For those of you with a backyard greenhouse, now is a good time to take a close look at it and fix any needed repairs or areas of inefficiency before you start planting your spring seedlings. Common problems with hobby greenhouses are inefficiencies in heating, cooling, coverings, and cleanliness. This can often result in the neglect of a great space that can and should be a very rewarding and relaxing place to spend time.
An easy first step to getting your greenhouse ready for spring is to take a good look around the inside and outside of the structure, looking closely for any damaged or worn areas where you might be losing heat, and get them repaired. Then start cleaning things up. Wash and sanitize any pots you plan on reusing with mild bleach water or sanitizer, and remove weeds and debris in and around the greenhouse that harbor unwanted insects and disease. The best disease and insect control for your greenhouse is to keep things clean and keep weeds out. Houseplants can also attract a lot of unwanted pests and should be kept in the home, not the greenhouse. If that isn’t an option then you’ll want to keep a close eye on them for pests.
Next, check your heating and cooling systems to make sure everything is running properly. It may seem funny to be checking cooling systems in January, but when the sun comes out, you don’t want to cook your newly planted seedlings.
Greenhouse coverings will deteriorate over time, and if your greenhouse is beginning to look more like a cave dwelling than a well-lit greenhouse, you might want to think about replacing it.
Think of this as a good time to make any upgrades to your structure that will encourage you to want to spend more time out there.
Happy Gardening,
Kelly Brainard
Ashland Greenhouses
650 E Ashland Ln.
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 482-2866
Check out their website here
