If you want to boost your planting season, adding a new greenhouse to your yard may be the answer. But before buying a greenhouse, you should consider some key factors. These factors vary for each gardener, as a greenhouse design should always suit your specific property, climate, and gardening style.
Design Your Greenhouse To Align With Your Needs
Many gardeners want their greenhouses to help them fulfill specific needs. Some of these checklist items often include things like:
- Extending the growing season in cold climates
- Controlling ventilation
- Maximizing production in a small space
- Protecting seedlings from pests and disease
- Protecting plants from harsh weather
3 Factors To Consider Before Getting Your Own Greenhouse
As with many products today, greenhouses come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Before picking a greenhouse, it’s important to consider which type will be best for your garden.
Find The Right Spot
Start by finding the ideal spot for your backyard greenhouse. The first element to consider is direct sunlight. Your greenhouse must get plenty of sunlight for your seedlings and growing plants to thrive. It’s best if your greenhouse structure gets at least six hours of sunlight daily, but more is always better. You can ensure you maximize the sunshine by orienting your greenhouse’s roof to run north-south.
The next important factor is the ground where you will place your greenhouse. This is vital as greenhouse foundations need a level, dry surface. Some gardeners prefer to add a gravel or concrete block foundation for the greenhouse to sit on, ensuring it has a steady base that is solid and can withstand cold weather.
Pick A Material
Once you have marked out the ideal location for your greenhouse, the next element you should choose is the material it is made of. The most common materials for greenhouses are glass or polycarbonate. If you’re looking for something lightweight and easy to install, we recommend choosing polycarbonate, as it is lighter than glass. Glass does allow more direct sunlight in, but it is much heavier and could be damaged in severe weather, such as a hailstorm.
Choose The Best Size
Lastly, you should pay attention to the size of the greenhouse. The size should be chosen based on how many plants you want to grow in a season. The larger your greenhouse, the more airflow it will have and the more space you’ll have for larger plants and containers. A small greenhouse will be more manageable and warm and is ideal for hobbyists and small businesses. The size depends entirely on your gardening needs and how much yard space you’d like to dedicate to your greenhouse.
Conclusion
Increasing the amount of fresh produce in your garden can be a very fulfilling act. As you can see, greenhouse construction has many elements attached to it, and it should always be thought out fully before you go ahead and buy one. Investing in custom greenhouses in Manitoba can help you maximize your growing space and allow your plants to thrive in a healthy and ideal environment. Careful planning for your greenhouse will contribute to keeping your plants happy and healthy for a much longer season!
