They take up more room than traditional freestanding models but also provide a larger growing area. Metal frames — Aluminium-framed greenhouses are lightweight and strong. They have a fine structure that lets in more light and casts less shadow. Metal greenhouses come in a range of colours, including green and black, and require little maintenance.
But metal is a poor insulator, conducting heat away from the plants inside. Wooden frames — Wooden greenhouses are strong, attractive and bring a more natural look to your garden. They tend to have bulkier and more robust frames than metal greenhouses but the wood needs regular maintenance. There are many different types of glazing available for your greenhouse.
Here are the benefits of each:. Safety glass — Shatterproof safety glass is a safe bet for gardens with children. Polycarbonate — Polycarbonate is times stronger than glass, weighs half as much and is very safe. Styrene — Styrene is twice as strong as glass, shatterproof, lightweight and a good insulator. Acrylic — Acrylic strikes a happy medium between polycarbonate and styrene.
As well as choosing the type of glazing you want in your greenhouse, you also need to consider whether you want a fully or partially glazed structure:. Glass to the ground — Greenhouses with glass panels down to ground level let in the most light.
Half-wall or dwarf wall — Greenhouses with low brick or wooden walls around the base are very sturdy. They also trap more sunshine as heat, keeping plants warmer overnight. Lean-tos takes advantage of an existing wall, for example a south-facing house or garage wall. The bricks hold the heat of the sun, especially at night, ideal for growing. An octagonal or dome shape is useful if you have an awkward space.
Aluminium is cheap, low maintenance and can be powder-coated in a range of colours. Timber, usually cedar, is attractive but more expensive, and needs more upkeep. Wooden models can be glazed to the ground but can also be half-walled with timber or bricks.
Horticultural glass lets in the most light, is long lasting and is easily replaced if broken. Toughened glass is more expensive but a better option in high-traffic areas or if you have kids. It still breaks, but shatters more safely. Ventilation is essential in summer. Ideally, a 6ft x 8ft greenhouse would have two hinged roof vents, as well as a side vent.
Find out how to install an automatic greenhouse vent opener. A firm, level floor, such as paving slabs or gravel on top of hard core and sand, allow for easy access and drainage and can be wetted in summer damped down to keep the air humid. A soil border, is a good way to grow greenhouse crops.
Browse our selection of greenhouses below. If it is necessary to purchase a base separately on a particular model, we have specified this in the description. This greenhouse is made from natural timber which has been pressure treated for durability. The model features toughened glass windows around the perimeter and over the roof. The traditional apex roof and central door make this a classic style greenhouse and a 15 year guarantee against rot is included.
Buy now from Primrose. Toughened glass is a great greenhouse glazing material, being as shatterproof as polycarbonate, but heavier, to protect against the wind lifting your greenhouse away. It does tend to add to the cost, however, and can also increase the price and effort of delivery and construction. It comes with an integral base designed to sit right on the soil, with ground anchors keeping it there. It comes with two roof vents, two louvre vents in the sides, and two automatic vent openers.
The internal frame is shaped so it can accommodate hanging baskets, and gutters and downpipes are included to deal with rainwater collection. The price can start to creep up even higher once you start adding internal staging, roof blinds and other useful things. Buy now from Greenhouses Direct.
At least the construction is solid, with a pressure-treated tongue-and-groove wooden frame allowing multiple attachment points for the adjustable shelves, which is perfect for when you want to grow taller plants. You get two vents for air circulation, and despite being described as a lean-to it comes with a back wall. Key specs — Dimensions: 4ft 10in x 2ft 5in; Frame: wood; Panels: styrene.
Buy now from Buy Sheds Direct. Sign up for our daily newsletter Newsletter. This covering has all the benefits of twin-walled polycarbonate, but superior strength and heat retention qualities. It is especially useful in cold climates for year-round indoor gardening.
Triple-wall polycarbonate will withstand heavy snow loads and freezing without cracking or becoming distorted. Insulation values of polycarbonate greenhouse glazing — The image to the right above shows the construction and relative thickness of available multi-panel polycarbonate glazing used for greenhouse cover panels.
Note: The vertical separators have three functions: they add structural strength to the panel, increase insulation value by providing an air space, and serve to break up, or diffuse, the light passing through the panels.
A greenhouse frame provides structural integrity and serves to anchor the greenhouse covering. Greenhouse frames are available in a variety of materials. Aluminum provides a strong, lightweight frame that will not rust. It is the most widely used material for greenhouse frames, and it has a very long life span. Aluminum frames commonly have extruded channels which provide a perfect fit for inserted covering panels.
