Building DIY greenhouses can give you endless options for how you want your space set up. Some of the best tips for doing so include picking a sunny location for your building and making sure that any underground waterlines that you will need for your DIY greenhouses are at least 4 feet (about 1.3 meters) below ground. To ensure that your structure is durable and low maintenance, opt for glass or fiberglass coverings, and, if you or someone else will not be available on a regular basis for watering, an irrigation system is also a good idea.
Location is everything when it comes to building greenhouses. In most cases, the best site for this type of structure is an area that receives sunlight all day without being shaded by trees or buildings. If this is not possible, choose a location that gets sunlight all morning long. While these tips are good for DIY greenhouses that are intended for general plants, you may have different location requirements depending on what you plan to grow.
In addition to sunlight, another important part of choosing a location for your structure is to make sure that the water lines that you will use in the greenhouse are at least 4 feet (1.22 meters) below ground. One of the primary purposes of a greenhouse is to provide you with the ability to grow plants all year. For this reason, it is important to make sure that the structure’s water supply will not be susceptible to freezing during the winter. In most cases, a depth of 4 feet (1.22 meters) is enough to ensure that the water line will be safe during even the coldest months.
One of the best tips for building DIY greenhouses is to choose durable covers that will be able to withstand stronger weather conditions; in most cases, glass and fiberglass are the best options. Glass helps to trap heat and humidity, limiting the amount of artificial climate control that you have to pay for throughout the year. Quality fiberglass can protect the structure, and the plants inside, from hail, heavy snow, and other weather issues. Both of these options can often last the lifetime of the greenhouse with proper maintenance and care.
Even if you plan to do most of the watering yourself, installing irrigation systems in DIY greenhouses is an excellent tip. Doing so when you first build the structure will prevent you from having to find or pay someone to water your plants while you are away from home. It can also give you more control over how much water your plants receive than using a watering can or hose would. In addition to these benefits, an irrigation system makes it easier to water the roots of the plants rather than the leaves, reducing disease.