4 Things to Consider While Choosing a Greenhouse for Your Garden

So, you’ve developed a knack for gardening and can’t wait to transform your backyard into an oasis of lush greenery. What started as a mini herb garden has turned into a productive hobby for you. You’ve likely even outlined a plan to grow your own produce and share it with your friends and family.

This is the time when you start contemplating whether you should get a greenhouse for your garden. If you’re remotely familiar with the world of urban farming and gardening, chances are you’ve already come across numerous benefits of using a greenhouse.

To begin with, a greenhouse helps you create the right ambient conditions to grow your plants. Also, it shields your plants from extreme weather events, including snowstorms and torrential rain. Likewise, it safeguards your plants from pests, birds, and other intruders.

The best part is that your garden can thrive throughout the year. And you can even grow plants that wouldn’t otherwise survive in your area. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional urban farmer, investing in a high-quality greenhouse is a wise decision.

But if you’ve ever searched the internet for greenhouses, you’ve already been overwhelmed by the abundance of options. Should you get a glass or polycarbonate covering for your greenhouse? What type of framing material would be the best fit? What style of a greenhouse should you install in your garden?

This is just a glimpse of the questions that must be racing through your mind right now. The good news is that finding the perfect greenhouse isn’t rocket science. You just have to focus on the right parameters while evaluating various options.

In this blog, we’ve outlined a few factors you should consider while choosing a greenhouse. Let’s take a look.

1. Identify Your Needs

Do you want to use the greenhouse for seed germination and growing starter plants? Or do you want to create a complete garden inside it? Your answers to these questions will influence the type of greenhouse you need.

That’s why you should have a clear idea of why you’re looking for a greenhouse. This is also a good time to consider whether you’re at the right stage to buy a greenhouse. Considering that it’ll be a huge financial investment, you should only purchase a greenhouse if you’re going to use it.

2. Check for Ventilation

Did you know that more plants die in a greenhouse due to overheating than cold? One of the easiest ways to regulate the temperature inside a greenhouse is to ensure proper ventilation. To begin with, your greenhouse must have enough vents near the ground and roof to facilitate air circulation.

Modern greenhouses are also equipped with exhaust fans and solar-powered louvers. Louvers are particularly suitable for summers when you don’t want to go to your garden during the daytime. You can rest assured that your plans won’t succumb to the scorching heat.

This is because the louvers will automatically open when the temperature reaches the pre-defined threshold. It’s a good idea to consult with a reputed greenhouse supplier, such as South West Greenhouses, and select the right ventilation options based on the climate in your area.

3. Keep Other Features in Mind

Apart from ventilation, you should consider other important features, such as:

• Insulation
• UV protection
• Lighting

To begin with, you can choose between two different types of covering materials - clear and diffused. If you want to grow starter plants in your greenhouse, a clear covering material that provides direct sunlight is perfect. On the other hand, diffused light is more suitable for an actual garden where you want to grow and harvest plants.

Likewise, insulation of some kind is necessary for protecting your plants from the harsh winters. Check with your greenhouse supplier to identify the right insulation schemes for your greenhouse.

Also, look for a UV-certified greenhouse to protect your plants from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Make sure the framework and covering materials are UV-treated. Also, if the covering has an anti-UV coating, make sure you take adequate precautions to protect the layer from scratches, stains, and other damage.

4. Consider Durability

To begin with, you’d want to install a greenhouse that can withstand adverse weather conditions in your gardening region. For instance, it should be resistant to wear and tear due to heavy snow, rainfall, and hailstorm. Also, the covering material should have sufficient impact strength to withstand falling branches, stones, and other foreign objects that might hit its surface.

Have you ever purchased a greenhouse for your garden? Share your experience in the comments section below.