Transform a forgotten cable reel into a charming and functional herbs potting bench or outdoor table, adding rustic charm and practicality to your garden space with this easy DIY project!
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Spring has sprung! And with summer officially just around the corner, it’s time to revamp the backyard for gardening and summer fun once again!
The garden shed of course will get cleaned and something fun done with that! And the little DIY deck that houses either a sitting area or the inflatable hot tub setup and patios will soon be spruced up nicely!
However, today I’m sharing a fresh, new look for the cable reel which you’ve already previously spotted in my coffee herb garden HERE and sunflower-themed potting table HERE.
While they were super cute settings, the cable reel needed cleaning and sealing again anyway, so it was time for a fresh, new look!
Here’s what I mean. The cable reel gets really grungy in this area because of the amount of rain and shade during winter. So I clean it up each spring to bring it back to life again.
So here’s how I like to clean and prep cable reels then flip them into instant charming garden potting benches OR outdoor tables in case you’re lucky enough to also land one too!
Turn an old cable reel into a herbs potting bench or outdoor table
Supplies I used:
Bosch variable speed orbital sander with 60 grit sandpaper
Light duty plug-in pressure washer, with a green pressure washer tip
Old gate with hooks
2 old rake heads hung with rustic black hooks and conduit clamps
Pressure wash the cable reel
1. Pressure wash the cable reel to remove stains and mildew.
I used a light duty pressure washer to pressure wash the reel and the surrounding wooden garden fence. It would probably have been better to use my heavy duty gas run pressure washer, but a little plug-in is easier on me so I stuck with this. You also have to watch for wood-gouging when using something more powerful.
Tip: I also used a green pressure washing tip for added cleaning strength. The kind of tip you use can make a big difference.
Sand the cable reel to further remove stains
2. Once completely dry, I sanded the wood with my Bosch variable speed orbital sander using low grit sandpaper to remove stains and get further down to clean, bare wood.
The lower the grit of sandpaper (I used 60), the faster it cleans up. You can also end with a higher grit such as 350 to create a nice, smooth surface.
I purchased a bundle of orbital sandpaper disks in all grits LIKE THIS so I always have what I need on hand.
Brush outdoor wood protection on the cable reel
3. Protect the raw wood with an outdoor wood weather protectant.
My favorite outdoor clear wood sealer is Olympic Waterguard in clear. It doesn’t add any tone to the wood, but rather just protects it. The tone gets slightly enhanced but not yellow which I LOVE!
I pour the product on the wood, then use a larger paint brush to cover the top and bottom.
Then once dry, it’s time to stage my much cleaner looking cable reel potting bench!
Stage the cable reel as a potting bench
I first pushed an old gate behind the cable reel to create a new focal point backdrop. Since the gate already had hooks attached, I hung antique garden tools on an old rake head since anything in the weather will deteriorate. I don’t mind if these rust in the weather!
I also hung a little Locally Grown Herbs sign I made in a previous year.
Use rake heads for garden tool hooks
Do you remember my coffee tin herb garden from last year? SO fun! However, a few of the herb plants were very root bound, so I transplanted some into terra cotta pots. Then mixed all the herb plants to display on top of the cable reel potting bench. It makes a nice little garden feature!
Utilize the bottom reel ledge for storing pots
Another rake head was hung along the cable reel side attached with a conduit clamp attached with screws, which hang usable hand garden tools, since down below will be better protected from the weather.
My collection of terra cotta pots also sit along the bottom ‘shelf’ of the cable reel where there’s plenty of room for even more.
Add a large covered pot to store potting soil
And no potting bench is complete without the convenience of some gloves, fertilizer and potting soil nearby! So I brought out a very large terra cotta pot I had in my stash, along with a large wood round to act as a lid, then placed some soil (or whatever you wish) in a bin inside for easy access when potting plants.
How to make an old window cold frame HERE
Then after a quick clean up of the neighbouring garden bed, my little cable reel potting bench’s new look was complete! It sure makes a cute focal point in this corner of the yard. The perennials are also coming along nicely with a few already in bloom, just in time for this shoot!
Use the cable reel as an outdoor table
But even if a potting bench isn’t quite what you desire, the cable reel is also the perfect height to act as an outdoor table! Just position it in a shady spot in the yard with a couple of chairs, and you’ll have a pretty cute low-fuss outdoor sitting area to enjoy!
A container can be hung from the rake below to hold extra drinks, or whatever you wish! I like that the table top acts as shade from food if placed below.
Plants such as ferns or grass look super cute on top if you’d like a lush look right away!
I personally think the dimensions of a cable reel make excellent potting benches or outdoor tables.
And with the first 2026 garden project now complete, this is a VERY good start towards more! Now what to tackle next… One down, 800 more fun blog ideas to go… there is never a shortage on this topic! Stay tuned…
What fun projects will you be adding to your yard this summer? Here’s a few fun ideas if you aren’t yet sure…
Turn an old cable reel into a herbs potting bench or outdoor table
Tools:
Supplies:
Instructions:
- Pressure wash an old cable reel until mildew has been removed.
- Once dry, sand the cable reel using a low grit sandpaper in an orbital sander until all stains have been removed.
- Protect the wood surfaces with Olympic Waterguard in clear. If you use another brand, ensure it won't add colour to the wood if you wish it to look natural.
- Position a tall old gate behind the cable reel as a backdrop to hang things.
- Load up the lower reel shelf with pots and hand garden tools.
- Fill up a large lid protected pot with garden soil to have nearby.
- Pot up some herbs or flowers to display on top of your new cable reel potting bench for a pretty yard focal point, leaving enough room to pot new plants!
- Or use the protected cable reel as a wonderful low-fuss rustic outdoor table.
- Clean and protect the cable reel each spring to keep it looking fresh.
Notes
Other unique garden projects to make:
How to build a reclaimed wood garden fence
Make an upcycled container vegetable garden (all above ground!)
Garden walkway made from scrap wood
Growing abundant Virginia Creeper on 2 garden arbors
See other DIY potting bench ideas HERE
Love it! These cable spools always bring back memories for me. When I was a kid, our neighbor lady had several of these in her yard, and we used to turn them on their sides and race them!