Small Greenhouse Buying Guides

How to Choose the Right Size Greenhouse

The question we get most is: "What size greenhouse do I need?" It comes down to two things — how much plot you can spare and what you plan to grow.

Measuring Your Plot

Measure the space you have, then look at the ground and light around it. Check for:

• A level, well-drained spot with room round the base for a foundation kit
• Anything in the way — fences, sheds, overhanging branches, cabling
• Door swing, so the greenhouse door can open fully
• Whether a neighbouring wall or hedge blocks morning or afternoon sun

Matching Size to Your Garden

Aim to leave clear access on at least two sides for maintenance. As a rough guide:

• 4x6ft to 6x4ft: patios, small borders and first-time growers.
• 6x8ft to 8x6ft: the sizes most people buy, room for staging and a growing bed.
• 10x8ft and larger: walk-in models for keen growers wanting a full bench and pathway.

Understanding Greenhouse Materials

Material decides the look, the weight and how much light reaches your plants.

Polycarbonate, Glass and Timber or Aluminium Frames

Polycarbonate panels are light, tough and safer around children and pets, though they let in slightly less light than glass. Horticultural glass on an aluminium frame gives the clearest daylight and suits most gardens. Toughened glass costs more but resists hail and knocks best. Timber-frame greenhouses look at home in a cottage garden but need more upkeep than aluminium.

What About the Base and Anchoring?

The base matters as much as the greenhouse. Common base types and their fixings:

• Concrete slab — anchor straight into the slab with masonry bolts
• Paving — fix through the base rail into solid slabs, not loose ones
• Timber base kit — the frame bolts to a treated wooden sill
• Soil or gravel — a proper foundation kit is essential to stop movement

Fitting Your Greenhouse

Most greenhouses arrive as a kit with a frame, panels and instructions. We suggest:

• Allowing a full weekend for a standard aluminium-frame polycarbonate greenhouse
• Having a second person to hold panels steady while you fit the glazing clips
• Levelling the base first, since a poor start makes the whole build harder
• Checking every bolt is tight before you rely on the frame in wind

Several retailers offer an assembly service — worth asking about for larger glass models.

Maintenance Tips

To keep your greenhouse performing well:

• Clear algae and moss off the glazing a couple of times a year
• Wash polycarbonate with warm soapy water, never a solvent
• Check the base fixings for movement after a hard winter
• Open roof vents and doors regularly to stop overheating in summer
• Touch up chipped paint on aluminium or timber frames to stop corrosion or rot taking hold