Garden & Lawn

Best Greenhouse Staging and Shelving Products to Organise Your Greenhouse

Last updated on May 6th, 2022

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Are you running out of space in your greenhouse or do you want to make better use of the space you have? Does it look larger from the outside than when you’re inside? Greenhouse staging and shelving products provide extra areas for growing your plants by using your greenhouse’s vertical space.

It doesn’t matter that your greenhouse came without any shelving or storage, as most do, because this gives you the opportunity to design your ideal greenhouse by staging it to suit your selection of plants and your desired layout. I have a simple but effective layout as you can see in the picture below.

The  Palmram Steel Greenhouse Bench on the right and the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging on the left - both excellent examples of quality greenhouse staging
The Palmram Steel Greenhouse Bench on the right and the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging on the left – are both excellent examples of quality greenhouse staging
Palram 4ft Greenhouse Steel Work Bench
This is the racking I use myself, great for storage and working on
Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging
This is the racking I use for seeds, I also use the trays for storage when empty too

Most of the products I review here are shelving units, but I’ve also included a folding shelf to put above your greenhouse staging for even more growing or storage space. I review the pros and cons of each item, with some discussion as well as a list. I also include my recommendation as to what situations the staging unit or shelf is best for.

My Buyer’s Guide further down highlights the features to look for when making your purchasing decision.

My two selections for Best and Runner-up Greenhouse Staging and Shelving Products are a little different from my other reviews. Buying both of these products as I have, rather than just one or the other, gives you a variety of surfaces to work with.

My Best Pick is the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench. I really like that this model can be used for both storing compost, fertilisers or any other heavy items on the bottom shelf and then use the top work surface as a place to work on or simply keep plants on over winter or permanently. I also love the overall quality and affordable price.

My Runner-up pick is the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with Seed Trays. This is a specialist staging unit for starting seeds as each of the three tiers contains four full-size seed trays. However, you can also use the trays to stand pots in, bedding trays, put your bits and bobs in etc.

BEST PICK

Palram greenhouse table with shelf for storage - My best pick
Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench
For those looking for greenhouse shelving/staging that is multipurpose, so you can use it for storing heavy bags of compost, bags of fertiliser, puting propagators on, potting up plants, storing plants on, then this is what I consider to be one of the best models and is one of my models I use myself, thats how impressed I was with it. The build quality is also great, nice and sturdy, its no too heavy, easy to move around. Overall I just think its a great choice for most people for both smaller and larger greenhouses.

RUNNER UP and the Best Greenhouse Seed Tray Staging

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with seed trays to provide more growing space - My Runner-up
Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging
The Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with its 12 Seed Trays is more of an addition to my Best Pick than an alternative. This staging unit has three shelves, but instead of a mesh wire, they’re made of four full-size seed trays to greatly imrpove your growing space, especially in smaller greenhouses. These twelve trays give you plenty of room to start your seeds and cuttings. If you need to expose your seedlings to the outside before you plant them out, the seed trays are durable enough to be used outdoors as they are made from good quality plastic.

If you grow most of your plants from seed or even cuttings, add the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with its 12 Seed Trays to your staging spaces for a ready-made seeding area. This is one of the best additions I have made to my own greenhouse and the quality is excellent.

BEST VALUE PICK

VonHaus 4 Tier Staging Greenhouse Shelving For Greenhouse
The VonHaus 4 Tier Staging Shelving is a freestanding set of shelves that’s made of powder-coated steel. The strength of this metal adds to the durability of the staging unit and its resistance to water which is a must for greenhouses. The four wire mesh shelves provide ample growing, display and storage space for your plants and gardening supplies. The shelves are also removable to make room for your taller plants. Each purchase includes two of these staging units, making them a welcome cost-effective choice.

If you need quite a bit of storage, display or growing space in your greenhouse or garden, and want a strong and durable staging unit, the VonHaus 4 Tier Staging is the one for you.


Best Greenhouse Staging and Shelving Reviews

1. Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench

BEST PICK

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Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench  review

So overall, I have been really impressed with this Palram steel greenhouse workbench and I think it deserves my best pick spot. Other reviews I have read from people who purchased this were mixed so I didn’t know what to expect beforehand, but I’m glad I took a punt and ordered it.

First things first, I think some people have unreasonable expectations. For under £100 at the time I purchased mine, I think it offers excellent value for money because it is a decent piece of kit at a reasonable price. If you want a steel table made from much heavier gauge steel you are going to need to pay £300+. This model serves a purpose and it serves it well for the average greenhouse user.

