A greenhouse in your garden (or outdoor space) can be a great addition. It can give you the potential to grow and harvest your food, plants, or flowers all year round. To ensure you get the best out of your new greenhouse, you need to consider where it will be located, and what base it will be built upon.
What You Will Grow
Before you go purchasing a greenhouse, you must consider what you will grow in it, and when. Will you be growing all year round? If so, you will probably want to look at purchasing a glass greenhouse, as these can regulate temperature well. However, if you are looking at simply growing over the winter months, you may wish to look at a greenhouse made from plastic and other materials. Plastic can often generate more heat in the winter, and may well be more suitable (even though it may not be so hardy to winter winds or frosts).
The Size of the Greenhouse
What are you looking at growing in your greenhouse? Are you going to utilize all areas? Or, are you looking to use only shelving in your greenhouse? Knowing what you want to grow (even if only roughly) is going to allow you to establish what size greenhouse you will need. Try to think about future use too, as well as imminent use. You may find you want to scale up your growing and planting efforts over time, so make sure you have the space to grow.
Creating a Suitable Base
You may be wondering, do greenhouses need a foundation? Or, can they be built off the ground as it currently is? The answer can (and will), of course, depend on what type of greenhouse you go for, and where you install it. For example, if you are installing a greenhouse on a soft area of ground, such as a dirt or grass base, then you may wish to add a base or foundation to give it that extra bit of strength and stability. However, if you are laying on top of concrete slabs, you may wish to just look at a suitable base for the inside of the greenhouse – something like foam mats that will give an extra layer of insulation.
The Location of the New Greenhouse
When you are looking at where to install your new greenhouse, you may already have a position in mind for where it will go. Or, you may not. To ensure you choose the right location, you are going to need to ask yourself a few questions. One of these questions may be, will you want it located in the full sun? Another may be, are you wanting it closer to your home or near to the water supply? The location of your greenhouse can affect and impact what you grow throughout the year. If the location is not sheltered enough, or too dark, it may take longer to grow the plants and flowers you want.