Buying a greenhouse needs a little thought before you rush out and buy one!
The most important things are cost and size. They go hand in hand: if you want a huge greenhouse then you'll have to pay a lot of money. If you want a very stylish model you'll probably have to fork out a few quid too!
Measure the available space first. Decide where is best to have it in your garden. You want as much sunlight as possible to enable plants to grow well. A greenhouse in the shade is mostly pointless.
Once you've decided where you'll put it, think about how big you'll need it to be, how big you want it to be, and how big you can afford it to be. Getting this bit right is important for your wallet - but also so you don't get fed up with a teeny tiny greenhouse that you can't get enough plants in. If you're a keen gardener then the chances are that you want a big greenhouse. You can use one all year for growing plants in but most people tend to use them for tomatoes.
Think about the base next. Do you want one on soil, or on a solid base? Add in the cost of making the base, or buying a pre-made base for it to sit on. You might need some help doing paving and of course this is another expense unless you have willing family or friends to help you.
There are different types of greenhouse. Lean-to types are a good choice if you only have space against another building. Stand alone are good if you have a big open garden and can pick the best spot.
Avoid putting your greenhouse somewhere it will get shaded. Watch out for shadows from the house, and trees and neighbour's properties. Think about where the sunniest part of your garden is. Sometimes it's best to sacrifice a bit of sun first thing in the morning to site it in a place where it'll get the sun all afternoon and evening.
Plastic or glass is an important choice. Whilst glass isn't that difficult to replace, if you have kids you might want the security of knowing they won't be able to break the panes in the greenhouse. It's also good if your greenhouse might end up being the subject of unwanted attention. For some reason the sound of smashing glass is attractive to some types of people.
A large greenhouse will cost more to heat. There are ways round this though, for instance by fitting an internal divider you can create a smaller space to heat, and using insulation like bubble wrap on windows you can make the heat stay in better. The additional growing space you get will mean you will be able to start off more plants indoors than in a smaller one, and that you will be able to grow more summer plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, or maybe even a vine!
Wood or aluminium is as much about style as anything else. They will both last a decent amount of time, although wood might need treating or re-painting after a couple of years.
If it's visible from the house bear this in mind and perhaps go for one of the more stylish models of greenhouse available. There are some very decorative models.
Some companies offer services to erect your new greenhouse for you. If you're not confident at DIY, or will be struggling on your own, it can be a good investment. The greenhouse will be put up professionally and much quicker than you could have done. Again it will be another expense which you will have to weigh up the pros and cons of.
Once you have decided on the greenhouse of your dreams and come to terms with the greenhouse of your reality you will need to get it ordered!
If you love gardening then Garden and Gardener has lots of great information about gardening available
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