic storage box! You know, like this one that you can get on Amazon for just $17?
A TikTok creator by the name of @the_aplotmentshire recently shared all kinds of gardening uses for plastic storage boxes, and it’s enough to make you question why you spent all this money on specialist equipment over the years.
1. Use It as a Mini Greenhouse or Cold Frame
A large plastic box with a lid is, in other words, a cold frame or a mini greenhouse. You can place it over seedlings or young plants, and the lid traps warmth and humidity, creating a protected microclimate that will extend your growing season at both ends.
Article continues belowWhile it won’t necessarily replace a greenhouse, it can protect tender plants from a late-season frost (don’t you hate those?) or give seedlings a warmer start than the open air ever would.
Note: Plastic storage boxes are not entirely transparent, so this solution should only be used for the short term.
2. Protect Plants from Pests
Slugs, mice, and other garden pests can devastate seedlings overnight (my own garden has been the victim of this). An upturned storage box placed over vulnerable plants acts as a physical barrier that keeps them out. It's low-tech, costs almost nothing, and is considerably more reliable than hoping the slugs will find something else to eat. Note: They won’t.
3. Set Up a Bottom Watering Station
Fill the box with a few inches of water and place your pots inside. This turns it into an instant bottom watering station – a method that allows compost to absorb water from below rather than having water run straight through from the top.
It's particularly useful for plants that have dried out to the point where top watering simply isn't penetrating, and for anything that dislikes water sitting on its leaves. The size of a standard storage box means you can water multiple pots at once, which will certainly save you time. This Wide Terracotta pot from Target is a great choice as the porous clay will soak up water, and it features a drainage hole.
4. Move Plants Around Easily
Anyone who spends time chasing the sun – or the shade – across a garden knows how tedious and downright boring it can be to move potted plants one by one. If you have a storage box, you can load them into it and relocate a ton of pots in one trip.
5. Harden Off Seedlings
The hardening off process is less complicated than it sounds. Basically, it means you're slowly helping your indoor-raised seedlings get used to outdoor conditions before you plant them outside. This can involve repeatedly moving plants in and out over the course of one to two weeks.
A plastic storage box can make this significantly easier, as you can move the whole thing outside during the day and bring it in at night. Adjust the lid to control how much air the seedlings get as they toughen up.
6. Transport Plants to an Allotment Without Damage
If you grow at an allotment or community garden, getting plants there without snapping stems or tipping pots over can be such a challenge. A storage box with a lid keeps everything contained, upright, and protected during the journey. It's a better solution than a cardboard box and far more reusable.
7. Store Tools Safely Over Winter
Garden tools left outside over winter are exposed to moisture that causes rust and deterioration. While it’s nothing glamorous (nobody ever said gardening is anyway), it can be an effective way to extend the life of your tools during colder months.
If you don't even have gardening tools yet or they're already rusty, this 3-in-1 gardening tool set from Fiskars will get you started (available on Amazon).
8. Store Fresh Compost
A storage box with a lid is a great container for keeping a batch of compost fresh and ready to use. The lid keeps it from drying out or getting waterlogged, and you can mix in new material as needed. It's a perfect solution for anyone who doesn't want a full compost bin but needs somewhere to keep a working supply.
9. Use the Lid as a Potting Tray
Even the lid itself earns a place at the table (or in the potting shed?) Turned upside down, it makes a wide, shallow tray that contains the mess when potting your plants. Compost stays on the lid rather than all over your surface, and when you're done, the excess tips straight back into the bag.
One box. Nine uses. It might be the best few dollars you spend on your garden this year.
