DIY Greenhouse, A Gardener’s Dream

Most gardeners’ hearts start to twitter when you talk about greenhouses. Winter is a dull time for them and if they have a greenhouse they can putter about even in the winter. Seeds can be started for spring planting in a greenhouse and you can be ahead of the game when it is time to plant. This is also a place where you can put your rosemary or lemon verbena plants so that you do not loose them and have to start all over again when the season starts. DIY greenhouse kits are available, somewhat inexpensive, and they are very easy to build. There is no excuse for not building your dream greenhouse.

There are a multitude of decisions that have to be made before you try to build a greenhouse. Pay attention to the weather in your area so that you know what type of greenhouse you are going to need. Those people living in warm areas have to take a good look at how to vent the greenhouse more than how they have to heat it. They need to figure out how to make a shade screen during the time when the sun is hottest. Insulation is the key word for those living in cold climates and the next key word is how to heat the greenhouse.

Make sure to pick a spot in your yard for the greenhouse that is in direct sun. It is good to give the plants an east west exposure to get the most out the sunlight you can. If you do not have any space in direct sunlight then go with partial shade.

There are so many different materials to make a greenhouse from it will make your head spin. You can construct a wood frame and attach glass as they did in days of old, but you can also go a little more modern and choose fiberglass. There are panels made of polycarbonate that work very well in making the walls of a greenhouse but these panels are extremely expensive. There are greenhouses that are made with a pipe frame with plastic sheets draped over them. Many people choose to make their greenhouse out of items that can be recycled. Look online for the greenhouse plan that utilizes a wood built frame filled with plastic pop bottles. Another plan details how to build a greenhouse from a bunch of storm doors.

What should the floor be made of? Many greenhouses do not even have a floor. Instead the dirt on the ground is the floor and more dirt is added so that you can plant seeds in it. Some people prefer some sort of flooring in their greenhouses. You can use gravel or pour concrete for a very sturdy and durable floor. You can even build a floor out of wood. A nice floor can be made from setting bricks and pavers into sand on the ground. When building a greenhouse right on the ground make sure it can never flood or you will have one big mess on your hands.

Many gardeners make benches out of wood that line the perimeter inside. They put their pots on those benches and do not have to stoop to the ground to garden. Heating units can be run from either gas or electricity so you need to build your greenhouse where there is a gas line or availability of electricity. You might even decide to put some electrical outlets in the greenhouse or lights so you can see at night. Do you want to run a water line right into the greenhouse instead of having to carry water to feed the plants? These are all considerations that have to be met.

The most inexpensive greenhouses are the ones that are made from PVC pipe and plastic sheeting. The pipe is put into the ground in a horseshoe manner and the plastic sheet is draped over it. You will also need some wooden parts on a greenhouse like this. Some people have a problem with this type of structure because PVC piping is not environmentally friendly. The next alternative is to build out a frame of wood and cover it with glass or fiberglass. The polycarbonate panels are the most expensive but they do not break either. You have to decide what is right for you and your budget. You might not mind having a greenhouse made out of millions of plastic beverage bottles or discarded aluminum doors.

To build a DIY greenhouse is not all that difficult. Diy greenhouse kits on the market today make it so incredibly easy that every home owner can build his or her very own greenhouse.