Summertime Organization Tips for Washington Homeowners

Washington’s long summer days are perfect for gardening, landscaping, tackling outdoor projects—or simply enjoying the breeze. But a cluttered yard can seriously kill your motivation.

Get back on track with these easy, high-impact ways to organize your garden and yard:

1. Give Your Garden Shed Some TLC

Let’s be honest—most garden sheds are dark, cluttered, and a little creepy. Mine was no different... until we made two key changes that completely transformed it.

First, organize. Take everything out. Sort tools, pots, and supplies by type. Toss or recycle anything broken or unused, and store the rest in clearly labeled bins or boxes.

Next, go vertical. Install a wall-mounted tool rack to keep sharp tools safely off the ground and in clear view. It not only protects your feet, but also extends the life of your tools.

🪴 My overall shed tip: Keep everything within sight and within reach.

My Favorite:
💡 Heavy-duty wall organizer with multiple hook styles makes it easy to hang all kinds of tools—rakes, shears, even hoses. No more digging through piles or tripping over rogue shovels.

2. Seasonal Storage Solutions

Store fertilizers, mulch bags, and seeds in weatherproof containers with tight-fitting lids—bonus points if they’re on wheels for easy access. A quick label using painter’s tape and a Sharpie does the trick to keep things sorted without fuss.

Make sure hazardous items stay out of reach of kids and pets, and use sealed bins to trap odors and keep contents fresher, longer. It’s a small fix that makes a big difference in both safety and organization.

3. Tools within reach

Mount your most-used outdoor gear on a pegboard in your shed, garage, or garden nook. Keeping tools visible and within easy reach makes starting (and finishing!) projects so much smoother.

When every item has a dedicated home, cleanup becomes quicker—and you’ll spend less time hunting for that missing trowel.

Ikea has a colorful pegboard collection out now that could be a great addition to a potting station to add color and functionality.

4. Say goodbye to bulky heavy garden hoses

On our farm, I’m constantly hauling hoses—whether I’m watering plants, rinsing off alpacas in the summer heat, or filling water troughs. After plenty of trial and error with different types, I’ve finally found a favorite: expanding hoses. I’ve invested in them wholeheartedly, and I’m honestly thrilled with how they’ve performed.

These hoses are not only sturdy and durable, but they’re also super lightweight, which makes watering feel surprisingly easy—and dare I say, even fun. They take up very little space, are easy to tuck away for winter, and don’t feel like a burden to store. The price point is just right, and they’ve held up through two full seasons of use—dragged across bark, stone, asphalt, and garden beds, and even stepped on by hooves and paws.

My favorite part? I can coil them up neatly with all their accessories in one bin, store them over the Winter, and they’re ready to go again when Spring rolls around.

Bonus Tip: Quick Connect Garden Hose Faucets

Ok now THIS is my ultimate favorite summertime trick.

Quick connect garden hose fittings are game changers—simple to use, but they save a ton of time and frustration. They let you snap hoses or attachments on and off in seconds—no endless twisting or leaky threads. Just pull back the collar, click it in, and you’re good to go.

Just make sure you go for brass, not plastic. Quality pieces last longer and save you money (and sanity) in the long run.

Ready to Organize Your Outdoor Spaces?

I help Washington homeowners transform cluttered yards and garden sheds into organized, inviting spaces. Let’s get started this summer!