So just a word of warning, the steel legs can be a little sharp so be careful. Once it is fully assembled it’s not an issue because the actual worktop and shelf have rounded edges.

Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench being tested with heavy bags of compost and plants

In terms of quality, I’m even very impressed. It’s fairly lightweight which means it’s easy to move into the greenhouse. This was handy because I assembled mine on the patio and then carried it into the greenhouse. My greenhouse door is narrow (like many greenhouses) and I had to carry it lengthways so if it was heavy, this would be been very difficult to do on my own. In terms of size, it’s decent at around 115cm wide by 51cm deep and has a working height of 80cm, which is obviously the height of the worktop.

close up of Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench steel surface top and shelf
Close up of Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench steel surface top and shelf

Once it is fully assembled, it is really stable and I have no issue loading a bit of weight onto the shelves. I’ve never felt it was being put under too much weight and I’m sure that it could easily be used to store several large bags of compost with no issues. Palram says each shelf can hold 165 lbs (75 kg) and I’m pretty sure it can. So for quality and sturdiness, it gets top marks from me.

When it comes to assembling, it is fairly simple and straightforward. I suspect that other reviews I have read where customers had doubts about how sturdy this greenhouse table was may not have tightened up all the nuts and bolts properly.

Assembling the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench with a cordless screwdriver and adjustable spanner which really speeds things up
Assembling the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench with a cordless screwdriver and adjustable spanner really speeds things up

You do need an 11mm spanner, I used a small adjustable spanner, as shown in the picture above, and you also need a + screwdriver. I used my Bosch cordless screwdriver (also reviewed here) to speed things up. In total there are around 35-40 nuts and bolts so using a cordless screwdriver does make life so much easier. In total, I think I assembled the whole thing in around 20-25 minutes.

Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench as it comes before assembly
Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench as it comes before the assembly

The photograph above indicates how the shelving arrived for me. You get the two shelves, four legs and then eight brackets, plus the nuts and bolts. The instructions are fairly clear and easy to follow but it’s simple enough even without them.

Start assembling the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench by attaching the legs first and using the 8 brackets which add extra support
Start assembling the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench by attaching the legs first and using the 8 brackets which add extra support

The first thing you need to do is lay the worktop upsidedown and you then attach the rubber feet to the legs and then attach the legs to the worktop and position the brackets. Don’t tighten the nuts and bolts fully until the whole table is assembled, just do them finger tight.

Make sure you only finger tighten all the nuts and bolts until it fully assembled
Make sure you only finger tighten all the nuts and bolts until it is fully assembled

Once all the legs and brackets are secure you now attach the second shelf and tighten up all the nuts and bolts, making sure all the legs are perfectly straight.

The final step of assembling the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench  is attaching the bottom shelf
The final step of assembling the Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench is attaching the bottom shelf

Now fully assembled as shown below and ready to use.

Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench fully assembled in only 25 minutes
Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench fully assembled in only 25 minutes

My recommendation

If you are looking to invest in a greenhouse workbench/shelving that is useful for a variety of situations I have no issues recommending this model. It’s perfect for keeping plants on, storing heavy bags of compost/fertiliser and other greenhouse accessories.

Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench in my personal greenhouse
Palram Greenhouse Steel Work Bench in my personal greenhouse

I also love that it is can be used as an actual workbench which I can actually work on, think potting on plants, pricking out seedlings, planting cuttings, having a propagator on etc.

With all these different needs considered, I think this is probably one of the best options available for a reasonable price while still getting a good quality product that is sturdy and will last for years to come.


2. Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging | Seed Tray Unit x 12 Seed Trays

RUNNER UP

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Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging | Seed Tray Unit x 12 Seed Trays review after using for over a year

I really like everything about the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging which is made up of 12 Seed Trays. This, combined with my Palma greenhouse heater with its digital thermostat, has made propagating large numbers of seedlings and cuttings possible, even in my small greenhouse that’s only 5ft x 4ft where space is a premium.

While I can put compost, pots and tools on the shelves of the Best Pick as well as use it as a greenhouse workbench, this Tibshelf staging unit is for when you sow your seeds, plant cuttings or transplant seedlings.  

