A garden shed is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity that allows you to enjoy more storage space for your gardening tools and implements rather than using your garage for storage. You can easily invest in a panelized garden shed that you can erect yourself. Not only is such a shed aesthetically pleasing, it also is quite functional.
DIY panelized garden sheds come with pre-cut panels that already have Western Red Cedar shingles attached to the roof panels. Each panel comes in a manageable size, so that it is quick and easy to assemble the shed. You also have the flexibility to choose a window and door panel placement.
However, once you have your garden shed in place, it is very easy to let it turn into a huge mess. You may end up just throwing everything into the shed and forgetting about it until the need arises. Then it is one big clutter that you have to weed through to find what you need. Don’t let your garden shed fall into this state. Work on it now to prepare your garden shed for the winter and beyond.
Clean and Sweep Your Shed and Tools
Take out everything from the shed and keep it outside. Then sweep the shed to catch all the dirt and debris. Wash and rinse pots, wheelbarrow, shovels and other gardening tools and implements. Use a wire brush to get rid of stubborn soil stuck to the surface. Let the tools, air dry. Once they are thoroughly dry, store them away until you need them again. You can spray the metal parts of the tools with a lubricant to prevent rust formation.
Taking Care of Holes and Cracks
If you install a garden shed made from pre-cut Western Red Cedar, you don’t really need to paint it. This wood looks beautiful naturally and has its own charm. However, you can stain the floor of your shed, if it is made from wood. Use a weatherproof stain to keep the floor looking gorgeous all year long.
Also, check for holes and cracks in the panels. If you find them, use caulk to fill them up. You also can fill the seams with caulk to keep the cold wind out and prevent your shed from smelling musty when you don’t open it for days in winter.
Keep Garden Pests Out of Your Shed
Garden sheds seem to attract pests very easily. Bugs and rodents love to make homes in garden sheds. These critters can create a mess and stink up your shed. So set traps throughout the year to deter these pests and ensure your garden shed lasts for decades and also remains in a magnificent shape.
Shed Organization and Storage
Check all the items that you store in your garden shed. Discard anything that is broken and you no longer need. Garden sheds can accumulate a lot of clutter every season and you may not even realize it until you are trying to find that one tool or implement that is hidden under the chaos.
Once you have got rid of unwanted and broken items, it is time to focus on the storage. The best way to optimize storage in your garden shed is with shelves and hooks. Fix large hooks on the inside wall to hang large tools and implements, such as shovels, trowels, and rakes. You can even roll up the garden hose and hang it on the wall, thereby using the space vertically inside the shed.
It is important to use shelf space prudently. Anything that is small and organic, such as mulch or dirt should first go into waterproof packaging and then onto the shelf. This will prevent the shed’s floor from damage.
Similarly, pots, watering cans, fertilizer, and herbicides should also go onto a shelf. Make sure you label the shelf, so that you know what goes where. Place other small items in transparent plastic boxes with lids. Label the boxes on all sides, so that you know what they are for.
Place these in a systematic manner on the shelves. Boxes that hold items you need regularly for your garden maintenance and upkeep should be placed on lower shelves, while those you use sparingly or rarely should be placed on higher shelves.
Your wheelbarrow should be propped up against the wall, so that it is not in the way when you enter the shed.
Neaten the Outside
Clear grass, shrubs, and other plants growing along the garden shed. They can damage lower half of the shed. You should be looking to keep about 3 to 5 (7.62 to 12.7 cm) inches of space between the garden shed and your plants to prevent damage to the lower part of the shed and its base.
A garden is a green oasis in a concrete jungle and a garden shed allows you to keep that oasis beautiful and well-landscaped. So, prepare your garden shed for the winter by organizing and cleaning up your shed to store all the valuable gardening implements and tools that you need to make your garden into a haven. It is worth the effort and time!
A shed is usually a structure to have in your garden. While your garden shed can withstand and endure spring, summer, and fall effortlessly, it does require some help to endure the harsh winter months. You will be using your garden shed less in the winter and hence, you will not know of any seasonal damage until spring. So it is an astute idea to winterize your shed, so that it stays sturdy and pristine during the winter, ready to welcome you when spring arrives in all its glory.
So how do you winterize your shed? Are there some special measures that you need to adopt? Yes, there are few things you need to do in the fall to help prop up the shed for winter.
Thorough Cleaning
Your shed becomes a place to store everything, from pots, lawn mower, fertilizer, mulch, garden hose to gardening tools, and accessories. Before you decide to shut your shed for winter, it makes sense to organize your shed. Otherwise in the spring you will find critters and varmints enjoying themselves. Also, when you clean the shed and everything inside it, you can be spring ready.
Remove all the things outdoors to sort out what you need and what has to be disposed. Broken pots, spare parts and some extra materials, and other damaged items that can’t be used or that is needed should be discarded.
Sweep the floor and remove any cobwebs. Get rid of insects that may have made their home in the shed in the summer. Use poison if you have too.
Clean the gardening tools properly and store them in plastic bags, so that you have them ready for spring.
