How to Place a Greenhouse
A greenhouse provides winter shelter for growing plants. Siting a greenhouse requires special planning to get the most sunlight during the winter months. From November to February, the sun is much lower in the sky than summer months. Daily sunlight hours are also reduced. For these reasons special steps must be taken to site your greenhouse to maximize plant growth.
Site conditions to consider are sunlight requirements, sources of heat, water and electricity, shelter from the wind and easy access for people and utilities. Other considerations include work and storage space for potting plants and storing supplies.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Place the greenhouse on the south or southeast side of a building or shade trees. Sunlight will be available all day. East-side placement is another good option because plants will receive morning sunlight allowing photosynthesis, food production, to begin early in the day, increasing growth potential for your plants. You can site your greenhouse on the southwest side of structures where it will receive sunlight later in the day. The north side is a poor option and should only be used if you are going to grow plants that do not require a lot of sunlight.
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Analyze winter shadows from surrounding buildings and trees. The winter sun creates longer shadows which may cover your greenhouse, minimizing sunlight that reaches your plants. A general rule of thumb is to place the greenhouse 30 feet away from surrounding structures and trees.
Some shade may be necessary to incorporate into a ventilation system to keep the greenhouse from overheating. Plants will not grow if it is too hot, or your water requirements will be too high to sustain. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall allowing more winter sun; evergreen trees will block the sun all year long.
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Place greenhouse on firm level ground with good drainage. Waterlogged soils, soils prone to frost pockets, or recently turned soils are not appropriate locations. Rainwater and irrigation water should drain away from the structure to prevent flooding and associated damage.
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Place a glass greenhouse safely away from roads and play areas. If greenhouse will be located in windy climates, a strategically placed hedge on the northeast side of the greenhouse, about 15 feet away, can serve as a very effective wind break.
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