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with plants in seed tray and single pots

This freestanding shelving unit is made of aluminium, including the nuts and bolts, so it doesn’t rust in the humid climate of my greenhouse when everything is in full swing. This lightweight metal meant it was easy to move, which was important because I built this on my patio and then moved it into my greenhouse once it was fully assembled.

While it is lightweight, it is still extremely sturdy and a solid piece of kit, I really am pleased with the overall quality of it.

Close up of Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging seed trays

Each of the three shelves consists of four seed trays in which to sow your seeds and germinate them.

However, as you can see, there are no holes in the seed trays so you either have to make some holes yourself with a drill which is easily done in a few seconds or do what I do and just be careful not to overwater.

Another option would be to buy a set of standard seed trays and use these instead and then use the included trays to stand plant pots in etc or as shelving compartments. My point is you don’t have to use it just for seed trays, it really is versatile.

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging seed trays each fit two bedding trays in perfectly.

It’s also worthing noting that each seed tray can hold 2 bedding trays perfectly, which you can see we have done above, so you also have the option to sow individual seeds into bedding trays with individual cells too. Something else I have also considered doing is cutting a piece of marine plywood and making a shelf in case I want to swap the trays for a solid shelf.

The quality of the seed trays is really good, they are obviously substantial seed trays and NOT some cheap thin plastic so I expect them to last for years without a problem.

The dimensions of the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging is 96.5cm tall by 104cm wide; and 43cm depth.

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging before assembly

Assembling this greenhouse staging probably took me around 25 minutes on my own, you do need a spanner and flat head screwdriver to tighten the nuts and bolts.

When it arrives it comes all boxed up and there aren’t many pieces to put together. You can see in the picture above everything that was in the box, which included four legs, six short side pieces and six long front and back sections. A little tip is to fasten everything together finger tight and then tighten all the nuts and bolts once fully assembled.

To give you a rough idea of how simple this is to build. First, you put together the two side sections.

Two side panels of Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging assembled

Next, you attach the three back sections, as shown below.

attaching back sections of Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging during assembly

After you have done this, the next step is to fix the other end of the staging, which you can see I have done, as shown below.

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging part assembled with both sides now attached

Once these parts have been fastened together, you need to stand it up and attach the last three front sections and then tighten up all the nuts and bolts with a small spanner and flat head screwdriver.

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging frame fully assembled

Insert the seed trays and you’re done. As simple as that! Now it is time to put it onto the greenhouse, unless you are lucky enough to have space to fully assemble it in the greenhouse in the first place.

Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with seed trays inserted

Pros

  • The aluminium shelving unit is specially designed for starting off seedlings in seed trays.
  • Seed tray can also be used to hold singles pots.
  • Seed trays have no holes in so you have the option to use them for soaking plants in. (You can either drill your own holes or switch them out for standard sized seed trays with holes in).
  • Each shelf is made up of four heavy-duty seed trays to sow your seeds in.
  • Seed trays can be used outside the greenhouse if you want to harden the plants off before transplanting them.
  • Unit is lightweight but still extremly sturdy so you can move it around easily.
  • Dimensions are: 96.5cm, height; 104cm, width; and 43cm depth.

Cons

  • No solid shelves, however, you could make your own shelves from marine plywood or steel.

Our recommendation

The Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging is my Runner-up pick in this review. It’s easily the best seed tray staging product and the overall quality is excellent, no sharp edges, it won’t rust and the seed trays are really good quality too.

My greenhouse staging with seed trays

I think you get what you pay for with this product, it’s not cheap but it is what I would describe as a good quality piece of kit that will last for years to come. Even the seed trays are made from good quality robust plastic.

Don’t forget, you don’t have to use the seed trays with compost in, you can just sit pots in them, trays of bedding in them, pretty much anything you want to. I personally now have this model in one of my greenhouses and it really is worth considering.


3. VonHaus 4 Tier Staging Shelving Unit for Garden or Greenhouse 

BEST VALUE PICK

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VonHaus 4 Tier Staging Shelving For Greenhouse

The VonHaus 4 Tier Staging is perfect for greenhouses and is a freestanding set of shelves with a welcome bonus – you receive two sets of the shelving unit in your purchase. Never keep your gardening tools and plants on the greenhouse floor again.

This staging unit is freestanding and is made from powder-coated steel which is good for durability and protection from moisture. Water running through the shelves after you’ve watered your plants won’t cause rusting on the steel frame or on the plastic connectors. The four shelves (in each unit) are also of powder-coated steel and have a wire mesh surface. This lets water drip down to the floor below rather than pool in your plant pots. 

