If you’ve got a garden, even a small one, then a greenhouse is an excellent addition to your cherished outdoor space.
It’s not usual to be skeptical about the benefits of greenhouses if you’ve never had access to one before. So if you’re on the fence about taking the plunge, here are the top reasons to give a portion of your garden over to a greenhouse this year.
It offers predictability
You can’t control the weather, and this is bad news for anyone who’s attempting to grow flowers or cultivate vegetables, because your best-laid plans can be brought to ruin by an unexpected cold snap or an unseasonable period of rain.
With a greenhouse, you get an environment that’s protected from the worst of the elements and also easier to control according to your needs.
A great example of this is being able to plant seeds at the perfect moment so that they can be potted or transplanted into a bed later in the year, without you needing a lot of good luck to achieve this.
Exotic and non-native plants can thrive
The next thing that greenhouses offer is the option to expand your repertoire of flora to include species that come from far-flung places where the climatic conditions are very different.
Say you want to grow fruits or vegetables that require much more warmth over a long period than the local weather trends can provide. A greenhouse can recreate the hot, humid conditions that these plants require to flourish, rather than falter.
Also remember that it’s not just rain and low temperatures, but also elements like harsh winds which can disrupt or destroy non-native plants. A robust, regularly tended greenhouse will be a much-needed microclimate in the context of a well-designed garden.
Your yields will be impressive
All of the assets represented by greenhouses that we’ve talked about so far also apply to the sheer volume of produce that you’ll be able to generate from year to year.
In the best conditions, plants will perform optimally. That means more fruits, more flowers, more growth in your kitchen garden, and more for you to enjoy in whatever way you see fit.
What you’ll need in your greenhouse
Let’s take a brief detour to discuss the add-ons that can help make your greenhouse even better. Speaking of yields, you can enhance these further by installing a greenhouse white light spectrum fixture. Even on dull days, plants will be able to catch some rays and grow to their full potential.
You’ll also need shelving to store the various pots and accessories, and ideally a storage solution so that tools and general clutter can be kept out of sight.
The size of your greenhouse will determine how much extra you can include, so bear this in mind when you are choosing. It also comes down to your ambitions; there’s no point splashing out on a gargantuan greenhouse just because you can afford it if you’re then not going to use more than a small portion of it.
Critters will be kept at bay
All gardening fans know the nightmare of getting out there to harvest some of your tasty crop, only to find that the local wildlife has got there before you and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Keeping critters at bay can feel like a never-ending battle, but you don’t need to worry about this so much if your most precious plants are kept safe and sound in your greenhouse.
Obviously the average greenhouse can be breached by the smaller creepy crawlies of the world, but the barrier of metal and glass is enough to dissuade larger nibblers from leaving their mark.
The seasons won’t stop you
It’s not just the weather that’s against you as a gardener, but also the seasonal shifts that impact many parts of the country and the world.
What greenhouses offer is an opportunity to transform your gardening activities and keep you active even during the colder months of the year. Extending growing seasons so that you can still pick veg long after the examples outside have withered away is rewarding in its own right.
It’s an eco-friendly option
Clearly there is a carbon footprint associated with buying a greenhouse, but this is easily offset by the sustainability that comes with growing your own fruits, veg and flowers in your own garden, rather than buying them from a store.
Local produce is recommended for anyone looking to go green, and what’s more local than what you can create at home? Plus there’s the pure satisfaction of eating what you’ve grown, and telling others so that they can share in the experience as well.
It’s cost-effective
Even if the sustainability aspect isn’t of interest to you, there’s no denying that growing edible items at home is a frugal alternative to opting for store-bought equivalents.
There will be work involved on your part, but this is something that a lot of people find therapeutic, so it’s not an issue.
Greenhouses are gorgeous
Last but by no means least, there’s the aesthetic aspect of a greenhouse to celebrate. They look attractive and can fill out an empty space in your garden that might otherwise be a little bland.
Plus with modern designs as well as more traditional styles available, there’s something for everyone, no matter what your preferences or the design of the rest of your garden.
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