11 Considerations for Where to Position a Mini Greenhouse
Greenhouses are in very high demand these days. After COVID-19 hit, people started moving out of the cities more because they wanted space. With more people working at home, they had more time on their hands, skipping commutes and compressing lunch hours.
For a lot of people, all that new free time means exploring new hobbies, and gardening is one of the top choices!
As a result, people are buying and building greenhouses in their yards to help them grow flowers and vegetables all year. It’s a great way to relax and do something a bit challenging that has major mental and physical health benefits.
Having a greenhouse is great, but it’s not as easy as just buying one and plopping it on the grass wherever you think it will look good.
The whole point of a greenhouse is to regulate temperatures inside, so you’ve got other factors like shade, the position of the sun, and power supply to consider.
Mini greenhouses offer added flexibility because they are small and not too hard to move if you put them in the wrong spot at first. Here, though, we’ve put together a list of different options for positioning your mini greenhouse to get you started faster so you can begin having fun gardening at home or where you are.
Here are 11 great considerations for siting your mini greenhouse to start seeing some fantastic gardening results!
Table of Contents
If Your Mini Greenhouse Is Permanent
Not all mini-greenhouses are portable. Some of them are permanent structures, so getting them in the right position is critical.
Moving it could be a lot of trouble if you decide it’s something you want to do in the future. It’s something to bear in mind when you’re either building or buying your first greenhouse.
Sunshine Is Key
Sunshine will be one of the biggest factors for where you put your mini greenhouse. You should set up your greenhouse where it gets plenty of sun.
However, depending on where you live, you may not want to leave it exposed to sunshine all day. Take the path of the sun into account and, when in doubt, put it in the sunniest spot possible. We’ll talk later about what you can do if things start to get too hot.
Consider Elevation
If you’ve got a yard or a piece of property with slopes or landscaped terraces, you should take elevation into consideration.
Most people know that cool air falls and hot air rises.
If you’ve got your greenhouse higher up on your property it will be easier to keep things warm inside for longer.
This is especially important in the winter when grass frosts over and things stay cooler at lower elevations for longer during the day.
Make Sure Ground Is Level
Do your best to position your mini greenhouse on level ground. It will make maneuvering inside your greenhouse much easier, and your plants will do much better if you’re planting in the native soil within the greenhouse.
It’s not a huge deal if you’re planting in pots or planters, but it will make things a lot more comfortable and more stable for storing tools, bottles, and other supplies.
Follow the Sun
Whenever possible, you will want to put your greenhouse in the path of the sun.
Things work best when the middle ridge of the greenhouse roof runs east to west so both sides of the greenhouse get as much light as possible.
If not, you’ll see a significant difference in how well plants on either side do.
For people who only want to grow during certain seasons, you can position the middle ridge running north to south so both sides get equal amounts of sunlight.
Stay Away from Tall Trees
Trees block the sun, and they also keep growing long after your mini greenhouse is in its place. If your greenhouse is tall, you may have to deal with limbs that grow in the way or even roots that start pushing things up from the bottom if the tree is big enough.
You want to be able to manage how much shade your greenhouse gets, so keep nature out of it and position the structure away from any tree coverage.
You’ll also spare yourself from dealing with any rips or broken glass in your greenhouse if a tree limb crashes down into it during a storm.
Find Somewhere Air Can Flow
Successful greenhouses have good ventilation that keeps air moving in and out of the structure. If you put the greenhouse near walls, a house, or too close to a tree, it will affect ventilation performance.
Having other structures around it is fine if you’re worried about wind chill, but make sure there is at least a meter or two of space between the mini greenhouse and whatever is near it.
Put It Somewhere Convenient
You’re going to be working in your greenhouse a lot, and may need to run some power from your house or drag a hose over in a pinch. Where you position your greenhouse will determine how convenient all of that is.
Locate your greenhouse so that going to check on your plants is pleasant. It should be easy to get to and maintain.
Ensure There Is Adequate Drainage
In case of rain, or when you need to water things down in your greenhouse, you need to make sure that it is in an area with good drainage. The last thing that you want is standing water inside of your greenhouse or water gathering on the roof or around the outside that threatens all of your hard work.
Test the area’s runoff capability and avoid anywhere that you’ve seen standing water in the past.
If you do need to improve drainage where the greenhouse sits, you can DIY the project without too much trouble, thankfully. Research how much rain your area gets every year and make sure your greenhouse goes somewhere that can handle it.
A Place with Room to Walk Around It
Your greenhouse should have some space around it so you can maintain the outside.
To keep weeds out, you’re going to want to lay down some landscape cloth. Then, to keep it in place, you’ll probably want to lay down a few inches of gravel to keep it secure and make the exterior look nice. You are going to need room to do all of that, so tight spaces are out.
Safety First
If you’ve got pets, kids, or other people around your yard all of the time, then you will want to position your mini greenhouse somewhere that it’s easy for you to keep an eye on it.
You don’t want to have to run outside anytime you hear some strange noise in the vicinity of your greenhouse, so make sure it’s near a window where you can glance outside to make sure everything is ok.
Of course, if you’re very concerned about things inside the greenhouse, you can put a lock on the door to keep dogs, kids, and roaming strangers out.
Optimize Your Yard
Of course, the best spot with the most room and ease of access could be right in the middle of your yard. But that doesn’t make a lot of sense if you’re always out there playing with the kids or running with your dog.
Where your greenhouse goes has to make sense, so take all of these options into account and find a place that makes the most sense for you and your family.
Having a greenhouse is a ton of fun. Now, with mini greenhouses, more people can enjoy the benefits of gardening all year without needing a lot of space for a larger structure.
Before you buy or start building, though, check out your yard and assess where the best spot will be. Making a hasty decision on where to put it will only make your life more difficult when you finally decide that it needs to move.