Empty out the contents of the garden hose and then roll it to store away properly to prevent it from cracking or getting damaged in extreme temperatures.
Remove oil and gas from the leaf blower, lawn mower and trimmer. Cover them with a tarp to prevent moisture and dust getting to them.
Place potting soil, fertilizer, mulch, and grass seed in individual plastic bags and secure them. This will keep rodents from nesting in them and doing even worse things.
Oil, thinners, fuel, and paint should be disposed in an environmentally-safe manner. So call a local disposal company to do that on your behalf.
Secure the electrical cords to each electrical tool to prevent them from getting entangled with other things.
Inspect and Repair the Interior of the Shed
When you empty out the shed and after you finish cleaning the floor and walls, it is time to inspect the interiors of the shed and make necessary repairs.
Check the floor, ceiling and walls carefully. If you notice holes and crevices, use caulk to fill them in. This will prevent pests from getting inside your shed in winter.
Look behind shelves, hooks and other wall-mounted hangings for damage. If you notice anything, repair it immediately.
Carefully check the seals around windows and doors. If you notice cracks or damaged weatherstripping, replace it. Otherwise, cold air and moisture will make their way into the shed. Oil the door hinges, so that they function optimally even during winter.
If you have the energy and money, give the walls a fresh coat of paint to renew the appearance.Waterproof the floor to enhance its longevity if you intend using winter tools. The wet tools can damage wooden flooring.
Give the Roof Special Treatment
The roof of your shed also requires TLC. Remember, it will be exposed to strong winter winds and snowfall (depending on where you live). It should be sturdy enough to withstand the elements and keep moisture away from the interior.
If the shed has metal roof, there will be areas that are rusted. Clean the roof thoroughly and rustproof it.
Shingled roof also requires proper maintenance to prep it for winter. Replace loose shingles and replace any that is broken.
If you have a wooden roof, look for wood warping, boring insects, and cracked panels. You will want to replace panels that are damaged and also treat the wood to prevent insects from boring into it. Western Red Cedar panels that are often used in DIY garden shed kits are naturally resistant to pests and are awesome for outdoor sheds.
Replace rusted nails and reinforce loose panels properly.
Trim overhanging branches from trees, as they can damage your garden shed once they get heavy with ice and snow.
Fix and Repair the Exterior
Check the exterior of your shed carefully. Look for holes and crevices and fill them up. If you like, you can paint the exterior with waterproof paint to protect it from moisture. Remember, if you are painting, let the paint dry properly between coats. Remove growth from around the shed as efficiently as possible.
Use these tips to winterize your backyard shed. It may sound like a lot of work, but if you plan on doing a little bit every day, you should have your garden shed ready for winter within no time. Winterizing your shed will boost its longevity and you will not have to worry about repairs (or profound ones) when spring arrives.
A garden shed is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity that allows you to enjoy more storage space for your gardening tools and implements rather than using your garage for storage. You can easily invest in a panelized garden shed that you can erect yourself. Not only is such a shed aesthetically pleasing, it also is quite functional.
DIY panelized garden sheds come with pre-cut panels that already have Western Red Cedar shingles attached to the roof panels. Each panel comes in a manageable size, so that it is quick and easy to assemble the shed. You also have the flexibility to choose a window and door panel placement.
However, once you have your garden shed in place, it is very easy to let it turn into a huge mess. You may end up just throwing everything into the shed and forgetting about it until the need arises. Then it is one big clutter that you have to weed through to find what you need. Don’t let your garden shed fall into this state. Work on it now to prepare your garden shed for the winter and beyond.
It is important to use shelf space prudently. Anything that is small and organic, such as mulch or dirt should first go into waterproof packaging and then onto the shelf. This will prevent the shed’s floor from damage.
Similarly, pots, watering cans, fertilizer, and herbicides should also go onto a shelf. Make sure you label the shelf, so that you know what goes where. Place other small items in transparent plastic boxes with lids. Label the boxes on all sides, so that you know what they are for.
Place these in a systematic manner on the shelves. Boxes that hold items you need regularly for your garden maintenance and upkeep should be placed on lower shelves, while those you use sparingly or rarely should be placed on higher shelves.
Your wheelbarrow should be propped up against the wall, so that it is not in the way when you enter the shed.
A shed is usually a structure to have in your garden. While your garden 
When you empty out the shed and after you finish cleaning the floor and walls, it is time to inspect the interiors of the shed and make necessary repairs.
Check the floor, ceiling and walls carefully. If you notice holes and crevices, use caulk to fill them in. This will prevent pests from getting inside your shed in winter.
Look behind shelves, hooks and other wall-mounted hangings for damage. If you notice anything, repair it immediately.
Carefully check the seals around windows and doors. If you notice cracks or damaged weatherstripping, replace it. Otherwise, cold air and moisture will make their way into the shed. Oil the door hinges, so that they function optimally even during winter.
If you have the energy and money, give the walls a fresh coat of paint to renew the appearance.Waterproof the floor to enhance its longevity if you intend using winter tools. The wet tools can damage wooden flooring.
