Posts Tagged ‘greenhouse’

Greenhouse Designs – Choosing The Best For Your Garden

Friday, August 12th, 2011

If you are a devoted gardener, then you perhaps would like or already have a greenhouse. A greenhouse allows a gardener to indulge in gardening all year round, but did you know that the design of the greenhouse is very important? Greenhouse designs vary according to what they are to be used for and to some extent where the garden is located. Therefore, when it comes to greenhouse designs, choosing the best for your garden is pretty important.

If you get the right greenhouse for your purpose and use it as it should be, your greenhouse will pay for itself over and over again, but not only that, it will repay for its carbon footprint by propagating more flowers which will in turn help keep the ecosystem in balance. Not to mention keeping the gardener happy. Everybody is a winner with a greenhouse.

Greenhouses are not inexpensive and one often wonders why. There just does not appear to be much to them to make them so costly. For this reason, it is vital that you get the best of greenhouse designs for what you want to cultivate.

You will also have to take size into account: the amount of space that you can allow for your new greenhouse and how many plants you want to produce in it.

After you have considered the overall size that you would like, the next deliberation is the basic structure. Do you want it attached to your house like a lean-to or do you want it to be free-standing?

Free-standing greenhouse designs are more costly but they are also the more flexible of the two greenhouse designs. They are more expensive because you will have to have four walls not three and you will have to run water and electric mains to it.

Free-standing greenhouse designs are more flexible and therefore offer greater proceeds because you can locate them wherever you like to gain the most light from the sun. Normally, this means having the longest side to the south in the northern hemisphere.

Attached greenhouse designs use the wall of the house or garage as one wall of the greenhouse. Which wall of the greenhouse that is, is up to you naturally, but if you can use one of the gable ends, the short side, so much the better.

Try to have one of the longest walls facing the sun for most of the day. Again, you will have to run water and electricity into it, but this does not usually mean burying the cable and pipe underground or armouring the cable, which works out cheaper.

Once you have made your decision from the several greenhouse designs, you can decide which plants you would like to grow in it. You can literally grow anything you want, if you create the right ecosystem for it. So, if you want to have as much flexibility as possible get a decent lighting system.

Get the best and most adaptable you can afford. Look for ones that will supply a broad range spectrum ‘grow light’, so that your plants will not suffer in the winter and get normal tube lighting for yourself for when you need to see better.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on a number of subjects, but is at present concerned with visual comfort lighting. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Outdoor Wall Lamps.

Top Tips For Maintaining A Greenhouse

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Buying a greenhouse is an investment to the future of your plants. Starting up can take a bit of time and effort, but it will be rewarding to watch and take care of healthy plants each day. With proper maintenance, it will take minimal effort to grow thriving flowers, vegetables, and more.

During the winter, it is likely that heating will be a necessary addition. Some tropical plants will need heating all year round. There are different sources of heating available for greenhouses to maintain the health of the plants.

One of the most common choices in heating is an electric powered system. It does not pose as a hazard to the flowers and vegetables. It will run up an electric bill, however. Be sure that it is waterproof to prevent a short circuit. Areas that frequently experience power outages can cause a problem if there is no backup. Only a few hours in the cold can kill a plant.

Other greenhouses might run on a gas heating system. This type of a heating system can have its hazards if the gas levels are not monitored. Leaking gas can be a risk, especially in small areas, for people and animals as well as fruits and bushes.

An alternative heating system energy source is solar power. While solar panels can be expensive upfront, they can save a lot of money on energy bills. Solar panels can be placed on a roof or as standalone on the surrounding land. They might not be an efficient source of power in winter months, however, and an alternative energy source might have to be used in addition.

It is also possible for greenhouses to become overheated. The glass is able to trap heat, but will not release it. Be sure to have a thermometer inside the structure to keep an eye on the temperature.

A window or side panel should be opened to allow air to circulate and cool off. The sun can also be blocked with a shade cloth. Turn off any artificial lights that might be generating too much heat.

For those who do not have as much room or time for maintenance, inexpensive, miniature greenhouses are available. They have room for just a couple of plants. Most of them are portable and made of a light plastic, though some are glass and wood.

Keeping greenhouses clean is the best way to keep them as efficient as possible. The glass should be wiped down regularly with a nontoxic solution. A gentle solution of distilled white vinegar and water is usually efficient for disinfecting the glass without risking plant health and safety.

Insects must be kept under control. They can easily ruin plants. If there appears to be a problem, remove all healthy plants and fumigate. Identify any insects to find the safest pesticide to exterminate them, if necessary.

A well maintained greenhouse is a healthy living space for flowers and vegetables. Plants that may not normally be able to survive in the area can now thrive. With just a bit of cleaning and monitoring, plants can remain healthy all year long.

Learn more about Greenhouse. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Greenhouses and what it can do for you.

DIY Victorian Greenhouse

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

The victorian greenhouse is a popular and common backyard greenhouse. The victorian greenhouse is a good sized, sturdy, attractive greenhouse. The Victorian greenhouse is an excellent choice for avid gardeners as well as hobby gardeners. Use this backyard greenhouse to start seeds, grow year-round plants, shrubbery, specialty flowers, ornamentals, and so much more.

The victorian greenhouse is the most energy efficient greenhouse. The gable roof allows for efficient cooling and heating. The straight sides verses sloped sides allow for ease of movement without hitting your head on sloped sides. The victorian greenhouse can be built as efficient as you want. You can choose to build it out of wood or pvc and enclose it in polyethylene film or reinforced fiberglass panels and still have a nice looking victorian greenhouse that is cost efficient.

If you have the money to invest into a victorian greenhouse you can have a very nice version of the victorian greenhouse for the fraction of a kit or hiring someone to build it for you. Build it out of iron, aluminum, or wood and enclose it with plexiglass or glass. Only basic skills are needed to build the victorian greenhouse. If you can use a saw and read a tape measure then you can build your own greenhouse. The only tools needed are those that come in a basic carpenters set.

Hammer

Screwdrivers

Pliers

A Tape measure

Cutters

Saw

Many times when you buy your material from a large hardware store they will cut the material for you so you will have little cutting to do on your own. This will help to make building your victorian greenhouse even easier.

Build your own victorian greenhouse and save a ton of money compared to a kit or hiring someone to do it for you. Building your own greenhouse will give a satisfied feeling of accomplishment when you are done. It does not take very long if you have help and a free weekend.

Learn more about victorian greenhouse. Stop by Susie Herling’s site where you can find out all about backyard greenhouse and how you can get the plans to build one.


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