If you’re getting ready to build a greenhouse, there are a number of questions you should ask yourself before beginning. What size greenhouse do you need? Do you have a good, sunny location planned out? Do you have easy access to build on that location? These are just a few important considerations that you should evaluate during the planning stages of your project to ensure a successful result. The following is a list of 10 important things to consider before you begin building your new greenhouse or hothouse:
- Insure that the greenhouse you choose fits your own needs. The interior must allow enough room for potting plants and moving around easily.
- Choose a clean, level site that will be easy to build on.
- Remember that the location of your greenhouse is critical. You don’t want to block a traffic path in your yard; however, the greenhouse should be close enough to your home that it’s easily accessible on a daily basis.
- Be sure to plan for snow removal. In the wintertime, you don’t want to have to trudge through piles of snow to get to your plants.
- Be sure there are no trees nearby that will excessively shade your greenhouse. You want maximum sun gain in your greenhouse. Also remember that deciduous trees will not cast shade on your greenhouse in the wintertime; however, evergreen trees will cast shade year-round.
- Consider the change in angle of the sun from winter to summer and study how much solar gain you want for your particular climate. If possible, align the longest side of your greenhouse to face south. This will allow the roofline to catch the maximum amount of sunlight during the daytime. Also, if you need to use shade cloth during the hottest part of the summer, you’ll probably only have to shade one side of the roof instead of two, thus reducing the labor and cost of materials.
- Be sure to include potting benches inside your greenhouse of an appropriate height. You’ll want a surface that’s high enough so you’re not constantly bending over.
- Some potting benches are designed to fold down and out of the way when not in use. If you have a smaller greenhouse, these may be a good option. Also, some benches are designed with slatted surfaces so dirt falls through to a collection bin below, and this can be advantageous as well.
- Remember that you’ll need to water the plants in your greenhouse. Will you be able to run a hose in? Or will you have to carry watering cans back and forth? Furthermore, will you want a source of water inside the greenhouse, such as a utility sink that you can use to wash your hands or tools?
- Don’t forget storage for your gardening tools. A small workbench with shelves or a pegboard back can do wonders for organizing your gardening implements.
Remember, to ensure a good successful result to any project, it’s important to devote plenty of time and thought in the planning stages. Building a greenhouse is a big investment in time and money. Be sure that you make the most of both by doing your homework before you begin. A little time invested in the beginning in good planning will pay you big dividends in the end. Happy greenhouse gardening!
A new idea for an old item: Do you have any wire hanging plant baskets, like the one shown below? Put it to a new use as a guide for trimming your bushes. Simply drop them over the top of the bush to be trimmed, and cut off any foliage that sticks through the frame.
If you don’t already have wire hanging basket frames, now is the time to buy them because they are always discounted in the fall months. They can be found in a variety of sizes that will fit most small shrubs.
As the days get shorter and weather becomes cooler, gardeners are aware that their summer pastime will soon be coming to an end. For gardeners with tropical or exotic plants outdoors that they don’t want to lose to an early fall frost, transporting plants into a greenhouse is a good alternative. Greenhouses come in a variety of sizes and styles to accommodate almost any gardener’s needs. In this article, we’ll explore a few of the common types of greenhouse that might work for you.
Portable or temporary use greenhouse structures work well for the homeowner who is not ready to commit to a permanent structure. Most temporary use greenhouses are designed with a polyethylene vinyl cover that fits over a steel or aluminum frame. Depending on the size and shape of the structure, it will probably be necessary to do some kind of staking or anchoring to the ground so that it doesn’t blow away; however, if you don’t set the stakes in cement, you should be able to easily pull them up and move the greenhouse to another location or pack it away in storage, as needed.
Greenhouse gardening in the fall brings special challenges, because you are preparing for the oncoming cold weather of winter. In climates that see a lot of snow and cold temperatures in the winter, a portable greenhouse won’t cut it for overwintering plants. If you’re looking for a way to keep your plants alive all winter long, you’ll probably have to invest in a permanent structure. There are many types of hobby greenhouse kits available through mail order catalogs and specialty online stores. If you will be overwintering plants in the structure, be sure to consider an appropriate heat source. A basic structure with polycarbonate panels will not stay warm enough in temperatures below 30 degrees to keep tropical plants alive all winter, unless you provide some type of heat source.
Indoor greenhouses are another good option, particularly for gardeners who won’t have a lot of outdoor space. Indoor greenhouses can be freestanding shelf units that stand in the corner of a room or small tabletop units that occupy a shelf or workbench. The primary difference between indoor and outdoor greenhouses is that with an indoor unit, you will need to provide some type of artificial light for your plants. Before choosing the type of light, first evaluate the temperature in the room. Is it warm enough for your plants? If the temperature is below 75 degrees, you should probably consider buying a fixture that will supply both light and heat. Take extra precautions with heat lamps. You never want to set a heat lamp too close to anything flammable, including the cover on your indoor greenhouse. If you don’t need supplemental heat, the best option is to buy a fluorescent light fixture and then select full spectrum fluorescent bulbs for it.
As you can see, fall greenhouse gardening can take on many forms, depending on the type of greenhouse you select. The greenhouse that is right for you will depend on a number of factors, including how long you want to keep tending your plants and how much space you have to dedicate to a greenhouse. No matter what your choice, greenhouses are a great option in the fall for gardeners who want to extend their hobby and maintain their plants through the winter months.
