22 January 2019
If you have been bitten by the green-finger bug of late you might be considering adding a greenhouse to your flourishing outside space, but before you take the plunge there a number of things you will need to consider.
Greenhouse Location
Where will your greenhouse be placed? Plants in a greenhouse flourish in light, so you want to ensure that the location gets plenty of light, as well as it being away from any large trees that may not only provide too much shade, but whose leaves and branches may fall on the structure. You will also want to consider how close the greenhouse is to your house, for things like electricity power points and water supply.
Size
Depending on the size of your garden (or allotment) you will need to work out the maximum size your greenhouse can be. Generally, small greenhouses start at 4ft x4ft up to roughly 8ft by 8ft. You also want to consider what you wish to use your greenhouse for. If it’s simply for growing seedlings, then a smaller structure will suffice, but if you also want to ensure that it has space to store all your garden tools, then a bigger space is essential.
Glazing
Greenhouse glass is incredibly important as it will determine not just the longevity of the building, but also how the plants and vegetables inside the greenhouse grow.
There are generally 3 types of glazing panel styles for you to consider, and your choice will be dependent on the primary type of growing you will be undertaking. For starting seedlings to be transplanted outside, then clear glazing is generally the best option as it provides direct and strong light which will encourage your seedlings to grow quickly. However, for growing plants to maturity then diffused panels are better as the light diffusion allows plants to achieve optimum photosynthesis. Also, by reducing the plants need to reach towards the direct light, they will not be as tall and leggy and so will grow a better, more compact shape. And for a compromise between the two, then semi-diffused is the perfect choice.
Framework
Aluminium greenhouse frames are a good choice if you are looking for a greenhouse that is maintenance free and kind to the wallet, however, there is no denying that plain aluminium does not look as attractive as other options. You can add colour-coating but that will increase the price considerably. Another option is a wooden greenhouse, which blend well into a garden landscape, but can be more expensive and require regular maintenance to help avoid issues like rot and mould.
Foundation
There are generally three foundation options; directly onto the ground, solid base (such as paving slab, brick or concrete) or gravel.
Placing a greenhouse directly onto the ground allows you to plant straight into the soil, however the greenhouse will become messy due to watering etc, so you may want to consider laying a path down the middle. Solid bases overcome this but does meant that you cannot plant directly into the ground so will need to use grow bags. And finally, gravel, this allows you to essentially have flooring as well as drainage.
Once you have made these essential decisions, it’s time to pick your greenhouse and GBC Group is the perfect place to come to. Either call our incredibly helpful and friendly customer service team on 0800 999 0123, or come visit us in one of our 37 nationwide stores.
Posted by Matt Jordan
