DIY Greenhouse, Find The Materials That Fit Your Budget
Written by Eddie John   
Thursday, 18 March 2010 08:16
by EddieJohn


A greenhouse is always a gardener's dream. It is a place that one can start plants while the snow still drifts around and once it is planting time there is an abundance of plants that were grown from seed. It is also a place where you can over winter some more delicate plants that you do not want to loose during the cold months. Building a DIY greenhouse is not all that difficult. Kits on the market today make it so easy that every gardener can build their own 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.

Location is another big factor in building a greenhouse. The spot you pick to build should be level and flat, well drained so that no water seeps, and it should be in a sunny spot to make the best use of the sunlight. If your yard is shady you need to find a place where filtered light is coming in at least most of the day.

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.

The floor of the greenhouse is an integral part of building. Many people construct the floor from concrete because it makes the greenhouse stable and flat. Other people prefer not having extreme elements between the greenhouse and the ground and opt for gravel and some just have a dirt floor. Still others construct wood floors or use railroad ties all along the floor. You can also set concrete pavers or bricks in the ground on sand to make a floor for the green house. If you use just a dirt floor you can just add some top soil and plant right there instead of putting everything in pots. It is very important to make sure the floor does not get flooded or wet from outside weather.

You can build wooden benches all around the perimeter of the greenhouse. This gives you some space that is up from the ground to put plants ready to grow. You also must think about putting electricity or gas into the greenhouse so that it can be heated. Another important decision is how you are going to water the plants in the greenhouse. Do you need to run a water line to it so you can just turn the hose on from inside the greenhouse or are you going to tote water from another area?

Kits on the market today include the cheap plastic sheet and PVC pipe greenhouse. The PVC is hammered into the ground then brought up like a big horseshoe with plastic sheeting put over top of it. Some parts of this type of greenhouse are wooden as well. It is said that PVC can cause cancer and it is not the most entirely environmentally proper substance to use in a garden but it is cheap and easy to install. You can also make a wooden frame for the greenhouse and install fiberglass or glass. The most expensive undertaking is using the polycarbonate panels but it is worth the money because they will not break even when junior puts a baseball through it. Make a decision based on the area you have to build a greenhouse and the amount of money you have to spend. If you have to you can always guild a greenhouse from a bunch of pop bottles or a collection of storm doors.

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To build a DIY greenhouse is not all that hard. Diy greenhouse kits available on the market today make it so easy that every gardener can build their own greenhouse.