Turn An Old Kitchen Utensil Holder Into An Easy Garden Storage Solution

Whether you've swapped out your old utensil holder for a brand new model or you spotted one for cheap at a secondhand store, this kitchen tool can come in handy for more than just culinary activities. It works well for corralling silverware, knives, and measuring spoons, and can also provide simple storage for a more organized home. But did you know it can serve as a smart organizer for your garden necessities? Not all of us are lucky enough to have a full greenhouse or garden shed for all of our outdoor tools, but even with just a small designated spot in your garage, cabinet, or patio, you can use this storage hack. 

The divided compartments of a utensil holder make it easy to store garden essentials like a trowel, pruning shears, string, or rolled gardening gloves. Because it's not fixed in place, you can easily carry it outside as needed. You could also add handles to the sides to make it even easier to carry. The container itself may require a bit of deep cleaning, depending on its state and specific material type. Use gentle, non-toxic cleaners to prep the holder so it's safe for your tools and plant materials. 

YouTube creator Our Contented Home tried the idea with a thrifted wooden utensil holder, showing how it works well as a portable organizer for seed packets, plant markers, twine, scissors, and other small gardening tools. She also emphasized labeling the tray, adding tags to the front or sides so each item has a designated spot. Some other common garden items that could fit in this tray would be a small rake, a garden fork, soil scoops, scissors, rolled garden gloves, seedling pots, seed markers, string, or even a travel-sized bottle of sunscreen for your hands and face. This hack doesn't have to involve a tray; you can also upcycle an old utensil caddy into a portable garden storage basket.

You can also store seeds in your utensil tray, but the way you store them matters, and if done improperly, you can harm them. The best place to store seeds is in a dark, tightly sealed container or packet in a cool, dark, and dry area. If you're planning on planting the seeds that day, you could move them in your utensil holder to bring them with you outside. But for long-term storage, your seeds should not be left out in the tray. Everything else in the caddy, like gloves and tools, should be safe without any temperature or moisture concerns.