What I Know About Getting A Greenhouse
For me, 2022 was the year of the greenhouse, and what a welcome addition to the garden she is.
I’d been longing for a greenhouse for a while, and in early spring I made the decision that that was the project for the year. I’d initially imagined it could all be done and ready for me to use this year, but the timing didn’t quite pan out, however it’s been amazing to see my dream come to life and get me excited to plan next year's vegetables with the extra space I’ve now got.
PLACEMENT OF A GREENHOUSE
Placement was the first matter up for discussion. My husband and his dad had done an amazing job transforming the bottom of our garden into my veg growing sanctuary only 3 years before, so I was hesitant to suggest that things might need to move down there, but move they must. It wasn’t logical for a greenhouse to be closer to the house or in another position - I wanted it right next to the raised beds and shed, and keeping it all at the bottom of the garden made most aesthetic sense too. We deliberated over where the best sunlight would be (an essential element for successful greenhouse growing), but the conclusion was that the shed needed to move back into the bottom corner of the garden, as well as spin 90 degrees. I drew out some basic plans on the computer to ensure we were on the same page and things started to feel reel.
THE RIGHT GREENHOUSE BASE
Deciding on the right base was the next issue. I’m no expert but I’ve now done a crazy amount of research into the different options when it comes to the right base for a greenhouse. No matter what you choose, ensuring its level is paramount! Ultimately it depends if you are planning on still growing things in the ground - in which case you do not need a full base - or if your greenhouse plants will all be in containers. I had envisaged the latter, and based on a lot of other reading I knew that the most secure base for a greenhouse exposed to the elements (which is the case at the bottom of our open garden), was a full concrete base.
We deliberated over doing it ourselves, and priced up the various components needed. By all means it is feasible to do as a novice , but we decided to ensure the best quality job, and to honour our own time (and marriage), we decided to pay someone to come and do it for us. We agreed that to save costs the base would be built upwards from the ground level - this meant no need for excavating and removal of soil etc. making it an easier, quicker and cheaper job. My husband cleared out the area as best he could and we moved the existing shed onto the lawn and removed the old base too. We hired a two-man team of builders/landscapers who had extensive experience in concrete bases who knocked the whole thing together over a couple of days. I’ve honestly never been so interested or invested in concrete before getting a huge slab installed in my garden, but now my camera roll is full of concrete photos!
If you are interested a breakdown of greenhouse bases from my understanding is as follows:
Full Concrete Base - maximum resistance and sturdiness against the elements, good for unlevel gardens, easy maintenance and longevity. But, no access to grow in the ground, drainage solutions may be required, and it’s an expensive one off cost.
Full Slab or Paving Base - most decorative and aesthetically pleasing solution for container growing, good natural drainage, and durable and easy to maintain if well laid to begin with. But no access to grow in the ground, more expensive than perimeter only option, and ground level must be precisely level which can be an arduous requirement.
Perimeter Only Base (slabs, bricks, breeze blocks or sleepers) - allows for growing directly in the ground, stable enough to withstand most elements, and more cost effective than full concrete. But your measurements need to be precise when it comes to size, shape and how level it is, and you need more than sand to lay the base on so it doesn’t get washed away and become unstable.
PICKING A GREENHOUSE
As with many things in life, as soon as you start looking at greenhouses you soon notice how many there are and can get quite overwhelmed with choice and options. I didn’t want an average greenhouse, I can see mine from every window at the back of the house so I wanted something that looked beautiful as well as served its function.
I didn’t want a basic silver framed one like I remember my parents and grandparents having. I also needed to be mindful about the glasswork. I’ve got a toddler now and before long he will be kicking balls around and I have no doubt there will be glass broken in the future, so finding greenhouses with toughened glass was important to me so that if it broke it would be shattered rather than broken into dangerous shards.
I then had to give myself a budget because believe me there are some stunning greenhouses out there if you’ve got money to burn. I know we will be in this house (and garden) for a decent amount of time still (another 5 years probably) so I based my investment on knowing that it would be used plenty while we are here, and could also be moved to another house as/when we needed it to.
I spent a lot of time finding the right greenhouse. I started on Pinterest and then started finding reputable greenhouse companies online. I favourited loads, but spent time over a matter of weeks coming back to the websites, reading reviews, factoring in delivery times, and eventually picked The Sherwood 6x8m greenhouse from The Greenhouse People. I opted for a comprehensive bundle which included the right size staging, drainpipes, vents and more. I didn’t want to be caught out needing elements I’d have to buy down the line so I trusted the expert packages knowing I was saving money in the long run. I also bought some essential greenhouse accessories for inside.
GREENHOUSE INSTALLING
So the base was complete and the dream greenhouse had been delivered safely, all that was left was to erect it. Weirdly I put this off. The instructions were intimidating to say the least. It suggested it would take at least 2 people at least 2 days - and quite frankly with a toddler running around like a whirlwind and being two working parents with no grandparents very close by, I had no idea when this magical two day window, where the weather gods would also align, would ever come. So after a stupid amount of procrastination (and some more saving) I paid someone to put the greenhouse up. I just wanted it done properly, by someone who knew what they were doing, someone who wouldn’t break the glass by accident or use the wrong bolt or drill. The Greenhouse Company provides a list of people up and down the country who are experienced in their greenhouse range and the wonderful guy we hired from it, Stuart, didn’t even need the instructions. He did the whole thing alone in one day and it was truly inspiring to watch. Flat pack isn’t easy at the best of times but he was calm, he was efficient, and he was worth every penny. My beautiful greenhouse was finally up and ready for my growing adventures to begin!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I know it feels like it’s taken a full year to get my greenhouse up and running which is a really long time, but if you are thinking of buying one my advice is don’t rush the process. I have no regrets because I researched everything before I committed to the project. I worked out what we needed, rough pricing, I shopped around, I spoke to people - and most importantly I saved for exactly what I wanted, not just what I could afford at the time. My pop up greenhouses had been serving me well for the years before so I knew that it wasn’t worth rushing just to be able to use it the second it was there.
My second piece of advice is to not cut costs, if you can afford not to. Greenhouses are an investment - they are not cheap, and even the ground preparation required for a stable base can be pricey if you are outsourcing. As a rough idea, in Surrey for a 6m by 3m concrete slab we paid £2000 all in. The 6x8m greenhouse ‘ultimate’ bundle was £1600, and the installation was £500. At the end of the day I now have a beautiful greenhouse I love looking at daily, I know it is on the sturdiest base possible and will survive the elements all year round, and I trust it has been installed securely and properly allowing me to enjoy it fully for years to come.
