Greenhouses can help shelter plants from wind, frost, rain and pests – all while keeping plants exposed to sunlight. For gardeners wanting to grow more sensitive and challenging plants, they can be very useful features to have. Of course, there is a lot to consider when setting up a greenhouse. This post offers a few tips on how to successfully install a greenhouse in your garden.
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Where should you place your greenhouse?
Greenhouses should be placed in an area of your garden that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day. Many experts recommend positioning your greenhouse so that it runs east to west – helping to maximise light during the winter. Make sure that the ground is flat and consider the soil conditions if you’re going to be growing plants directly out of the ground.
What type of greenhouse should you choose?
Greenhouses come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. There are many greenhouse kits you can buy that can allow you to easily assemble your own greenhouse. Alternatively, you can hire contractors to build a greenhouse to your specs. Greenhouses can be wooden or steel framed and can be made from glass or plastic. The type of material you choose can affect its durability, sustainability and insulation. Polytunnels are often some of the cheapest options, while custom glass greenhouses are the most expensive.
Where will you position your plants?
To help your plants thrive, it’s worth considering where to put them in your greenhouse. You can build your greenhouse over a plant patch, and grow plants directly out the ground. Alternatively, you can grow plants in raised beds or place plants in pots to better control the soil quality. Durable greenhouse staging furniture can be useful for placing heavy potted plants on. Consider which areas of your greenhouse get the most sun throughout the day and place sun-loving plants here. Plants that don’t need as much sun can be placed in more shady areas.
Does your greenhouse need heating or insulation?
While certain greenhouses can offer some protection against the frost, the inside of your greenhouse will still get quite cold unless it’s well insulated. Installing insulation of heating could be necessary if you’re trying to grow plants traditionally grown in hot climates (such as tropical fruits, peppers or ornamental plants like orchids). This page lists a few different heating and insulation methods.
How will you water plants?
A greenhouse blocks out the rain – which can stop plants from being overwatered, but also requires you to manually water plants instead. Some gardeners set up rainwater barrels outside their greenhouse – using a watering can, you can then collect this rainwater and feed it to your plants. This way, plants are still getting natural minerals from the rain. Alternatively, you can set up automated sprinklers or a drip irrigation system. This could be connected to your home’s water supply or a rain barrel. Manually watering plants tends to be the most popular option as it’s less expensive and easier to adjust throughout the year.
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