However, you need to secure the somewhat light shelves to the framework because the shelves can move around as they are a little lightweight. We recommend using cable ties or garden wire to easily solve this problem.

Each shelf holds 8kg of garden equipment and plants, as long as the weight is evenly distributed. We recommend that you put heavier items, such as bags of compost, on the bottom shelf to anchor the shelving unit.

The dimensions of the VonHaus 4 Tier Shelving are height 107cm; width 80cm; and depth 30.5cm. Assembly of these shelves is simple through its push-together system for which you don’t need any tools. Other users report that the customer service from the company is good and they quickly respond to any queries. The two-year warranty on this product lets you rest easy in case something happens to the shelving units.

Pros

  • Freestanding shelving units suitable for your greenhouse or garden.
  • Comes with two identical shelving units to hold plants, pots and gardening paraphernalia.
  • Construction is from powder-coated steel in a neutral grey colour with green connectors.
  • Four removable shelves in each unit hold 8kg of plants or garden stuff per shelf.
  • Shelves of gridded powder-coated steel let water pass through them and don’t rust.
  • Dimensions are 107cm (height) x 80cm (width) x 30.5cm (depth).
  • Easy assembly doesn’t need any tools for the push-together system.
  • Good customer service in case anything isn’t quite right with the shelves.
  • A two-year warranty is included so you know the unit is robust.

Cons

  • Lightweight and ideally needs anchoring although putting some heavy items on the bottom shelf such as compost solves this issue.

Our recommendation

The VonHaus 4 Tier Greenhouse Staging is one of the larger staging products in our review. Its powder-coated steel frame is durable both in your garden and inside your greenhouse. You receive two shelving units in your purchase which makes this product reasonably priced. Four shelves in each unit give ample space to grow all the plants you have dreamt of.

We’ve made this my Best Value Greenhouse Staging Pick for its expanse of shelving space, its long-lasting construction and its reasonable price.

If your greenhouse has little or no storage or growing space, the two units in the VonHaus 4 Tier Shelving Unit is a well-reviewed and durable start to your greenhouse organisation.


4. Two Wests and Elliott Two Tier Standard Up Staging 5′ 9″ Long 18″ Wide Trays

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Two Wests and Elliott Two Tier Standard Up Staging

The Two Wests & Elliott Two Tier Standard Up Staging 5′ 9″ Long 18″ Wide Trays unit is a long and low shelving unit. Although we review a particular size of staging unit here, the company lets you choose from a wide variety of widths (58cm to 350cm) and depths (45cm to 90cm). If you don’t find the right size in this range, the company also offers to custom make your ideal unit.

This staging unit is made from aluminium, including bolts and nuts. Its stability is enhanced with the two aluminium cross braces on the upper corners of the legs. The unit has two shelves and the lower shelf is 20cm from the ground. You can put bags of dirt or heavy items underneath. 

Two choices of shelving come with this staging unit. The solid shelves are a good choice for everyday use if you want to use the shelves as a workspace. The solid shelves have a hidden surprise: turn them over and find a 2.25cm tray. Use the trays as gravel containers to allow the water to run off when you water your plants. Both the shelves are removable to make space for and give support to your taller plants.

The other choice is slatted shelves which allow good air circulation for your plants, useful in winter. The six slats are each 6cm wide and spaced 4cm apart. Whatever shelf type you select, this Two Wests & Elliott Staging Unit is easy to assemble but requires a screwdriver and spanner.

Pros

  • Aluminium frame and fittings are lightweight and weatherproof.
  • Top corners of the unit are cross-braced in two directions for additional stability.
  • Two shelves for your gardening needs with enough space for storage underneath.
  • Choice of a slatted shelf or a reversible tray/solid surface for your unique growing needs.
  • Dimensions of this model are: 175cm, height; 69cm, width; and 45cm, depth.
  • Wide choice of sizes with widths up to 350cm and depths up to 90cm to fit a large variety of pots and planters.
  • Choose your own dimensions for a custom-made staging unit.

Our recommendation

If you don’t like the size of this Two Wests & Elliott Two Tier Standard Up Staging 5′ 9″ Long 18″ Wide Trays unit, then check out the complete range. This aluminium staging unit comes in a variety of sizes and a custom-made option is also available. This long-and-low unit is cross-braced on each upper corner for added strength and stability. You have a choice of shelf type, one of which is reversible for two different surfaces.

