the potting shed essentials you need this spring…

With February’s generous serving of dreary, wet forecasts in recent days, the countdown to spring is well under way in the Millen-Gordon household.

With that comes daydreams of lighter evening spent tending to budding seeds and Sunday afternoons spent potting bulbs with nothing but the sound of birdsong (and Lumi) for company.

With that in mind, I thought that now would be a good time to share my potting shed essentials with you all as we gear up for the season and get ahead of the game. Whether you’re just starting out like me this time two years ago, or you’re a seasoned pro and have been doing this year in, year out, if you ask me, you can’t go too wrong with these accessories by your side…

The trug…

When I received this trug in 2020, I had no idea that it would spark a love affair with gardening that I’m wholly confident will last a lifetime but alas! It did and two years later, here we are.

For that reason, this had to feature at the top of this list because it really is an all rounder as far as I’m concerned. Not only does it look the part (the perfect accessory for styled photos if you ask me!) but if your courgettes take off like mine did last summer, you’ll be grateful that it’s on standby to help lug your freshly grown produce back and forth.

The tools…

Every gardener needs pruning scissors don’t they? So for me, these garden scissors are the perfect sidekick for the season. Excellent for deadheading flowers, pruning annuals or cutting herbs as the weeks unfold, they arrive in a handwoven bamboo pouch so make for a thoughtful gift too.

I recently purchased this potting scoop to sit inside the antique steel drum that houses my compost too and can safely say, “so far, so good!”

The pots…

If you happened to see my Instagram stories the other day, you’ll know that I’ve started to stock pile these terracotta pots  from Aurora Home and as soon as they arrived earlier this week, dreams of tending to sweet peas in bloom and picking ripe tomatoes quickly followed. I was initially drawn to their timeless finish (they’ll look beautiful whilst allowing the plants to take centre stage) but from a practical point of view, will last for years to come, I’m sure.

On that note, if you’ve got any pots dotted around the garden that look a bit worse for wear, take a hammer to them and use them as drainage at the bottom of other pots. Your plants will thank you for it later down the line and – take it from me – it’s the perfect stress relief too!

The can…

Isn’t it funny how we spend hours upon hours watering plants in the warmer months and then abandon the practice entirely as the leaves start to fall? It’s one of the things that I miss most about the longer evenings if I’m being honest which is why I can’t wait to get reacquainted with this beauty soon. You can’t really go too wrong with watering cans can you but if you’re looking for something that combines quality with a design that’s pleasing on the eye, this watering can gets my vote.

The lights….

If you hadn’t already noticed (!) I’m an all in or nothing kind of girl so when we had the plans for the greenhouse drawn up many moons ago, I knew that I wanted it to serve as an entertaining space if needs be too. It’s why we had these limestone tiles to match our kitchen floor fitted, along with this Imagin Fires woodstove and rustic dining table too.

For that reason, I’ve already started dreaming about hosting weekend dinner parties in the coming months and looking up with a glass of rosé in hand to see candlelight twinkling off each of the glass panes… Which is why these candlestick holders were added to my basket along with these terracotta citronella candles to keep any bugs at bay too.

The footwear…

Whether the heavens have opened and you’re taking shelter in the greenhouse or you’re heading outside because we’ve been blessed with blue skies,  Dubarry boots have seen me through all seasons and are my go-to in this unpredictable, ‘anything goes’ weather. Paired with cosy fleeces or a simple shirt and leggings, they will make sure your feet stay dry whatever the weather and will add instant style (if you ask me) to your chosen attire.

The hand wash…

Finally, with the healing combination of water mint, English apple blossom and thyme, this hand wash from Bertioli at Thyme is the perfect post-potting pick me up and rids of any soil remnants or muddy residue in an instant. Bringing the outdoors inside with its fresh aroma, we also bought the twin hand lotion for a little added luxury.

I’d love to know if you’ve got any recommendations that I can add to this list too so please do let me know in the comments below! Missed this last week’s blog and want to catch up? Turn over the page and catch up here.