A really great garden will be stuffed full of things that you know to be useful and believe to be beautiful (to pinch nature-lover William Morris’s words).
A greenhouse can combine the two.
It’s a peerless way to protect tender plants over winter and to grow new plants from seed earlier than you could outside. It can also look fabulous and really grace that gorgeous garden of yours.
Gardening in the UK has seen a massive growth spurt over recent years. From a tiny seedling – under £4 billion back in 2005 – spending has shot up to a thrivingly leafy £8 billion spend by 2021, and greenhouses are, root and branch, part of this trend.
But how do you choose the right one? And once you’ve got it, how do you care for it?
Sowing seeds
At first, the number of types of greenhouses can seem a little overwhelming. But don’t throw in the trowel just yet. Sure, there are lots of possibilities, but that’s a good thing. What you need to start with is being sure of two things.
- How much size do you have available? Yes, it’s nice to go big and it’s very tempting to get all Chatsworth but you need to think carefully about how a three-story greenhouse with a moat will look in a tiny yard. Choosing the right greenhouse is all about proportion. A modest garden will be best suited to a modest greenhouse. It doesn’t have to be cripplingly demure. It just needs to be slightly less of a statement than the one in Downton Abbey’s grounds. Consider one that tucks in nicely by the wall, or perhaps a cold frame.
- What style does your garden currently have? If your garden is a haven of traditionalism, say a classic English cottage garden, you’re going to want to steer clear of ultra-modern designs. A mini-Pompidou Centre plonked amid your penstemons will just look odd. You can only take vive la difference so far. Traditional shaped greenhouses abound and will look entirely at home in your cottage wonderland. Or, for sleeker modern looks you can go down the polytunnel path.
Care and tending
How much you have to do to look after your greenhouse will depend on a few factors. One is the construction material. The traditional route of glass and wood is most labour-intensive. Wood needs regular treatment or painting. Glass looks amazing when clean but shows up the dirt when not.
So you’ll be out there with your chamois whenever you spot a smear or catch a cobweb. More modern materials such as polycarbonate, PVC and aluminium will make for an easier life and will in all likelihood prove more durable too.
Another factor to bear in mind is where abouts it’s situated. If it’s under a busy air route for local birds then you’ll see the usual souvenirs of such activity, carefully laid on your panes for all to see. Best advice here is to keep a long handled mop handy…
Growing on
Greenhouse selection and care is fairly straightforward. It’s a matter of thinking about context and how much maintenance you’re going to want to be stuck with. Keep these things in mind and you’ll soon be out of the long grass.
Source: Cover Photo: Pixabay -Nippelsn
