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Most gardeners’ hearts start to twitter when you talk about greenhouses. Winter is a dull time for them and if they have a greenhouse they can putter about even in the winter. Seeds can be started for spring planting in a greenhouse and you can be ahead of the game when it is time to plant. This is also a place where you can put your rosemary or lemon verbena plants so that you do not loose them and have to start all over again when the season starts. DIY greenhouse kits are available, somewhat inexpensive, and they are very easy to build. There is no excuse for not building your dream greenhouse.

There are certain things you have to decide before you build your own greenhouse. The climate in which you live has a great deal to do with the greenhouse you choose. If you live in a warm climate you probably will not need to heat the greenhouse but you will need to vent it so it does not get too hot. You will have to think of ways to shade the plants during the hottest part of the day. If you live in a cold climate you need to think about how to insulate the greenhouse and what method you will use to heat it.

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.

Materials for making a greenhouse are many. You can use glass like the old fashion greenhouses were made but you can also pick fiberglass. You can also get polycarbonate panels that are specially made for greenhouses but they are very expensive. Another option is using plastic sheeting on a skeletal frame of pipe. You can also make the greenhouse out of recycled items. There is a plan online to make a greenhouse totally out of a wooden frame filled with plastic beverage bottles. You can also find how to make a green house out of discarded aluminum and glass 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?

Cheap DIY greenhouses are the ones that look like a big tunnel made from plastic sheet draped over PVC or other piping. Since PVC is not environmentally friendly these types of greenhouses are sometimes avoided. They are functional and most important they are very affordable. The next level of green house is one made with a wooden frame and then glass or fiberglass is installed. The most expensive is to install the polycarbonate panels and if you live in an area where kids play all the time, this might be the best in the long run because the panels will not break or shatter no matter what hits them. Building your own greenhouse will be an adventure and you are sure to find a green house that you can build easily and afford even if it is built out of water bottles or old back doors.

Tags: gardening, landscaping