Sort your shed

CLEAR THE COBWEBS AND THE CLUTTER AND MAKE YOUR SHED AN ORGANISED STORAGE SPACE THAT YOU DON’T DREAD ENTERING

- FEATURE HOLLY REANEY, GINEVRA BENEDETTI

An orderly shed will make your garden more productive and efficient – so you can spend less time weeding and more time enjoying the beautiful space you've created. You'll also use your shed more, rather than avoiding it for fear of being greeted by an avalanche of clutter - or worse, spiders! Start by taking everything out and laying it on your patio or lawn. Go through your tools, getting rid of anything that is no longer useful, and sharpening and cleaning the items you intend to keep. Clear out any broken pots, old seed trays and out-of-date seeds. Back inside the shed, sweep away spilt compost, cobwebs and dust before scrubbing the walls and floor with a brush and a bucket of warm water and washing-up liquid. Leave it to dry while you decide on the best way to store your stuff in a neat, organised way.

Keep the floor clutter-free

Ensuring the floor is as clear as possible is a must. While some garden tools will inevitably take up floor space, avoid stashing anything loose on the floor as it will clutter your shed, create a trip hazard and make it hard for you to access every corner. For example, a dedicated shelf or a set of drawers for your pots will prove useful to keep them off the floor.

Choose the right storage

Your next task is to work out the best storage solutions for everything you've opted to keep. Remember, if you create a successful set-up from the start, keeping the space in order will be much simpler.