We were overjoyed to have moved into a home that offered us our first real garden! Many hours of fun lay ahead in planning of what to do with it – create raised beds, put in a shed, build a greenhouse: we happily rattled off a list of plans, getting far ahead of ourselves before reality set in, largely the back to earth with bump reality of “er, do we actually know how to build a greenhouse?”
The truth is that we don’t, but like any intrepid new gardeners, we were determined to find out. This involved my partner in many hours of looking on-line to seek information and to be honest, it’s all out there. From greenhouse kits to off the peg or individual greenhouse design, there are greenhouse retailers and products across the nation that offer a wealth of starting points for those such as us!
However, being tactile and highly visual folk, a bit of hands-on research was preferable, so as well as the virtual hunt for information, we toured garden centres and outbuilding specialists in pursuit of knowledge on how to pull our ideas together. Such places can be really informative, so I would recommend this approach, so long as you know the basic questions that you want to ask. If you have any greenhouse plans, do take them with you and think about what you need to know, before you make your investigations. For example:
• If you know that aesthetically you would prefer to have a wooden greenhouse, then you will need to ask questions about the wood types, particularly the maintenance and life-span of such an investment.
• You might have more specific questions in relation to greenhouse glass, for instance whether you want any solar panels to generate additional energy plus grow your plants; whether you want glass panels that open or not; or, depending on what you want to grow or if you have small children, a small garden and lots of ball games, you might want to investigate the suitability of acrylic versus actual glass. The list is as individual as your family and your space!
• The size of your greenhouse will have a direct bearing both on its price and on what features it may include, so it’s a good idea to actually get inside some erected greenhouses when you are shopping around. Once inside, check to see if the size will suit your needs, then ask questions about what features are included in that particular size of greenhouse. You may think that a small greenhouse will be cheaper, but if you require particular features, it may be that the costs will rise as these are added to the specification of your chosen greenhouse, even if you do choose to build it yourself.
• We have the foundations and dwarf walling in place for a lean-to greenhouse, so it was vital that these measurements came with us, to see if it would be practical for this to be our basis or whether we should start from scratch. Keep your measurements and greenhouse plans on you for these visits as you will need to refer to them frequently, particularly when it comes to comparing your possible options.
Lastly, in weighing up our own greenhouse planning, we had to seriously consider an additional cost issue. If you are not confident that you know how to build a greenhouse so that it can withstand the elements, then this can lead to costly errors and repairs (both to the greenhouse itself and to your plants), meaning that building it yourself may not ultimately give value for money. Even if, like us, you do intend having a go and building your own, do research the cost of installation by a professional, so that you have a realistic basis for comparison. However, do be aware that this can add significantly to the cost and can rise according to the size and specification of greenhouse that you ultimately choose!