Why old crates make brilliant garden storage

Old wooden crates – the sort that once held wine, apples or tiles – are sturdy, characterful and often free from local shops or farms. Turned into a movable store, they keep secateurs, twine, pots and compost close at hand without cluttering your borders. The project is simple: sand rough edges, apply a weatherproof stain, and add castors so you can wheel the whole thing to wherever you're working. You can finish it in an afternoon with basic tools.

Choosing and preparing your crates

Look for solid timber – pine, oak or chestnut. Avoid anything treated with creosote or heavy chemicals, especially for edible produce. Slatted crates are lighter, but you may need a plywood base for strength.

Inspect every crate. Remove old nails, staples and splinters with pliers and a tack lifter. Re-fix loose slats with galvanised screws – they won't rust. Brush down and check for wobbles. A crate that rocks on a flat surface isn't suitable for castors; use it as a wall-mounted shelf instead.

• Sizes: a wine crate is roughly 30cm x 40cm x 15cm; apple crates are often 50cm x 30cm x 30cm. Bigger crates suit tool trolleys, smaller ones for seed packets.
• Safety: wear gloves and eye protection when removing old fixings. Rusty nails snap easily.
• Free sources: ask at greengrocers, wine merchants or farm shops – they usually have a stack waiting.

Sanding and weatherproofing

Sanding stops splinters and helps stain soak in evenly. Start with 80-grit abrasive paper on rough edges, then go over everything with 120-grit. Wrap paper around a cork block for flat surfaces. Wipe away dust with a damp cloth (let it dry) or tack cloth.

For weatherproofing, use a good-quality exterior wood stain or decking oil. It penetrates the timber, guards against UV and rain, and doesn't peel. Apply two thin coats with a brush, following the grain and paying extra attention to end grain – that's where water gets in. Let the first coat dry, lightly sand with 240-grit, then apply the second.

• Natural look: clear exterior oil or light oak stain. It will darken the wood slightly.
• Colour: choose sage green, slate grey or deep blue. Test on an offcut first.
• Food storage: use plant-based oil or food-safe sealant; avoid biocides.

Treat the underside too, otherwise damp creeps up from the ground.

Fitting castors for easy movement

Castors turn a static box into a mobile trolley. For a typical crate, 50mm or 75mm swivel castors are ideal – they roll over paving, decking and short grass. Use four, with at least two braked so the trolley stays put.

Most castors have a metal plate with screw holes, but screws can pull out of soft timber. Instead, bolt them through the base using M6 or M8 coach bolts, washers and nyloc nuts. If the crate has a slatted bottom, cut a piece of 12mm exterior plywood to fit and screw that underneath first. Drill pilot holes to prevent splitting, then tighten firmly. Check that bolt heads don't poke into the storage space; cover them with a scrap of wood if they do.

Add a handle at one end – a length of rope through two drilled holes, or a metal drawer pull – so you can tug the trolley along without bending.

Smart ways to organise tools, pots and produce

Once mobile and protected, make the crate work harder with a few internal tweaks.

• Dividers: cut thin plywood or hardboard to slot in, creating sections for hand tools, twine and labels.
• Hooks: screw small cup hooks into the inside rim to hang secateurs or a hand trowel.
• Stacking: fix two or three smaller crates on top with corner brackets or battens, making a rolling tower.
• Labels: write on the front with permanent marker or a pyrography pen – "Pots", "Tools", "Compost".
• Drainage: if storing terracotta pots, drill a few 6mm holes in the base so rainwater escapes.

Keeping your crate storage in good nick

An annual check keeps the trolley going for years. In spring, tighten loose bolts, oil the castors with a few drops of light machine oil, and touch up scratched stain. If the wood looks grey or dry, apply another coat of stain or oil. Store under cover or tip on its side during the wettest months if you can – a well-treated crate will shrug off most British weather.

Don't limit yourself to one. A matching set – one for tools, one for pots, one for harvested veg – makes a garden feel organised. And because you've rescued them from the skip, you've saved a little timber and a lot of character.