For those just beginning on their greenhouse project, the myriad of factors that need to be considered when planning and building a greenhouse can prove to be quite a daunting list. Fortunately, there are experts to whom we can turn to for help with our setbacks. Here is one expert's list on a few things to think about when getting ready to build a greenhouse:
Greenhouse size - The size of your desired greenhouse depends on a few key factors, namely your budget, the effort that you are willing to put into maintaining the greenhouse and the amount, type and variety of the flora you intend to grow within the greenhouse. You must have sufficient budget to purchase the materials you need to build the greenhouse, and larger greenhouses naturally cost more. Larger greenhouses also require more effort to maintain, so the amount of time you have to do so will also affect the size of the greenhouse that you want. Finally, growing trees within your greenhouse will require more space than small potted plants, so what you are intending to grow must also be taken into consideration.
One tip given by experts is to look for salvage material that can be used in the building of your greenhouse to reduce the monetary cost of construction.
Climate - The climate of the area you live in is very important to your greenhouse planning. If the place you live in is generally cool, a fully insulated greenhouse would best suit your needs. Those living in places with large amounts of sunlight and heat should consider installing shade control into the greenhouse. And those that experience all four seasons should take into account all elements that come with the seasons when planning their greenhouse. Some of these elements include air ventilation and circulation, temperature regulation for both hot and cold weather, humidity controlling devices and pest monitoring. Once again, the elements you must consider are also influenced by the type of plants that you wish to raise.
Each of these elements can be regulated through different methods. Experts recommend using "good bugs" to regulate pests, as opposed to the use of pesticides, which could be harmful to the plants or the consumers. These "good bugs" keep the harmful bugs under control, while not affecting the health of the plants that you are nurturing. Temperature is greatly affected by the covering of the greenhouse. Expensive covers made of fibreglass are the most effective at insulating the greenhouse, while still allowing ample light to enter the greenhouse. Glass is also effective, and plastic less so, although plastic is much cheaper.
Greenhouse location will also affect the climate within the greenhouse - standalone greenhouses allow more light to enter the greenhouse, at the same time warming it up. In bad weather however, standalone greenhouses are more exposed to the outside conditions. It is very important to think of the climate in your own area when deciding which type of greenhouse to build.
Maintenance - While greenhouses provide consistency for the plants, they still require plenty of upkeep from the owner - you. Automated systems are the key to reducing the physical work that needs to be put into the greenhouse project. Systems that allow for the automation of watering, temperature control, humidity control and ventilation are all available in the market. Though costly, these will allow you to set certain conditions and have those conditions maintained with almost no effort at all. Storage is also vital to the maintenance of your greenhouse - storage of gardening tools, fertiliser, seeds, soil, pots and cleaning tools. The best option would be to store these items within the greenhouse itself for ease of organisation and use. The final tip for reducing maintenance pressure on yourself is to make your greenhouse project into a joint venture with your family and friends - that way you can all take pride in your accomplished product of a successful greenhouse together.
Finally, when planning the layout of your greenhouse, aesthetics might be something you should consider - if your successful greenhouse will be open for display to family and friends, benches for observational comfort and arrangement of the plants is an important consideration for an optimum viewing experience.
I hope these tips on building a greenhouse have been helpful to you and I wish you all the best in your endeavors!
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