Although modern designs can be much more resilient than traditional models, greenhouses can still be vulnerable in cold weather. If you live somewhere where the temperatures drop really low in winter, or where you can expect heavy snowfall, it’s important that you know how to get your greenhouse safely through this difficult time.

When it comes to snow, some types of greenhouse are much better off than others. Greenhouses with angular or steeply curved roofs won’t accumulate heavy drifts the way more common greenhouse models do. However, they’re still vulnerable to building up a light coating of snow or frost which obscures the panels, making it difficult for the plants inside to get all the light they need. You should check your greenhouse every morning (and at intervals during the day, if the snow keeps falling) and sweep the roof panels clean with a broom. This may sound tricky, but after you’ve had a bit of practice you’ll find that it’s very quick and easy to do. You should make it a routine part of caring for your greenhouse in winter.

If you live in a place with low winter temperatures, you will want to install heating in your greenhouse, as sunlight alone may not produce enough heat to keep your plants happy. If you do this, bear in mind that temperature control is important not only for your plants but also for your greenhouse itself. Glass panels are less vulnerable to cold than they are to sudden changes in temperature. When you turn your heater on in winter, don’t put it on full straight away, no matter how cold your greenhouse is - let it warm up slowly. If the cold has come on suddenly and you’re worried about your plants in the meantime, you can blow on them to warm them as you might warm your hands.

Knowing the basic rules of caring for greenhouses in cold weather will ensure that your greenhouse lasts a long time and keeps your plants safe even in the depths of winter.

You may think that greenhouse lighting sounds like a very odd idea. Isn’t the whole point of greenhouses that they let in plenty of light from the sun? Well, yes, but when the weather is gloomy or winter days are short sometimes the sun just isn’t there as much as your plants would like. Those are the times when extra lighting can really come in handy, keeping your plants happy and healthy no matter what conditions are like outside.

Lighting accessories for greenhouses have improved a great deal over the past few years. No only have they come down in price, but they’ve diversified to meet a wider range of gardening needs. Traditional fluorescent grow lights are still an option, relatively cheap and easy to install. They’re good if you want to minimize heat output in a small greenhouse where it can be difficult to maintain temperature control. The newest grow lights to the market, the T5 fluorescent lights provide even more light intensity to your plants and use less energy!

Also available are high intensity discharge lights which concentrate their output in those regions of the spectrum which are most useful for photosynthesis. This means that it takes less power and fewer units of lighting to produce a comparable amount of growth. There are grow lights designed to help your plants with vegetative growth or lights developed to aid with flowering. However, HID lights give off a lot more heat, so you should attach them high up in your greenhouse where they won’t bake your plants.

The advent of more sophisticated greenhouse lighting accessories means that even under the worst conditions, it’s possible to raise plants which look as if they’ve enjoyed full sunlight every day. However, it’s important to remember that, even with these options available; plants still need a distinct day and night cycle. This is essential to the way they respire and the way they get rid of waste - so don’t be tempted to leave your greenhouse lights on too late into the night. Greenhouse lighting should not try to overcome nature - rather, it should complement it, to make the most of nature’s bounty.

Everybody knows that gardening takes patience. You have to prepare the ground, plant the bulbs or seeds, wait for shoots to appear, then tend them as they grow to adult size. All this requires a fixed location. For people who have to travel a lot, perhaps staying in different homes at different times of year, gardening can seem like an impossible luxury. But easily transported greenhouse kits can turn that around.

Transport-friendly greenhouse kits are easy to assemble, easy to disassemble, and can be packed away easily into small spaces - some even come with their own bags for easy transportation. With lightweight frames and simple poly covers, they can be put together in just a couple of hours - quickly enough that well chosen greenhouse plants will be happy waiting in your vehicle until they can return to their home. Because they’re relatively small, these greenhouses can’t be used for extensive growing projects, but they do have the advantage of being able to fit into almost any back yard. Once you’ve positioned them, it’s a good idea to weight them down with stones - you don’t want the wind to transport them as easily as you did!