We like the Two Wests & Elliott Two Tier Standard Up Staging for its range of sizes and choice of shelves to suit any greenhouse.

If you’re already using most of the vertical space in your greenhouse, perhaps for individual shelves or hanging pots, the Two Wests & Elliott Two Tier Standard Up Staging Trays unit provides out of the way storage and growing space.


5. Oypla Greenhouse Shelving Double Pack 

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Oypla Flower Staging Display Greenhouse Racking Shelving Double Pack

The Oypla Greenhouse Shelving Double Pack describes it all in its name. The “Double Pack” means that you receive two sets of shelving in your purchase. That’s quite a deal as this staging unit is the least expensive one in our review. 

This unit is constructed from metal tubing that’s lightweight. Reviewers report that the structure is a bit flimsy and doesn’t support heavy items. However, this unit is marketed as a “flower staging display” structure and doesn’t mention storage at all. It’s best for indoor use in sheds, garages and, of course, greenhouses.

The four shelves have an open grid of thin metal. The bottom shelf is low to the ground so only flat items fit under there. As this unit is self-assembled, you can build it to whatever height you want. Split it into two shorter units or maybe make it taller by adding a shelf from one unit to the other. Be aware though that the shelves are not attached to the framework but are just placed on side supports. Online reviewers suggest that you use cable ties or metal wire to connect the shelves to the frame as the shelves sometimes bend and twist. And they say that this staging unit is best for light objects and flowerpots.

Pros

  • Shelving unit for garages, sheds and greenhouses, anywhere indoors.
  • Two shelving units are included in your purchase for double the display space.
  • The framework is from metal tubing that keeps the shelving unit lightweight.
  • Four metal grid shelves come with each staging unit.
  • Can build each unit to be higher with shelves from the other to suit your organisational plan.
  • Dimensions are: 106cm, height; 89cm, width; and 28cm, depth.

Cons

  • Metal tubing frame is flimsy. 
  • Shelves prone to flexing and twisting.

Our recommendation

The Oypla Flower Staging Display Greenhouse Racking Shelving Double Pack comes with two sets of the shelving unit – and it’s the least expensive unit in our review. You can use the two sets as they are or extend the height of one unit with shelves from the other. But be careful that the higher unit is safe to stand alone. The gridded metal shelves let the water run through to below and to the ground.

We like the Oypla Greenhouse Racking for its lightweight and budget cost. 

The Oypla Greenhouse Shelving could be your choice if you’re looking for a staging unit to display your plants, rather than for storage.


6. Speed Shelf 11inch Mesh Shelf Green

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Speed Shelf 11in Mesh Shelf Green

We’ve included a shelf in this staging unit review to provide you with another option that adds to your greenhouse surface space. The Speed Shelf 11in Mesh Shelf Green is a mesh shelf that fits nicely above any staging unit, using yet more of the greenhouse’s vertical space.

This single shelf is made of strong steel mesh with a green UV coating. The sunlight that you’re encouraging into your greenhouse won’t harm the shelf. And the mesh helps good air circulation as well as not retaining water from your plant pots. The shelf has an extra convenience in that it folds down when you don’t need to use it. Just make sure that there’s enough room under the shelf for you to do this.

This useful extra storage space fits into the aluminium with the included fittings but you could also fit it onto a wooden greenhouse with a little DIY and some screws. The shelf is 120cm wide and 28cm deep.

Pros

  • Single shelf made of strong steel mesh for good air circulation.
  • Green UV coating protects the shelf from sunlight.
  • Fits into greenhouses made of aluminium.
  • The shelf folds down when not in use and works as a trellis for your climbing plants.
  • The dimensions are: 120cm, length and 28cm, depth.

Our recommendation

The Speed Shelf 11in Mesh Shelf Green provides display, grow and storage space in itself or in conjunction with a shelving staging unit. If you plan to have several shelves one above the other in your greenhouse, consider a staging shelving unit instead. However, if you want to fully use the vertical height of your greenhouse, this foldaway mesh single shelf works well with other staging options.

We like the Speed Shelf 11in Mesh Shelf Green as alternative storage and growing option for a greenhouse; plus it folds away when you don’t need it.

If you’re running out of floor space in your greenhouse because of your staging units, the Speed Shelf 11in Mesh Shelf Green takes your storage and display space even further up the greenhouse wall.


