Garden Greenhouse DIY

April 1st, 2024

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Big or small, Garden Greenhouse DIY opens up a new world of gardening. So many ways to make your plants flourish. Researching the topic, combined with my own experience, I came to the conclusion there is not a single magic formula what makes a greenhouse successful. There are so many factors that would make a greenhouse successful, that even a greenhouse that may be a failure by definition of some, is actually a success for others. One thing, however that is the key definition for a greenhouse us “light”. You need to use material that allows a large amount of sunlight to come in. Plants need light, light brings warmth, warmth and light grow plants. When you bundle all of this in you Garden Greenhouse DIY journey, you will be successful.

Keep in Mind for your Garden Greenhouse DIY

Your greenhouse needs vents to allow fresh air to move in. You should also have some kind of circulation (fan) to keep the air moving throughout the entire greenhouse so that it will reach all of your plants. Many people fail to realize how ventilation affects pests within greenhouses.

Without ventilation, there also exist a chance of overheating your greenhouse and killing the plants in the process.

Climate is of course a factor. For instance a greenhouse in an artic climate is just as useful as a greenhouse in a desert-like climate. In both cases the temperature and humidity needs to be controlled to grow your plants. However, the way you construct it, considering isolation, ventilation, heating & cooling, it may drive the period you can use the green house. In domestics environment, very rarely a green house can be used for all 4 seasons.

Purpose of the greenhouse, is another factor. Do you intend to start the gardening season early by nurturing the you seedlings when the snow is still on the grounds outside, or do you intend to grow your crops or plants throughout its lifespan? Do you want to have it mobile, e.g. can be lifted or taken away after spring? Are you planning to have crops that require high humidity and/or temperature, or more modest climate?

Construction Materials

For framing, most often materials use is Wood, pressure treated or normal lumber. Most common and easiest for your DIY project. Wooden greenhouses are beautiful, but high humidity and dampness can cause rotting. Use a moisture and rot-resistant timber such as cedar and a ground contact-rated wood for the foundation.

Avoid chemically treated wood as the chemicals may go into the soil and your food and plants.

Alternatively PVC pipes, aluminum and galvanized steel – typical for ready-purchased Greenhouses.

For the roof often the Polycarbonate sheets are used, but of course also glass, but also plastic sheets are used as cheapest option.

A very eco-friendly but also personalized and unique way to use as material, is to use old windows to built the greenhouse.