 |
How to build a greenhouse!
Hi, There!, Welcome to How to Build a Greenhouse! If you're a keen gardener, and I suspect you are, you are one of those people who likes to have the option of indulging your hobby all year round-including those days when it is absolutely pouring ''cats and dogs'' and Mum's momopolizing the T.V.. So how can you do this? Easy if you've got a greenhouse. What an idea! And it's all here in How to Build a Greenhouse.
The beauty of having a greenhouse is that it can become your 'hideaway'. Why be in the 'doghouse' when you can be in the greenhouse, relaxing, reading the paper and having a cuppa? Ah ....peace. How to Build a Greenhouse Size is important! Heard the phrase? Yes,it really is. The size of your greenhouse depends on many factors: space available, money, whether or not you're a handyman or the sort of chap that can be conned into buying 'striped paint' and 'left handed screwdrivers'. Certainly, you can save time by having a tiny greenhouse (were not talking mini greenhouses; we have an entire section on mini greenhouses (view the webpag in the browser),but can you relax in it, get the most out of it? Do you simply want to place plants in it, or do you want to turn it into you're own private ''place of relaxation,''the 'shed, ''the sanctuary, the hideaway from the family's prying eyes?
The Uses, How to Build a Greenhouse We've already done more than hint at the wonderful freedom owning your own greenhouse can give you. However, we do have to justify its existance-if only to keep our spouses happy. Do that, by putting those fragile delicate seedlings and blooms in there. Then when they're flowers give them to Mum as a bouquet. Grow those herbs in there. Grow those succulent veggies and fruits you can't raise outside because it is either not humid enough, or too 'flamin' cold. But in this section we are not talking so much about what you can grow, as to how you can and should build that precious possession known to you as "my greenhouse". Minimizing Costs, How to Build a Greenhouse We've already touched on size. Of course your shoe-box size, plastic greenhouse won't cost as much as the sort of structure you will see in a Botanical Gardens. But assuming you've determined you want something of 'reasonable proportions,' and you have the land for it-you can save money by using materials salvaged from demolished buildings, and second hand timbers, glass frames and the like from second hand dealers. Shop around. Tip(How to Build a Greenhouse) If you're the true handyman, get yourself both a towbar and a box trailer, it'll save you heaps, Stumpy says,''course, you've got to put a car in front of that lot''. Where to put it? How to Build a Greenhouse You mightn't have a lot of choice here. But if you do have, place the greenhouse where it can get maximum daylight. For example on an East-West axis, where neither buildings nor tall trees or hedges shade it for the greater part of the day. You want maximum light to fall on it. Your Climate, How to Build a Greenhouse You know what it's like. If it's cold enough to freeze the goldfish pond,insulate the greenhouse.. There are plenty of insulating materials around. On the other hand, if you can fry an egg on the iron roof of your car-port, the use of shading material becomes a major concern. The idea of the greenhouse is to be able to provide an environment which maintains a fairly consistent and stable temerature. If your temerature maximums and minimums are, say 42 degrees mid-summer, going down to 7 degrees below zero mid winter, your greenhouse can - hopefully - ensure a narrower range.
How is it done? How to Build a Greenhouse A number of ways: ventilation, air circulation, humidity controls, water sprinklers, heaters - there are quite a few innovations which allow a more constant temperature range. But what do you propose to grow in your greenhouse?
This might depend on the time of year. You might choose exotic fruit ( at that time the greengrocer is shipping in his supplies from overseas because it's summer in their hemisphere and you live in the opposite hemisphere) However, there is a vast variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, orchids, indoor varieties, for example - which can be grown in your greenhouse whilst outside gardens are shivering in the winter.
Foundations, How to Build a Greenhouse But we're building a greenhouse. And we're endeavouring to save money doing it. You could pour a concretebase (if you do, it yourself. Don't have one of those huge revolving trucks bring it to you, it'll cost you a second morgage) Or you could use, big, old, cast off timbers, such as railway sleepers (cross ties, they call them in America) Or well-laid pavers. All you need remember is that the foundation be solid. Stumpies Tip Use gravel in drainage areas!
Pest Control, How to Build a Greenhouse You might like to use beneficial insects to control your environment(the use of good bugs to control bad bugs,example Ladybeatles eat Scale and Aphids). The beauty of a greenhouse is you really can control your environment. Also, if you see a plant ''Gone to God'' or is about to, because it is being ravaged by pests or disease - take it outside, or relocate to your mini greenhouse. Isolate it from your healthy specimens. If after some days it recovers, put it back with its friends.
Allot space for fertilizers, tools and the like Allot a space where you can store fertilizer, potting mix,various soil mixes,tools and other essentials of the greenhouse. Place a tool rack near to the potting mix place. Give yourself a break: keep unnecessary energy loss to a minimum. Place buckets and tool holders to accommodate the other equipment when the greenhouse is not in use. Conclusion
You'll enjoy having a greenhouse. You'll learn a lot. You can build it much more cheaply than you might have imagined. Ask your handyman friends over for a barbie. And make sure that you,at least, can fire up and cook some sausages. Stumpy's hint: Make sure you pack plenty of cold beer,tell them it was Stumpy's idea on how to build a greenhouse!
Thanks for visiting How to Build a Greenhouse. Happy gardening. Marty Ware! PS: If you don't have the time, energy, or inclination to build, you can buy a prefabricated kit and assemble it yourself, or get a professional to do it for you.
PSPS: Stumpy's tip Terracotta pots, gravel and paving stones will catch the warmth in the day, and release the energy at night to keep your loving plants warm and happy!
return to home page
|
