Choosing the Right Position and Preparing the Construction Site
How is your greenhouse planning coming along? Challenging? Good! It will motivate you to learn more; the more you know the better prepared you are to make your venture a success.
I am here again to give you some information on the right position and location of your greenhouse.
As you know, all greenhouses have the same purpose: to create a controlled and protected environment to promote plant growth.
Since greenhouses are most popularly used to keep plants growing into the winter as far as possible, it would be but natural to choose a site that is sun-drenched for the better part of the day in late fall and winters.
So, you can see why location and site of your greenhouse are really important in the scheme of things.
You have to find a spot in your yard that fulfills the light requirement of your crop and at the same time doesn't sit in the direct path of cold winter winds.
An ideal site would be one that, in addition to the above, is level and free from shade of surrounding trees, especially in winters when shadows are lengthened as the sun sits lower in the sky.
A reminder just to drive the point home: the orientation of your greenhouse should take into account the angle and the trajectory of the winter sun.
Have you been able to find the best spot on your property? One that meets the requirements listed above? Great! Now, see that the site is properly leveled.
If it is not, clear and level the site by pulling earth from the higher side to the lower side.
It is easier and cheaper to do this, rather than go in for filling the lower side by bringing in soil from elsewhere.
The site should be well-drained and should discourage water-logging.
Once perimeter is marked out, you can fill the base with a few inches of gravel or coarse sand to aid drainage.
Factor in drainage pipes in your design for greater surety.
Do you want to build a free-standing structure or an attached one? The site you have identified would more or less make that decision for you.
The good news is that you are almost done with the location part of the plan.
If you site your greenhouse for easy access to utilities, that is a big plus.
You would save a lot of trouble arranging for electricity points and water source.
Well, having marked out the best possible plot of land for your greenhouse, you can finish off this phase with finalizing the dimensions according to space available, your budget and the number of plants you want to populate your greenhouse with.
I am here again to give you some information on the right position and location of your greenhouse.
As you know, all greenhouses have the same purpose: to create a controlled and protected environment to promote plant growth.
Since greenhouses are most popularly used to keep plants growing into the winter as far as possible, it would be but natural to choose a site that is sun-drenched for the better part of the day in late fall and winters.
So, you can see why location and site of your greenhouse are really important in the scheme of things.
You have to find a spot in your yard that fulfills the light requirement of your crop and at the same time doesn't sit in the direct path of cold winter winds.
An ideal site would be one that, in addition to the above, is level and free from shade of surrounding trees, especially in winters when shadows are lengthened as the sun sits lower in the sky.
A reminder just to drive the point home: the orientation of your greenhouse should take into account the angle and the trajectory of the winter sun.
Have you been able to find the best spot on your property? One that meets the requirements listed above? Great! Now, see that the site is properly leveled.
If it is not, clear and level the site by pulling earth from the higher side to the lower side.
It is easier and cheaper to do this, rather than go in for filling the lower side by bringing in soil from elsewhere.
The site should be well-drained and should discourage water-logging.
Once perimeter is marked out, you can fill the base with a few inches of gravel or coarse sand to aid drainage.
Factor in drainage pipes in your design for greater surety.
Do you want to build a free-standing structure or an attached one? The site you have identified would more or less make that decision for you.
The good news is that you are almost done with the location part of the plan.
If you site your greenhouse for easy access to utilities, that is a big plus.
You would save a lot of trouble arranging for electricity points and water source.
Well, having marked out the best possible plot of land for your greenhouse, you can finish off this phase with finalizing the dimensions according to space available, your budget and the number of plants you want to populate your greenhouse with.