Choosing the Right Spot for Your Potting Station
Start by finding a level, accessible area in your yard or patio where your child can dig, plant, and explore freely. The Martha Stewart Kids' Outdoor Potting Bench measures 34" H x 16.5" L x 36" W (extending to 52" W with the leaf), so allow enough space for the bench and for your child to move around comfortably. A spot near a water source or garden bed makes it easy to fill watering cans and transplant seedlings.
Because the bench is made from acacia wood with natural oils that make it weather-resistant, it can stay outdoors year-round. Just avoid placing it in a low-lying area where water pools, as standing water could damage the wood over time.
What the Potting Bench Includes
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Martha Stewart Kids' Outdoor Potting Bench and Tools: Natural oils found in acacia wood make the material resilient and weather-resistant, keeping Martha Stewart Kids Outdoor Furniture sturdy and ready for play year-round. You don't need to bring the bench indoors after every use, making setup and maintenance simpler for busy families.
Martha Stewart Kids' Outdoor Potting Bench and Tools
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Martha Stewart Kids' Outdoor Potting Bench and Tools: The Potting Bench comes with several accessories including a set of three child-sized gardening tools and three terracotta-colored pots to ensure a realistic planting experience. These accessories let your child start gardening right away without needing to buy extra equipment.
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Martha Stewart Kids' Outdoor Potting Bench and Tools: The work surface extends to 52" wide to reveal a hidden soil bin, giving children even more room to explore with friends, plant seeds, and engage with natural materials. The extendable work surface and hidden soil bin turn the bench into a collaborative play space where siblings or friends can garden together.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Follow these steps to get your kids' outdoor potting station ready for play and learning.
- 1. Position the bench on a flat surface: Place the bench on level ground to prevent wobbling during use. The child-height workspace (22" work surface height) allows kids to comfortably dig, plant, and explore on their own.
- 2. Organize tools and pots on the shelves: Use the multiple shelves to store the included gardening tools and terracotta pots. Keep frequently used items on the lower shelves so your child can reach them independently.
- 3. Set up the built-in chalkboard: The built-in chalkboard gives kids a space to note steps, sketch garden plans, or simply draw from observations. Place a small box of chalk nearby for easy access.
- 4. Prepare the soil bin for messy play: The waterproof soil bin can be used as a messy play area that can easily be removed and emptied or covered up to keep things neat. Fill it with potting soil or sand for sensory exploration.
- 5. Secure pots in the built-in cutouts: The bench features dedicated built-in cutouts that keep the pots securely stored and out of the way when not in use. This prevents accidental tipping and keeps the work surface clear.
Encouraging Independent Play and Learning
Once the station is set up, let your child take the lead. The Martha Stewart Kids' Outdoor Potting Bench is designed to inspire outdoor exploration and make planting a breeze for beginners. Children can connect with the natural world through sensory-rich, open-ended play—digging, planting seeds, watering, and observing growth over time.
You can rotate activities: one week focus on planting seeds in the pots, the next use the soil bin for sensory play with scoops and small toys. The chalkboard lets kids document their garden plans or draw what they see, blending art and science naturally.
