Greenhouses and Gardening

Greenhouses as you will soon find come in a number different styles and sizes. In most cases however those homeowners who wish to install a greenhouse will opt to erect one of the rectangular types as they don’t take look to build and don’t take up too much space.

If you are thinking about getting a greenhouse for your garden the first thing you need to decide is whether you want one that is stand alone or one that abuts to your home. The main advantage to having the second type is that they do take up far less space and cost a little less to purchase than the stand alone types. However, they don’t offer the kind of space inside to allow you to easily work in them.

When it comes to stand alone greenhouses these can be sited in any place in the garden where there is space available and you can even ensure that that are hidden from the house if you wish. What is crucial however is that the position you choose is one where it is getting a good amount of sunlight on it each day?

When deciding where your stand alone greenhouse is to be placed there are a number of factors which must also be taken into consideration. Yes you must make sure that sunlight hits it but also some shade is provided especially for those where the weather is hot regularly. If you cannot provide natural shade to your greenhouse then install a system that provides shade when needed most and ensures that all plants inside are protected from the heat of the sun when it is at its hottest.

Also you will need to factor in how you are intending to keep plants in your greenhouse warm during the winter months. Do you go for an electrically powered system or a free standing heating system? Again this is a cost that you will need to factor in to your budget when deciding which sorts of greenhouses you are considering erecting in your garden. If yours will be situated some distance from the house then the free standing greenhouses are your best option. However, you will need to make sure that the fuel to run them can easily be purchased where you live.

Although you can erect greenhouses directly on to soil it is still important that you make sure that the ground is level before erection begins. But if you want to prevent vermin such as moles getting into yours it is worth considering laying a hard foundation first made either of concrete or paving slabs. This way not only will it help to ensure that the surface on which your greenhouse is erected is even but will offer additional protection from the cold as it won’t be able to seep up through the floor.

Tags: gardening, greenhouses