Organize Lawn and Garden Tools in the Garage With These Products
From slatwalls and pegboards to wheelbarrow hangers and garden hose holders, these storage systems are total game-changers.
If I've learned anything from watching back-to-back episodes of House Hunters at the gym, it's that — as much as you might want the picture-perfect front porch and the two-car garage and the big backyard with room for a shed — sometimes, you have to make compromises. You can get your dream home, but you might have to forego the generous yard and settle for storing your lawn and garden equipment in the garage. It isn't ideal, but it happens all the time. (Like, every single episode.)
Luckily, with the right accessories, you can transform your garage into a one-stop-shop for the family car and all your outdoor gear. Just use the following, editor-approved products based on your needs and budget to create a spot for your tools, which will help keep them in good condition and easily accessible. You might just end up feeling like it's still possible to have it all, after all.
Stackable bins are truly a homeowner's best friends. Use a set of these 27-gallon, tough-storage totes to hold your sprinkler, hose fittings and accessories away during the off-season and make it easier to stack them on a shelf. Since the totes have handles, they'll also be conveniently easy to carry out to the yard once the weather warms up.
Spend less time untangling your extension cords, garden hoses, string lights and more by wrapping them around this handy hook. You'll be so glad you bought it when you don't have to go digging through a box later.
We might be miracle-workers because we've found a way to store what is arguably the bulkiest item in your garage: the wheelbarrow. With soft grip hooks, this hanger lifts wheelbarrows off the floor and leans them against the garage without causing any damage to the walls. And nope! There's no need to thank us.
Keep your disposable gloves, wet wipes and various other cleaning supplies in arm's reach with the help of this welded-steel caddy. The upper shelf is perfect for storing small boxes and bottles of solution, while the bottom rack makes room for paper towels.
Create a dedicated "drop zone" for your gardening aprons, sun hats and tote bags with this galvanized, accordion-style rack. If you hang it right by the door, you can take your gear off as soon as you enter the garage and then easily find it again the next time you head outside.
For smaller gardening tools — like pruning shears, spades and trowels — try a pegboard. These perforated panels are perfect for hanging above a potting bench or worktable and will make it so much easier to see your pint-sized equipment. You can even outline each item in brightly colored paint to create an adorable display and remind you to put everything back in its proper place.
Fact: It's A-OK to keep firewood in the garage as long as your stack is completely dry, covered and far away from flammable objects. Make sure yours passes the test with this compact log rack, which lifts wood off the ground (to prevent moisture) and can easily be covered with a small tarp. It also, conveniently, boasts four built-in hooks so you can keep your tools together, too.
If your garage has a smaller footprint then you might get better use out of this compact Elfa Platinum Utility track, which does the same job while taking up a little less space. Just attach the track to the wall and then use the three sturdy hooks to lift larger items — like stepping stools, shovels, extension cords, etc. — off the floor.
No need to track mud and dirt in the house when you have a watertight tray like this for your workboots. Made from recycled rubber, this piece has a slim profile that stays out of the way, as well as a raised design that helps speed up the drying process.
If you've got a green thumb, then you'll get great use out of this wooden potting bench. Its slender profile ensures that it'll tuck neatly against the side of your garage while still giving you plenty of room to perform your gardening tasks. Best of all? In addition to a large workspace and basin for collecting dirt, the piece boasts a drawer, multiple shelves and two hooks so you can put your gloves and tools away after each use.
Where should you put those larger items that you don't reach for one a regular basis — like ladders, shovels and rakes — you ask? Try a ceiling rack. Because it's adjustable, this heavy-duty unit can make the most of even just four to six inches above your garage door and keep your walls free for other essentials. Plus, those long-handled tools will slide out much more easily than things like boxes of holiday decorations.
Put your empty walls to work (and successfully clear out space for the family car) by installing a slatwall system in your garage. Made from 90% recycled PVC, these panels are designed to lay flush against the wall and feature narrow grooves that can be customized with hooks, wire baskets and brackets to hold your lawn equipment. Pro Tip: When shopping, be sure to select white panels, as these will help your space appear more bright and airy.
Prefer not to drill holes in your drywall? No problem. A cabinet like this is an excellent, no-installation-necessary alternative and has wheels so you can move it around as needed. If it were up to us, we'd store bags of soil, weed killer and pesticides inside, since the cabinet comes with a lock that will help keep little ones away from harmful products.
Storing your lawnmower in the garage might not be ideal, but it's far better than leaving your expensive equipment outside and exposed to the elements. Make the best of the situation by converting this wall-mounted work table into an all-in-one lawnmower station. You can adjust the height, park your mower underneath and then use the pegboard for attachments and accessories.
If you're looking for more of an all-in-one solution, this Elfa Utility Unit is a great investment. A Horizontal Top Track mounts directly onto the wall and serves as the primary anchor for seven shelves, four drawers and a small pegboard, giving you plenty of compartments and configurations to work with. You can keep watering cans and extra planters near the top, store gloves and packs of plant food in the drawers and hang rakes, shovels and hoes off to the side.
