How To Build a Backyard Greenhouse

December 3, 2011  
Filed under Yard

If you are a person who loves gardening then building a backyard greenhouse may be the hobby for you. A greenhouse is a convenient way for you to enjoy gardening all year round right in the comfort or your own backyard. A greenhouse can be a great escape from the stress of everyday life all without having to travel to far from home. The great thing about building a greenhouse for yourself is being able to uniquely design your greenhouse to your distinct liking.

There are five key factors that you must take into consideration when constructing a backyard greenhouse:

a. Type – The four most common greenhouse types are mini, lean-to, hoop and Victorian. Like its name implies, the mini greenhouse requires very little space. It can easily be positioned on a deck or patio and would thus be ideal for persons that do not have a yard. The Lean-to greenhouse works best in small yards, draws its structural support from the main house and can in fact use the services from the house with minimal or no extension. The hoop greenhouse is cheap to build and easy to maintain while the Victorian is energy efficient and has great ambiance.

b. Space – You will have to consider the amount of space you have before choosing the type of greenhouse you want to construct. Also, ideally you should know what size plants you are going to be growing in your greenhouse. If you are going to be growing tall plants than you must make sure the roof is high enough to accommodate them.

c. Building Material – Before choosing your building material make sure you think about how much it will cost to maintain your greenhouse. For instance PVC is usually the cheapest material for the structure however, it has a low capability of retaining heat so if you are in an area that has low temperatures this probably isn’t the best material for you. Instead spend a little extra for wood or aluminum and you will save in the long run.

d. Weather – Weather will be one of the most important things you need to consider before you build your backyard greenhouse. Rainfall, heavy winds, snow, extreme temperatures, etc. all need to be considered before you can decide what greenhouse will best suit your climate.

e. Budget – How much money to spend on your greenhouse is the last and most obvious decision of them all. Everyone’s budget is unique so there is no right or wrong decision here. Some of you will want to spend the money on greenhouse kits so you can get them up and running as fast as possible. Others may want to look into using old plastic bottles or whatever they have around the house so they can spend as little as possible. Just know that if you do not have tons of money to spend don’t worry a greenhouse can be made for very little money if you can get creative.

As you can see there is a lot to consider when building your own backyard greenhouse. Don’t worry it’s not as hard as it seems take your time and enjoy the process I promise it will be fulfilling

Looking to find the best information on Building a Backyard Greenhouse, then visit www.BuildaGreenhouseEasy.com to find the best information on Greenhouse Design for you.

Essential Greenhouse Accessories

November 25, 2011  
Filed under Yard

In order for your greenhouse to thrive you will need to maintain the temperature, humidity, moisture and of course keep your greenhouse free of harmful pests. Using accessories can make your life a lot easier and benefit your greenhouse in a tremendous way. Below are 8 greenhouse accessories that everyone should have.

Irrigation System – Plants cannot grow without water. An irrigation system will make it easier to rapidly and evenly distribute water to the plants in the greenhouse. The best irrigation system would combine adjustable nozzles, overhead sprinklers and ground drip feeders.

Downpipe Kits – Downpipe kits capture and store rain water which is then filtered into the greenhouses irrigation or cooling system. This is a great way to save money on your watering costs. The only concern is you must make sure the rain water is filtered of dirt or debris before it’s filtered into the greenhouse.

Greenhouse Shelving – If you are putting up a greenhouse in your backyard, space is likely to be a major constraint. Greenhouse shelves ensure you make the most use of the vertical space. Shelving comes in different heights, number of shelves and building material.

Growing Racks – Growing racks ensure the efficient use and ease of operation of a mini greenhouse. The racks protect plants from the effects of extreme weather while the zippers make access to the seedlings easier.

Compact Heating Unit – A full-sized central system for heating the greenhouse is likely a budget breaker, but using a safe, efficient compact heating unit can help keep your plants warm year round without a huge price tag. Choose a heater that is the correct size for your space, and that is designed to be energy efficient. Double check the dimensions of your greenhouse and take the figures with you when you shop for a heating source for best results.

Cloth Shades – Plants need sunlight, but they can easily get too much of a good thing. Monitor the temperature of your greenhouse by using cloth shades. Depending on where you live and how frequently the temperatures change, you can choose shades that go up and down automatically, or you can manually adjust them as needed.

Vents – In warm summer months you are going to want to put vents in strategic areas to help lower the temperature inside your greenhouse. Once again if you do not want to monitor the opening and closing of the vents yourself you can buy automatic vents which work on a sensor.

Watering Wands – Sometimes in larger greenhouses the watering needs of one plant can differ from another. Water wands are a great way to control and localize watering to a plants specific need.

To Learn more about great Greenhouse Accessories. Stop by Jonathan Miranda’s site where you can find out everything you want to know about Greenhouses.