Greenhouses like this are ideally suited to people whose busy modern lives make traditional gardening impossible. Naturally, travelling is stressful for plants and can’t be recommended for delicate flowers, but with careful packing and extra attention once you reach your destination, most popular greenhouse plants will be okay. You may well find that they’re safer than if you’d trusted them to a neighbour for several weeks!

Portable greenhouse assembly requires no special skills - all you’ll need is a pair of pliers and a Phillips screwdriver. Many can be managed by one person working alone, though it always helps to have an assistant, especially if it’s windy. You’ll also find that their easy storage means these greenhouses can be useful even when you’re settled in one place, to provide back-up space for when other greenhouses unexpectedly overflow or suffer damage. They’re comparatively inexpensive and increasingly easy to find, so it’s well worth having one around.

The joy of being able to garden year round is the reason why most of us choose to build a greenhouse. The ability to partake in fresh fruit and vegetables in the dead of winter is another reason why so many gardeners set up greenhouse. No matter why you choose to build a green house, there are three main areas to focus on for your greenhouse design. Those areas are structure placement, style and materials.

When you consider where your greenhouse is to be located you are thinking structure placement. Do you prefer to have your greenhouse as a separate structure that stands freely by itself? This would allow it to be a building you can walk to from your home. Your other option is to have your greenhouse attached to your home. This would allow you to walk from say your kitchen out into the greenhouse. This can be a great option that keeps you from walking out into poor weather. Both choices are available in several different styles.

When it comes to greenhouses most of think of a little hoop house type greenhouse with poly film covering. If you take the time to flip through a greenhouse catalog or search a greenhouse website you will be surprised at the available styles. You can choose a more low key or simple style greenhouse. This is often the affordable solution, great for beginners. The other options can be quite elegant or you can choose a high performance greenhouse. You will be in awe of the brick foundations and wrought iron decorations available. They look simply exquisite, like miniature glass houses. These structures can be more costly but you want a greenhouse more for looks then for function, this is the way to go. If you want a greenhouse that is built to produce lots of plants and provide lots of workspace, you might consider the Solexx Conservatory.

Once you decide the placement of your structure and it’s style you will now want to look into materials. There are numerous choices available including metals such as aluminum and steel. Natural materials of wood, such as redwood are the natural materials available. If you are leaning towards synthetic materials you can choose from PVC, resin, plastic and polycarbonate. It’s a matter of personal preference and cost. Though there are so many choices and considerations to be made that’s actually the beauty of choosing your greenhouse design. You can create a standing piece of yourself. So do some research and prepare to enjoy your greenhouse and all of its bounty.
 

Some people think of greenhouses as being only for obsessive tomato growers, but the truth is that a greenhouse can bring added pleasure to your gardening experience whatever it is you like to do. With many different greenhouse types to choose from, it’s easy to find one which suits the way your garden and home look, and you’ll find it a useful resource for all sorts of things, like having an extra room. With the option of keeping all sorts of plants which wouldn’t survive outdoor weather conditions, all the old limits on what you could grow will be gone.

Greenhouses for your garden don’t just enable you to keep plants warmer, they also protect them from fierce wind and from bombardment with sand or snow. They allow you to control soil type and to deal with drainage issues which could be causing problems for your outdoor plants. They also let you keep plants in a controlled environment where you don’t heed to worry about them spreading their roots underground and taking over your garden.

Some of the larger greenhouses for your garden can provide a place to sit and relax, great for when you want to get out of the house but the weather’s not co-operating. Lounging in your greenhouse with a book, enjoying the scents of your various plants, can be a very pleasant experience. You’ll also find that greenhouses for your garden can be helpful with your day to day chores. Some greenhouse types are designed to stand right up against your house, making them ideal for growing fresh herbs for your kitchen.

With so many possibilities for improving your garden, why not take a look at some of the greenhouse types available today? You might find that owning a greenhouse improves your whole life.