Finding a Work Surface

• 1). Find a wooden desk, table or even a vanity at a junkyard, thrift store or garage sale. Look for furniture that's aged enough to look antique or weather-beaten but still sturdy enough to hold substantial weight. Desks are particularly good for repurposing into a potting bench, because the drawers make great storage for tools.
  
  
• 2). Scrape off any large pieces of peeling paint or varnish with a wire brush.
  
  
• 3). Wipe the table down with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.
  
  
• 4). Apply a coat of lacquer to the top of the potting bench to protect the surface from water and soil when you work on it. You can also apply a coat of lacquer to the table legs if they'll be standing on bare soil or on an area that can accumulate standing water during rain. Allow the lacquer to completely dry before moving the table.
  
  

Creating the Shelving Unit

• 1). Have the lumber yard or home improvement store cut 1-inch-by-6-inch redwood, cedar or pressure-treated pine into 3 18-inch pieces and 2 24-inch pieces.
  
  
• 2). Drill two holes with the 3/16-inch drill bit on one of the 18-inch pieces. The holes should be approximately 3 inches from each short end (1 at each end) and centered across the width of the board. This board will become the base of the shelf unit. The pilot holes will place the screws when the shelf is attached to the table.
  
  
• 3). Assemble the shelf unit by laying out the cut boards, with the two 24-inch pieces laying vertically and two of the 18-inch pieces laying horizontally between them (the board with the pilot holes at the bottom). Screw in place in a rectangle shape with 1-inch wood screws.
  
  
• 4). Place the final 18-inch board between the 24-inch pieces and adjust the height according to your preference. Screw into place.
  
  

Putting it Together

• 1). Place the table in the desired location outdoors.
  
  
• 2). Arrange the shelf unit on the table top where you would like it, and mark the locations of the two pilot holes on the table top with a felt-tip pen.
  
  
• 3). Drill pilot holes in the table top using the 3/16-inch drill bit, and screw the shelf unit into place with 1-inch wood screws.