Aluminum is not an insulative material, so there will be some heat loss through the framing. Powder-coated aluminum retains a smooth outer finish as well as providing different colors. Galvanized steel frames, usually tubular, are extremely strong, long lasting, and low cost.
Polyethylene film is often used for covering steel framing because other covering materials require fastening systems which do not lend themselves to steel frameworks. Steel frames are heavy, which helps the greenhouse remain stable in windy conditions, but the weight makes transporting and assembling the greenhouse more difficult.
Steel is usually used for large commercial greenhouses. Plastic frames have become popular because they are attractive, less expensive than aluminum and do not conduct heat out of the greenhouse as much as steel or aluminum. Plastic frames lack the strength of metal frames, so they are used primarily for smaller greenhouses which have shorter dimensions.
Plastic frames are often designed to be used with polycarbonate panels. Wood greenhouse frames are often used in do-it-yourself greenhouse building projects. Wood can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and sufficient strength and durability. However, wood is susceptible to rot, so the construction should ensure that the wood does not contact the ground or any moisture holding surfaces.
When you purchase a greenhouse, take into consideration what accessories are included in the purchase price. You can also buy a simple starter greenhouse and add these accessories as needed and as your budget allows. Greenhouses usually come with opening vents which are essential to controlling interior heat. Solar-powered automatic louvers are available which enable the gardener to have a life outside the garden.
We have lost entire sets of seedlings because we forgot to water them in time. Drip-irrigation systems, drip tape flat hose with tiny holes , and soaker hoses can be set on inexpensive battery-operated timers which you can set onto your faucet bib. Especially useful for clear or semi-diffused greenhouses, shade cloth can be draped over the greenhouse roof to lower the inside temperature.
Look for UV-stabilized knitted shade cloths with brass grommets, available in various densities. A simpler, very inexpensive method is to use split-bamboo blinds, which you can often find in shops. Shade cloths should be secured at the top of the structure and installed so that it is easy to draw them back during morning and evening hours as needed.
Watering wands with adjustable nozzles are designed to let you reach to the back of seedling trays and different shelf heights without having to bend over. For more information or to purchase. Potting benches are designed with all this in mind, helping you keep the potting accessories in one place and the overall appearance of the greenhouse more organized.
Are available that will allow you reinforce the base of your greenhouse. This is useful in areas where strong winds may impact your greenhouse and potentially shift it from its foundation.
Different styles of greenhouse shelving are available which enable you to customise the interior layout of your greenhouse. Aluminum shelves with interchange heights are popular. Others can be rearranged into different geometrical shapes for attractive displays and maximizing space usage. They come in a variety of colors, with plastic liners, wheels and all sorts of different options.
Many different types of greenhouse heaters are available. Grow lights generate considerable heat for the plant, although they do not warm the soil. Others, such as track systems, can be attached to the roof and heat the entire greenhouse in the winter.
Most greenhouses are sold as greenhouse kits and are shipped flat in multiple boxes. The customer is expected to do the assembly. Before purchase, be sure to check the assembly requirements. Which greenhouse you buy will be partly determined by the assembly requirements. Some greenhouse kits only take 4 — 5 hours to assemble, but it is safe to assume that assembly will be a weekend job for two people.
No special tools are needed, but you will need basic handyman skills. One of the most important aspects of assembly, however, is the site preparation. At the very least, you will need to provide a flat, solid and level ground space. Larger greenhouses require more site preparation since the ground area is larger and some plans call for cement or brick foundation work to be in place prior to assembly. Some greenhouse manufacturers realize that ease of assembly is an important factor in choosing which greenhouse to buy.
The Monticello line of Riverside Greenhouses, for example, has thicker walls and roof panels which require fewer brackets and supports to prevent collapse. The manufacturer uses fewer differentiating pieces, so assembly is faster and less confusing. While assembly time is important, it should not be the major factor in choosing which greenhouse to buy. Regardless of difficulty in assembly, the time spent in assembly is minor when compared to the many years of use you will enjoy from your new greenhouse.
The warranty may vary by manufacturer. How long are materials guaranteed to last? What is the duration of the warranty? What parts are covered? Your home insurance policy can also be amended to cover your greenhouse from weather events, such as strong winds and hail, which may not be covered by the greenhouse warranty. For clear glass and single-pane polycarbonate greenhouses, you may be able to decrease shadows by spreading white gravel on the outside of your greenhouse along the base.
The white color reflects light into the greenhouse and will eliminate some of the shadows.
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