7. Garland Self Assembly Greenhouse Ventilated Plastic Shelving

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Garland Self Assembly Greenhouse Ventilated Plastic Shelving

The Garland Self Assembly Greenhouse Ventilated Plastic Shelving unit comes from a company that’s in the business of manufacturing plastic products. This lightweight staging unit is the only plastic one in our review.

This Garland staging unit is constructed from heavy-duty plastic in green colour. This serves as a neutral colour that blends in with your plants. The three shelves are in a grid pattern for good ventilation and water run-off. Even if you’re not a DIY person, you can easily assemble this unit because it has a push-and-click system that doesn’t require any tools.

This shelving unit has a sturdy structure. Each shelf holds up to an impressive 50kg; that’s more than any other staging unit in our review. You can store your heavy pots and bags of compost on the shelving unit rather than underneath it. However, the manufacturer recommends that you use the included wall clips if you’re placing heavy objects on the shelves. This safety feature does require a tool to set up.

This staging unit is 97cm high, 80cm wide and 40cm deep.

Pros

  • Heavy-duty plastic staging unit in a green colour that blends in with the riot of colour in your greenhouse.
  • Three gridded shelves aid in circulating the air through your plants placed on them.
  • Each shelf holds up to 50kg of your plants, pots and bags.
  • Easy and quick assembly that doesn’t require any tools.
  • Wall clips are included if you intend to take advantage of the 50kg per shelf feature.
  • Dimensions are: 97cm, height; 80cm, width; and 40cm, depth.

Our recommendation

The Garland Self Assembly Greenhouse Ventilated Plastic Shelving unit has some advantages over its metal counterparts. It’s both sturdy and lightweight, and each shelf holds an impressive 50kg of your plants, your tools and your gardening supplies. You also don’t need any tools to assemble this unit, though you do if you use the included wall safety clips.

We like the Garland Self Assembly Greenhouse Ventilated Plastic Shelving unit because it’s lightweight, holds heavy objects without any trouble and has the safety feature of wall clips.

Consider this Garland staging unit if you need growing and storage space for your heavier plants and gardening paraphernalia.


Buyer’s Guide

Now you’re considering adding growing, storage and/or display areas to your greenhouse, there are some things that you should consider. Here we give an overview of the features of shelving staging unit that are most important to know about. If you’re thorough, the units you select can take your greenhouse to the next (productive) level.

Staging and shelving

The terms staging units and shelving sets are often used interchangeably. Both terms refer to storage and growing surfaces you use in your greenhouse to keep your plants, tools and other garden supplies off the floor. And to bring some organisation into an area that can quickly become a wild space of foliage. We look at shelf units in our review, but we’ve included a review of a shelf for an alternative or complementary staging option. Staging options also include workbenches but we haven’t covered those in this review.

The basic idea with staging is that you can move your plants within the greenhouse to the best microenvironment for their growth.

Staging shelving structure

A freestanding shelf unit lets you move it easily to a different place in your greenhouse (as long as you empty it first.) All the units in our review are freestanding and are reported to be lightweight enough to easily rearrange them.

A self-assembly staging shelf unit lets you bring it home from the store in your car. These are usually quick and easy to assemble. Some of the staging options in this review don’t require the use of any tools. They all should include the fittings you need to assemble them. They may even have wall clips to attach the unit to the greenhouse wall for extra support.

Staging units of shelving have between two and many more shelves, usually up to four. Look for shelving that is gridded, meshed or has other holes in it. This helps with the air circulation as well as increases the water run-off from watering your plants. If you do regularly use too much water on your plants, place the most water-loving ones on the bottom shelves. Plants receive more sunlight when they’re at a higher level, so place your sun-loving seedlings on the higher shelves. 

Some of the shelving products in this review have shelves attached to the side posts of the structure; others have free-floating shelves. If your shelves are loose or wobbly, consider using cable ties or wire to secure them firmly against the posts.

Materials 

Staging and shelving units are usually made out of metal or plastic, though you can also find some made of wood. (We haven’t reviewed any wood-shelving units here.)

Plastic

Heavy-duty plastic is both sturdy and lightweight. Units in this material are easy to keep clean and often hold more weight on each shelf than metal staging units. Make sure that the plastic is strong enough to stand up to many hours of sunlight in the summer and that it won’t become brittle with the sun UV rays.

