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Gardening is a popular hobby for young and old alike and can provide an education at home for children to better understand where our food comes from.  For the beginning gardener who enjoys gardening and wants to take their skills and interest to the “next level,” perhaps it is time to consider investing in a greenhouse.

Greenhouses are permanent or temporary structures, usually constructed of transparent or translucent material such as clear glass or plastic, that allow the sun’s rays to enter and warm the air inside.  Delicate plants that would die if planted outside will often thrive in a greenhouse.  Furthermore, the standard growing season in your area can be extended by as much as 3-4 months into the early spring and late fall with a greenhouse.  A greenhouse can be a haven for the hobby gardener; it is a place to fill the hours of late winter in harsh climates, planting and transplanting, and tending to flowers and vegetables.

Before investing in a greenhouse, it’s important to assess your goals.  What do you want to achieve with your greenhouse?  Some common greenhouse gardening objectives might include:

1. Starting vegetable plants early to get maximum yields from your garden.
2. Starting and cultivating beautiful flowers to extend their growing and flowering life.
3. Extending fall by move some plants such as tomatoes or peppers into the greenhouse for final ripening.
4. Growing and harvesting vegetables for your own use during winter months.
5. Growing plants from seed, and thus lowering the overall cost of gardening (because seeds are much more economical to purchase than small plants).
6. Growing plants for sale at a farmer’s market or other business.
7. To experiment with new varieties and hybrids of plants, or even to hybridize your own new varieties.

Once you’ve determined what your greenhouse gardening goals are, then next step is to decide on a type of greenhouse.  It is possible to build your own greenhouse from scratch, though it may take you a lot of time and frustration.  It may be easier to purchase a greenhouse kit, which are readily available for purchase online and through catalogs.  A kit will make the process much easier, and in some cases, less expensive.

Another thing to consider is how much space you have for your greenhouse.  For individuals with very large backyards, acreages, or even farms, space is not an issue.  However, for many suburban gardeners, their backyard space is at a premium.  If this is the case, you may want to consider a portable greenhouse.  Portable greenhouses come in many shapes and sizes, and are usually designed to be set up temporarily on a patio or deck, and then they can be easily moved or taken down later.  For apartment or condominium dwellers who don’t even have a deck or patio, don’t despair.  Indoor tabletop green houses are good option because they can fit on a shelf, workbench, or end table.  These units usually have several shelves, and can be outfitted with a grow light or heat lamp for maximum efficiency.

While greenhouse gardening may seem intimidating, it’s really no different than outdoor gardening.  The hardest part in getting started is choosing your greenhouse and getting it set up.  Once you’ve accomplished this, the fun of greenhouse gardening begins!  The greenhouse gardener can look forward to bigger plants, more flowers, larger harvests, and most importantly, a longer growing season to extend their favorite hobby throughout the year.

One glance through a gardening magazine, and we are showered with images of pristine gardens, beautifully appointed with hundreds of varieties of plants, trees, and shrubs.  While many of us aspire to have yards as beautiful as those in a magazine, few of us have the time or resources to achieve such perfection.  However, with a little work and some good planning, even those of us with the blackest of thumbs will feel good about our efforts in the garden.

When reviewing your outdoor space, try to identify those areas that you’re not very happy with.  What do you want to change about them?  Do you need some additional flowers or other plants?  Perhaps the space doesn’t feel balanced?  Climbing plants may be just the answer you are looking for to solve a variety of common problems in outdoor areas.

Many plants, both annual and perennial, fall into the category of climbing plants.  The more common climbers are clematis, morning glory, ivy, and honeysuckle.  However, many plants that spread along the ground like creeping phlox and periwinkle can provide coverage for unsightly spaces in your outdoor area, as well.

Climbing plants can be used to solve a myriad of problems in your outdoor spaces.  For example, do you have something unsightly that you need to cover, such as a garage wall, tree stump, or electrical meter?  Use climbing plants to cover it up!  They not only change the view you are seeing, but they can also provide color and fragrance to an area.  Consider putting up a trellis on the side of your shed to soften it up with a burst of color and fragrance.  Climbers can also provide coverage of retaining walls and fences with little effort.

While climbing plants can be trained to climb a trellis or wall, they can also be planted in a pot and allowed to cascade downward, or used as a groundcover.  If you have some areas of the garden where bare soil is showing, consider using a vine or other groundcover plant to hide those bare spots.

Lack of privacy is another major issue that homeowners commonly cite when asked why they dislike their yards or gardens.  Perhaps you have neighbors that are a little too close?  A garden trellis, arbor, or pergola is a great solution to this problem.  Climbing plants will easily climb and cover these structures, providing privacy and beauty to your yard.  Pergolas and arbors can also be used over pathways or gates, or to mark a transition from front yard or side yard into a backyard.  In all of these places, consider planting a climbing vine at the base of the structure.  Within a few months, you’ll have a stunning focal point for your yard.

Climbing plants are usually pretty self-sufficient and require little care to grow.  Of course, there are the basic needs like sun and water.  You might also want to be aware of the soil type or soil pH level that the plant requires, though with climbers this is usually a less important consideration.  Obviously, the most important thing to consider when planting a climber is providing some support structure upon which it can grow.  When allowing climbers to grow near buildings, it’s important to keep a close eye on the plant so it doesn’t get out of control.  Some very vigorous climbers can damage homes, garages, or barns when allowed to grow unchecked.

Some climbing plants merely provide greenery, while others boast showy flowers in addition to their leaves.  Flowering vines will oftentimes attract butterflies, birds, and wildlife.  This should be taken into consideration when using climbing plants.  For example, if you’re using climbers near an outdoor eating area, you probably won’t want to contend with bees that may be attracted to the flowers.  On the other hand, a trellis with flowers outside your kitchen window can be a welcome sight, and an enjoyable place to watch the insects and wildlife that are attracted to it.

So the next time you’re doing some gardening or landscaping, and thinking about ways you can improve the aesthetics of your yard, consider adding some climbing vines as a solution.  There are many climbers to choose from that will add elegance and beauty to your outdoor living area.  With a little time and effort, your garden can be every bit as beautiful as one of those you see in a magazine.