How to Make a Cheap Greenhouse
A greenhouse can be a self-contained structure with apparatus for climate control and irrigation. These structures tend to be expensive, ranging anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. You can, however, make a cheap greenhouse that functions as a greenhouse but is freestanding, requires no external apparatus and operates on solar power. It is called an A-frame. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 2-by-2 lumber
- Chicken wire
- Polyethylene
- Screws and brackets
- Staple gun and staples
- Rebar
- Pipe straps
Instructions
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How to Make a Cheap Greenhouse
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1
Purchase eight pieces of 2-by-2 lumber, each measuring 8 feet in length. Obtain 128 square feet of clean chicken wire. Obtain 128 square feet of UV stabilized polyethylene. These materials will make an 8-foot A-frame greenhouse.
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2
Determine the location of your greenhouse. This will be in your garden or yard. The A-frame greenhouse does not require a foundation; it will stand over your plants. The greenhouse should be positioned with the sides facing east and west.
The area around your plantings needs to be clear of grass and debris so the A-frame will stand upright. -
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3
Lay out four pieces of lumber to form a square. Use screws and brackets to fasten the lumber together.
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4
Cover the square of lumber with half the chicken wire. Attach the chicken wire to the wood frame using a staple gun. The wire should be taut across the square.
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5
Cover the chicken wire and frame with half of the polyethylene. Secure to the square frame using a staple gun.
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6
Repeat steps 3 through 5 to create the other half of the A-frame greenhouse.
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7
Place the tops of the square frames together. Attach using door hinges. Place one door hinge 2 feet from one end and the other hinge 2 feet from the other end. This will keep the A-frame together and allow you to position the sides.
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8
Raise the A-frame greenhouse and position it at the required location. At each corner, drive in a 2-foot length of rebar halfway into the ground. Secure the greenhouse to the rebar using pipe straps. This provides stability to the framework.
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9
The A-frame greenhouse should form a triangle when standing, with an 8-foot distance between the sides at the bottom. Plant your seedlings in the ground or use the A-frame for container gardening.
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