Garage Organization Ideas

Following a common-sense approach to garage organization, professional organizer Marlene Hansen says that "activity zones should be placed as close as possible to where the items will be used." In the case of garden tools, the ideal placement is near a side door leading to the yard. If the garage has no side door, then the next best location is a spot close to the opening.

If the homeowner is a frequent gardener, or lives in a climate that requires year-round maintenance, Hansen suggests a rolling garden tool organizer, like those sold at Frontgate. These handy carts have slots for long-handled rakes and shovels, pockets for pruners and gloves and homes for hand tools. When needed, the carts and their cargo can be wheeled right into the garden. For those who do as little yard work as possible, it makes more sense to stow the tools in totes. This way, the homeowner can grab the items when they're needed, and stow them away on a back shelf when they're not.

Regardless of your green thumb, Hansen urges that all fertilizers, herbicides and other hazardous materials be stowed in a locked cabinet or, at the very least, out of reach of little ones. And if you prefer the grass seed to end up on the lawn rather than in a chipmunk's cheeks, it should be stored in a metal container.