A good potting bench is indispensable for the gardener. Potting benches are also referred to as planting benches and potting tables. Potting benches come in many shapes and sizes. The potting bench serves as a good work surface for working with plants and pots.

A good potting bench will have certain key characteristics. It will have an adequate surface. A surface that is about three feet deep (36") and about a foot and a half deep or more (18" or so) proves to be a good surface area for a potting bench. A distance of about 32" to 34" from the ground to the surface of the potting bench proves to be a comfortable working height for most people.

Potting benches typically have a back that rises above the work surface. The back is typically used to suspend hooks that can be used to hand a variety of garden hand tools and other useful accoutrements that make your potting activity more enjoyable and convenient.

A good potting bench should have a shelf below the work surface for holding a bag of potting soil, perhaps a bucket and some pots. Finally, a good potting bench should have a compartment built into the work surface that has a tray or other form of container that holds loose potting soil or potting mix that you use for placing plants in pots.