Powder-coated metal

Powder-coated metal offers protection from sunlight and from rust due to the humid climate in the greenhouse. Steel structures resist warping and aluminium ones are lightweight. These metal staging units are also easy to maintain. But if the coating is chipped, be sure to weatherproof the bare metal.

Wood

It’s not that easy to find wooden shelves for a greenhouse. They’re heavy and are prone to warping and rotting in the damp greenhouse climate. In addition, the shelves may not have holes in them for drainage. However, wooden units may be more affordable than structures of metal or plastic. Choose rot-resistant wood or paint the shelves in glossy paint to protect them.

Questions to ask yourself before purchase

When you’re considering extending your growing/display/storage space in your greenhouse, it’s not just a matter of taking some measurements and heading out to the store. Here are some other key issues to address.

Plan your space

Consider how you want to use your greenhouse: Where do you work? Where do you store different items? Do you want a potting area? Do you grow everything from seeds and need an area for this? Do you want to display your plants or do you place them in a haphazard manner?

How organised are you normally and how much can you manage to keep your greenhouse neat and tidy?

Draw a diagram of the inside of the greenhouse and plan areas for each of the tasks you do. Ensure that there’s a clear flow from one station to another. If you have existing growing furniture such as a potting bench, consider rearranging it to suit your new plan. Take into account the type of exposure that each species of plant requires. How many sun-loving plants (upper shelves) and how many shade-loving ones (lower shelves) do you have? 

Take measurements

Now you can take accurate measurements for the size of the staging unit you need. Think not only about the footprint of the unit but also of its height. Don’t be limited to the heights of the shelving units; you can place individual shelves above them for more space (and full use of the height of the greenhouse.)

Choose the types of staging you need

We’ve reviewed the shelving unit and single shelves here. These are suitable for most needs in your greenhouse. However, you may like a workbench for a large workspace to repot your plants on. Or maybe you grow taller plants and need a staging unit that’s close to the ground in which you can adjust the headroom between the shelves. In this case, consider how much space each plant takes up to arrive at how many shelves (and their size) you need.

In addition, estimate the weight of the items you want to put onto the staging unit. Then make sure that the shelving you’re considering can handle that weight. A lightweight unit may also be able to hold heavy objects – the plastic one in this review (Garland Self Assembly Greenhouse Ventilated Plastic Shelving) holds 50kg per shelf; that’s a lot of flowers and gardening supplies.

Accessories

If you regularly grow your plants from seeds or very young seedlings, you need some seed trays. You can purchase these as an accessory or look for a staging unit that incorporates them. Our Runner-up Pick, the Tibshelf Garden Products Ltd Greenhouse Staging | Seed Tray comes with 12 full-size seed trays built into it. 

Maybe you need larger or smaller pots to take advantage of all the growing space your staging unit provides.


Final Conclusion

If you trip over your plants on the floor of your greenhouse when you’re tending to them, then greenhouse staging products will help to solve your problem. Stage your greenhouse with shelving units and individual shelves for extra growing and storage space. Move your plants to the microclimate in which they grow the best. Make use of the vertical height of your greenhouse to its full advantage. No matter how much room you have in your greenhouse, there’s always room for a shelf or two or even a shelving unit. 

Our Best Pick is the VonHaus 4 Tier Staging Shelving Unit for Garden/Greenhouse. Although it’s made from powder-coated steel, this is a lightweight and strong unit. Your purchase includes two of these staging units.

The Runner-up, the Tibshelf Garden Products Greenhouse Staging with Seed Trays, is also our selection as the Best Greenhouse Seed Tray Staging unit.  Each of the three shelves contains four heavy-duty seed trays that you can also use outside.

If you decide that you need more greenhouse accessories, these articles detail what we think are the best on the market:

Best Automatic Greenhouse Vent Openers

Best Greenhouse Heaters

Best Mini Greenhouses

Best potting benches

We can also help if you haven’t bought your greenhouse yet. Our Best Greenhouses review will be informative for you.


Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Welcome to my site, my name is John and I have been lucky enough to work in horticultural nurseries for over 15 years in the UK. As the founder and editor as well as researcher, I have a City & Guilds Horticultural Qualifications which I proudly display on our About us page. I now work full time on this website where I review the very best gardening products and tools and write reliable gardening guides. Behind this site is an actual real person who has worked and has experience with the types of products we review as well as years of knowledge on the topics we cover from actual experience. You can reach out to me at john@pyracantha.co.uk

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