How To Build A Greenhouse | Greenhouse Plans

Learning how to build a greenhouse can be more satisfying (and a lot less expensive) than buying a prebuilt greenhouse. It’s not too difficult to make your own greenhouse, as there are lots of options available. You can make your greenhouse as simple or as complex as you wish, and when you design it yourself, you can build it to suit the specific needs of your yard and gardening style. For those who aren’t quite ready to try building from scratch, there are greenhouse kits available that make the task a little easier. But if you are ready to build your own fabulous greenhouse, here is how to get started.

Think About Your Needs

If you live in a particularly harsh climate and would like to garden throughout the year, you will need to consider adding a heat source. If you like to have a large garden, you may require a larger greenhouse. Consider what you’d like to do with your greenhouse, before you begin, to be sure the greenhouse you build will be adequate for your gardening needs. For the hobby gardener, a simple, small greenhouse is usually sufficient.

Think About Your Budget

Greenhouses can be fairly inexpensive to build, or they can be quite pricey, depending on the materials you use. A wood frame with plastic windows will be fairly inexpensive, while a steel frame and glass windows will cost quite a bit more. Both constructions will benefit your plants, but the steel and glass enclosure is much more durable. Some of your decisions may be limited by local building codes or weather conditions. You can find out what’s required by talking to your local building inspector. Then talk to local nurseries and growers to see what they recommend.

Start with a Plan

Before you begin building, you’ll need plans. You can find hundreds of different plans online or in books, or, if you’re really ambitious, you can design your own. Just be sure the plans you choose will be appropriate for space, needs and budget.

Prepare Your Site

Like most projects, proper preparation is key to building the greenhouse of your dreams. Make sure the ground is properly leveled and has adequate drainage before installing the foundation of your new greenhouse. In most cases, a foundation of few inches of crushed stone will provide a good base.

Start Building

Following your plans and using your desired materials, assemble the frame and walls of your greenhouse. This process will vary greatly, depending on the type of greenhouse you are building.

Once your basic structure is built, it’s time to accessorize and personalize your new greenhouse with shelving, benches, storage, etc. Keep in mind how you’ll be using the space, and design your greenhouse’s interior to suit those needs.

Remember that there are some features you must have to make your greenhouse work. You’ll need ventilation to keep the temperature and humidity at the proper levels. This can be as simple as a few windows that you can open, or as complex as computer-controlled roof vents that automatically open and close.

If you live in a cold climate, you’ll need heaters during the winter months. Water is essential no matter where you live. For the budget-minded gardener, you can bury a garden hose below the frost level in your yard and connect it from your house to a faucet in the greenhouse. If you’ve got money to invest, computer-controlled misting and irrigation systems will keep your plants precisely watered.