After the hustle and bustle of a busy week, what better way of relaxing is there than spending time in the garden?
Lovingly tending to plants, ripping out weeds, and growing fruits and vegetables that are free from harmful chemicals are some of life’s greatest pleasures.
Watching your children help you grow a sustainable ecosystem of life and love is one of the most remarkable and rewarding ways to spend your free time. And, who knows, if you get good enough at it – it may even turn out to be your calling in life!
The first step to achieving this dream is to build a greenhouse, but not simply any old greenhouse will do. You want to design and create the best possible greenhouse for your needs, which is more than doable if you follow these seven easy tips below:
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Space
Greenhouses come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, perfectly suitable for any area. From large tunnel-type greenhouses to the smaller and more charming kinds – there is a greenhouse for every garden.
What you need to do first, is to decide how much of your backyard you are willing to dedicate to this project. One of the best things about building your greenhouse is being able to add to it as and when you decide you want to.
So, first things first – pick your spot.
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Location
The location of your greenhouse project should be based on both available space and how you plan on growing your crops. If you want to use the earth beneath your feet, choose a location that has fertile soil and plenty of sun during the daylight hours.
Build your greenhouse near a steady supply of water or design a clever water-harvesting system that will do the watering for you, sustainably. Some greenhouses need a wall nearby to be built up against, so depending on your chosen design, you may need to adjust the location of your building.
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Purpose
This may sound like an odd tip, but the design of your greenhouse needs to be based on its intended purpose. Are you planning on growing a few fruit and vegetable crops to supplement your groceries, or do you want to harvest enough delicious crops to sell every weekend at the local farmer’s market?
Once you know the purpose of your greenhouse, you can go ahead and start choosing the materials needed to complete the project. Order some custom plexiglass ahead of time, that way you can design your greenhouse to your exact specifications.
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Budget
This is the part where we discuss the inevitable for any home improvement project – the budget.
Your budget will determine how big or small you can go with your greenhouse build. It will also dictate how technologically complex your building can be. If you think greenhouses don’t get that advanced, think again!
You would be amazed at the tech available for projects like these – at a cost, of course!
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Design
Now comes the fun part: the design process.
Once you know where your greenhouse is going and how much you can spend on it, you can start designing the perfect outdoor project. If you can’t imagine the greenhouse of your dreams, don’t fret – you will soon enough.
Do research online and find out what not to do when undertaking a project like this. The best advice is to listen to what people who have built their own have to say. The last thing you want is a project that gets half finished, and then you start running into avoidable problems.
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Permits
Check with your local authorities to see if you need to apply for any permits to build a temporary or permanent greenhouse.
Typically, the more into the countryside you are, the fewer issues you’ll have. That shouldn’t stop the city slickers – everyone can build a permanent greenhouse – some people simply need to apply for permits first.
For the people living in built-up areas, you must obey the laws and building regulations. They are there to keep things fair for everyone involved, so respect the rules, and there won’t be any problems.
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Planting
Once your greenhouse is ready – the planting process can begin, provided it is the right time of year.
When deciding what to plant, start with fruits and vegetables that are easy to grow and don’t require much technical knowledge. As you ease your new role as an avid grower, you can start learning all there is to know about growing your food.
Good luck with your greenhouse project – it’ll be over before you know it, and you’ll get rewarded with the most delicious harvests for all your hard work and dedication!
