An important addition to any British back garden, greenhouses are firmly established in the British way of life. It's probably the inclement weather that drives the british gardener 'inside'. If you are visiting this site then you are probably thinking about obtaining a new greenhouse. It is possible you don't know the type of greenhouse you need or even how to decide on the type of greenhouse. Greenhouse design was revolutionised with the arrival of aluminium frames and the scarcity of pine. This article takes a brief look at the differences between metal and wooden greenhouses.
-- Wooden Greenhouses --
Wooden Greenhouses are the choice for the traditionalist and the expert gardener. They are commonly made from Canadian Western Red Cedar, which is renowned for it's exceptional long life outdoors as a result of it's effective rot resistance. Wooden greenhouses are the traditional style of greenhouse before the aluminium greenhouses and plastic greenhouses became more popular towards the end of the last century.
A timber greenhouse will obviously blend in naturally with your garden and will become an integral feature rather than something of an eyesore which you wish to hide away. Timber is also the choice of the expert gardener and it is generally agreed that it is the best material for a greenhouse. One of the main reasons is that the red cedar greenhouses are much better at maintaining a constant temperature than aluminium ones, which obviously leads to a healthier and more natural environment. An experienced gardener will know the benefit of having things to hand and a wooden frame will allow the gardener to easily fix hooks and shelves exactly where he wants them, so those all important greenhouse accessories are to hand. The wooden frame also makes it easier to fix an extra layer of insulation of plastic bubble sheeting, such severe weather conditions prevail.
The best time to add a protective coat to a timber frame is before winter sets in. Choose a good day in the late autumn and give the frame any attention it needs. Look for any wear and tear and treat it immediately. Most good timber frames come with a ten year gaurantee, but don't wait for 10 years before checking.
Wooden greenhouses are slightly more expensive than aluminium and plastic ones, but do offer more to the experienced gardener. Aluminium and plastic greenhouses are a better choice for the beginner before upgrading to a timber greenhouse.
-- Aluminium Greenhouses --
A major advantage of aluminium greenhouses is that they are relatively cheap and maintenance free. They are the best choice of greenhouse if your priority is low maintenance. However, you should be aware of the advantages of other types of greenhouse. For example, with wooden greenhouses it is easy to fix extra shelves and hookes, inside and out. Aluminium is certainly easier to maintain than a wooden greenhouse, but care should be taken to keep all structural components as clean as possible to deter pests and disease.Aluminium greenhouses are certainly the most popular at the moment and part of the attractiveness is the flat pack packaging and (relatively easy) self assembly. This helps keep the cost down and aluminium is the value for money choice of greenhouse.
Before erecting an aluminium greenhouse, there are certain considerations. Firstly you should decide upon the location of the greenhouse. Somewhere easily accessible during bad weather would be good. Observe areas of your garden during sunny days to see which parts get the most sunlight. Some protection from wind would be good, but not at the expense of blocking out light. Also, be aware of any stray footballs from next door !
If you're after a value for money and low maintenance greenhouse then aluminium is a good choice. You may lose some of the aesthetic qualities of a wooden greenhouse, but you do benefit from modern technology and design.
Garry John is a regular contributor to uk home improvement sites such as uk greenhouses and uk conservatories.
Okay, so you have spent hours upon hours creating the... Read More
Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the... Read More
Garden thyme, fresh or dried, alone or combined with parsley... Read More
Growing your own seedlings is very gratifying and far more... Read More
Know if your plants are disease-susceptible. Your choice of plants... Read More
Bare Root Roses, what to look for when buyingThe first... Read More
Severe environmental stressors are the most frequent causes of sudden... Read More
The garden should be near the house and away from... Read More
Roses are the traditional gift given on Valentines Day, but... Read More
A beautiful wooden deck, properly maintained, can add greatly to... Read More
Hybrid tea roses and the original tea rose are the... Read More
Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and... Read More
A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point... Read More
Well, another week is passing us by.I want to thank... Read More
Traditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome... Read More
When you want to create a beautiful and functional landscape,... Read More
Low Oxygen levels Kill FishUse an oxygen tester and air... Read More
Many of us flip through garden magazines, all the while... Read More
Spring is coming fast and with it the colors of... Read More
If you live in an apartment or town home, you... Read More
Backyard ponds are a great source of fun and enjoyment.... Read More
Perennial plants and flowers stay around for more than just... Read More
Trying to start your lawn mower after a long winter... Read More
Teak has many qualities that make the indoor and outdoor... Read More
Fresh flowers should feel crisp or firm. Before you buy,... Read More
The number one, most asked question that I receive about... Read More
1. If you have a non-electric mower which runs on... Read More
A ripe persimmon is a thing of beauty ? sweet,... Read More
After much searching and deliberation, I finally bought a lawnmower... Read More
Gardening for wildlife has become quite a passion for me,... Read More
Watch out, it's a tillandsia! Have no fear, I said... Read More
Gathering tomatoes or other fruits of the garden might not... Read More
There are many reasons why you might want to dry... Read More
Whether we know it or not, most of us are... Read More
Can't wait to get back to the garden? Use this... Read More
Early in May here in west central Wisconsin, I can... Read More
In addition to the traditional strawberry patch, there are as... Read More
Backyard ponds are a great source of fun and enjoyment.... Read More
In the past, the garden has traditionally been a separate... Read More
There are literally hundreds of types of roses that you... Read More
What is the first thought that comes through your mind... Read More
IntroductionSo you've decided to build your very own backyard water... Read More
The first thing you need to do when deciding to... Read More
There is nothing more cheerful than vases full of fresh... Read More
Can't get away for a southern vacation this year? Don't... Read More
Unless you have access to a greenhouse, or something like... Read More
Having a beautiful and functional landscape is every homeowners dream.... Read More
Damping off is the single term used to describe underground,... Read More
You have spent hours of time and quite a lot... Read More
Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening Landscaping & Gardening |