LETS TALK… GREENHOUSES

In Association with Gareth Austin from

Horkans Garden Centre

Log ontowww.gardencentre.ie for lots more info

With Horkans Garden Centre.

Greenhouse Heater

Why a quality Juliana Greenhouse?

If you have the room and the money, don’t be afraid to invest in a quality Juliana greenhouse – it provides a great all-weather place for carrying out routine tasks, and will vastly increase the variety of super plants you are able to grow. An unheated greenhouse will extend the growing season of hardy and half-hardy plants, but a heated one allows a far greater range of great plants to be easily grown, including frost-tender more exotic species, and provides a suitable environment for raising plants. The greenhouse can also form an attractive garden feature.

Horky says:

Using the greenhouse to propagate from your own garden plants (by rooting cuttings), or to create the perfect environment for raising new plants from seed, will not only save you money in the long run (something all gardeners wish they could do!), but will also give you a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. Easy.

Choosing a Greenhouse-

A great variety of shapes and sizes of greenhouses are on offer, from conventional span or lean-to greenhouses to specialist houses for certain types of plants, such as alpines or decorative shapes, like domes or polygons.

Horky says:

To decide on the best type of greenhouse for your garden, think about how you intend to use it.

Greenhouse Premium

• A traditional span or Dutch light greenhouse is best for functional purposes, such as growing border plants or propagation, providing good use of space for relatively little cost. A Dutch light has sloping sides and allows in maximum sunlight.
• Where space is limited, or a mainly decorative show-house is preferred, a lean-to greenhouse is an excellent choice. Some resemble conservatories, and they may be used as a garden room. It is cheaper and easier to provide power and water supplies for a lean-to because it is nearer the house, and the house wall may help to conserve heat and provide extra insulation.
• A lean-to greenhouse is ideal for conserving heat and creating a "garden room" next to the house.
• Alpine houses are designed specifically for protecting alpine plants from winter rain – they aren’t heated and are closed only in the very coldest weather.

Horkys tip:

When selecting a greenhouse remember and install extra Side ventilators as these increase the circulation of air, as generally the roof ventilators which are supplied are often inadequate; the total ventilation areas should equal one-sixth of the floor area.

Leanto greenhouse

Remember…for further tips and advice for owning and running a succesfull greenhouse you can contact the gardening experts on our GARDENING HELP LINE on 071 38870 or info@gardencentre.ie and we’ll be happy to help.

Erecting a Greenhouse:

Before you erect a greenhouse, take some time to choose the right spot. A freestanding greenhouse should be sited in an open position where it will receive good light but is sheltered from the strong winds we get here in the West. If there is no natural protection, you can construct a windbreak, a Grisilene or Escallonia hedge is ideal for this. Which way your greenhouse should face depends on its use. If it’s intended mostly for summer displays – such a s growing summer bedding plants, its longer axis should run north to south. For raising young plants in spring or over-wintering tender species – such as Fuschias and Geraniums, an east to west orientation provides reasonable light for most of the day.

Horkys tip:

The greenhouse should be erected on solid foundations, such as brick or concrete built in advance to the correct dimensions.

Louvre Windows Greenhouse

Call into your local Horkans Garden Centre to collect your Free Colour Brochure on the extensive Juliana Greenhouses, which are built to extremely high standards ideal for conditions here in the West.

Why heat the greenhouse?

Heat in the greenhouse gives you more options for growing different and exciting plants than either an unheated greenhouse or a cold frame. Such plants include frost tender ones that cannot normally survive over winter here in Ireland – such as Palms, Arbutilons and many more. It also provides ideal conditions to create new plants from seeds and cuttings early in the season allowing you to get an edge on your neighbours.

Horkys says:

In summer, when the sun is hot, you will need to provide some shading in your greenhouse, in the form of roller blinds, a shading wash – such as Bio Coolglass -which is applied like a paint, or plastic mesh. Remember, not too block out too much light, however, as this will inhibit plant growth. Remove the shading in late summer.

Horkys tip:

Where plenty of humidity is a requirement of the plants, dampen down the paths with water from a can or a hose, this water quickly evaporates to provide a super humid surroundings to your exotics.

Generally speaking a greenhouse is likely to be constructed from an Aluminium frame – this is extremely long lasting and takes virtually no maintenance, however, if you would like a more natural looking greenhouse then why not try a wooden frame made from Cedar – these look superb and make a super feature in any garden.

Horky says;

If you’re worried about the glass being broken in your new greenhouse then why not try a Polycarbonate greenhouse- these are constructed in the exact same way as ‘normal’ greenhouses but instead of glass they have toughened Perspex plastic sheets. Or the other alternative is to use toughened glass – like the stuff your car windscreen is made from, this is normally expensive but well worth it for peace-of-mind and will last for many many years.

And above all…..Enjoy yourself in your new play room!