If you love gardening but get disappointed each year when winter rolls around, then you might like the idea of installing a greenhouse in your garden. Not only are they inexpensive and nice to look at, greenhouses can extend your gardening season far longer than you can without one. Greenhouses provide a stable, warm environment where you can grow plants all year long. You can also use a greenhouse to plant certain things earlier in the season.
Here’s our guide to getting started with greenhouses.
1. Choose the kind of greenhouse you want
There are many types of greenhouses available, and each come with their own merits. Attached greenhouses are built as lean-tos, so you don’t have to build any walls for them. They can be less expensive as there are less parts to order, however, if you need a lot of sunlight they might not be a good choice as the sun is limited to the three clear sides. A freestanding greenhouse, on the other hand, has four walls and will catch every bit of sunlight available. Check out https://www.greenhousestores.co.uk/ for a wide variety of greenhouse kits. There’s sure to be something in your budget.
2. Choose your glazing
It’s not only the shapes and sizes that differentiate greenhouses. The materials that the covering is made of can be changed, too. Some people opt for glass, as it is considered the best material for keeping in the warmth of the sun, but it is far more expensive than plastic sheeting. Polycarbonate has become a popular choice, however, with to the fact that it can bend yet still retains as much sun as glass does.
3. Choose where to put the greenhouse
You may have many options when it comes to where to locate your new greenhouse, but if you put it too far away from the rest of your garden, you might find that you won’t be making it all the way out there as often as you’d like. It’s best to put the greenhouse somewhere convenient and where you know it will be used. Facing the greenhouse towards the south (if you’re in the northern hemisphere) is optimal in order to get the most number of hours of daylight each day. If the weather is gloomy, you can always add a grow light.
4. Decide how to control the environment
If you live somewhere that gets quite cold at night, then you will have to think about getting some sort of heating device for your greenhouse, otherwise your plants and vegetables won’t make it through the winter. Electric heaters work well, and so do small gas and oil heaters, but you might want to choose one that is specifically designed for a greenhouse for safety reasons.
Greenhouses are a great way to give your green thumb a workout even during the winter months. By installing a greenhouse in your garden, you can enjoy the relaxing task of taking care of your plants, even when leaves or snow are falling outside. Use our guide to plan the best way to make a greenhouse work for you.
