Tips for Heated Garden Greenhouses

If you have a greenhouse, you probably already know that creating the correct temperature is crucial to all your produce or plants that you have growing. One of the things that are essential to growing in your greenhouse is making sure that those items you have chosen to grow are compatible with each other. This means that your plants, vegetables, and fruits you have growing in your greenhouse, should all require about the same amount of heat.

The problem often arises because heating a greenhouse can cost quite a bit in utility costs, which is why it is essential that the greenhouse be as energy efficient as possible. This is not only good for your pocketbook, but it is also better for the environment when you are using mess energy.

Freestanding Greenhouses

If you have a freestanding greenhouse, you will want to make sure it is properly insulated on the north wall. In addition, if you live in an area where you get a lot of sunshine, you might also consider insulating the east or west walls as well. You will want to begin your insulation of the wall that gets the most winter winds. There is a product known as Reflectix that works very well at insulating your greenhouse and it is sold in most hardware or homebuilding stores.

Greenhouse Foundation

Many people that have hobby greenhouses do not realize the importance of insulating the foundation of the your greenhouse. Why is this important? If your foundation is not insulated, the heat can head directly to your foundation. which does not help your greenhouse in anyway, it is throwing money away on heating bills. Insulation normally consists of Styrofoam boards that extend into the ground about a foot, but if you live in very cold climates, you may want to go down about two feet into the ground. This helps keep the heat from sinking into your foundation.

Glazing

Glazing is the skin of the greenhouse that allows the light to shine through during the daylight hours. Insulation is vital here and you may need to double or even triple glaze depending on where you live. This is one of the best ways to save on energy costs of heating your greenhouse.

Sealant Use

Before winter's arrival, you should make sure that every crack or air leaks are sealed completely. If you have cracks where heat can seep through, you are essentially wasting energy trying to keep your winter greenhouse warm.

Final Thoughts

Growing in your greenhouse in the winter months is something that many gardeners are finding very enjoyable, especially for those owning commercial greenhouses.

However, it is vital to take the necessary precautions and make certain your greenhouse is properly insulated, because you will save on your fuel bill and you will help the environment by conserving energy.