DIY Greenhouse, Find The Materials That Fit Your Budget

Every gardener wishes they had a greenhouse no matter how big or small it might be. You can watch the snow pile up and still be able to start seed in preparation for spring and planting of the flower or vegetable garden. Those plants you loose every winter can be safe and sound inside a greenhouse and be ready to come out once the temperatures get more moderate. DIY Greenhouse building is not a hard undertaking. There are many different styles of greenhouse you can purchase and construct that will take you just a few hours to a few days of some work.

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.

Make sure to pick a spot in your yard for the greenhouse that is in direct sun. It is good to give the plants an east west exposure to get the most out the sunlight you can. If you do not have any space in direct sunlight then go with partial shade.

You can make a greenhouse out of anything that is clear. There are plans Online that detail how to make a house out of old beat up storm doors that you would use on your back door. There are other plans on how to make a greenhouse from a wooden frame that his stacked with plastic water and pop bottles. There are also the more common materials with which to make a green house like fiberglass or old fashion glass. If you want something that is not going to break if a stone flies up from the lawn mower try the more expensive polycarbonate panels that are made especially for greenhouse use. If you are on a budget you can get the type of green house that is made of plastic sheets over a series of pipes.

The base is a very important part of a greenhouse. Concrete is probably the best option because it is so stable. There are some other more inexpensive options as well. You can use gravel or just leave it be a dirt floor. You can also make a wood floor or use railroad ties. Some people install brick flooring or use concrete pavers to make a floor. If you build it right on a dirt floor you can plant seedlings right in the ground inside the greenhouse. Make sure you do not build your greenhouse in an area that will flood the floor and make a mess in your greenhouse.

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?

The most inexpensive greenhouses are the ones that are made from PVC pipe and plastic sheeting. The pipe is put into the ground in a horseshoe manner and the plastic sheet is draped over it. You will also need some wooden parts on a greenhouse like this. Some people have a problem with this type of structure because PVC piping is not environmentally friendly. The next alternative is to build out a frame of wood and cover it with glass or fiberglass. The polycarbonate panels are the most expensive but they do not break either. You have to decide what is right for you and your budget. You might not mind having a greenhouse made out of millions of plastic beverage bottles or discarded aluminum doors.