Free Greenhouse Construction Plans

There are so many Free Greenhouse Construction plans available on the internet it is difficult to decide which one may be right for you. 

It basically comes down to the variety of plant that you will be growing, and the supplies and location that you have to build it.

There are a few different design options that are available, when shopping around for Free Greenhouse Construction Plans.

Here are a few of the different style plans that are available:

* Dug Out or Pitt Greenhouse

* Hoop House Greenhouse (use PVC pipe or Galvanized Pipe)

* Mini Greenhouse and Cold Frames

* Straw Bale Greenhouse

* Wood Greenhouses

* Lean-to Greenhouses

* Recycled and Salvaged Materials (the ultimate in recycling - materials re-used to grow food).

There are also Free Greenhouse Construction Plans that show the build of a Self Watering Container.

The most popular of the Free Greenhouse Instruction Plans that have been listed on the site, have been the PVC Hoop House plans.

Dug Out or Pitt Greenhouses:

These greenhouses are great if you happen to have south facing slope or hill on your property. They are exactly as their name suggests and are actually carved into the earth and then covered using your glazing of choice.

Bonus: if there is an in-ground pool available that is not is use, they can be easily converted into a greenhouse. They are also usually located in a sunny area of the yard, already have drainage, and can even be sprayed down to keep clean or dampen down on warm, hot days.

Hoop House Greenhouse:

These are the number one used greenhouse in North America. They offer a simple design and are easy to construct.

Mini Greenhouse and Cold Frames:

Whether there is a small area available to grow plants or shelter to start growing seeds early for planting into a garden, Mini Greenhouses and Cold Frames are perfect.

Straw Bale Greenhouse:

People not only greenhouses, using Straw Bale Hay, but houses as well. This is considered an actual construction material and a rather in-expensive one at that.

Wood Greenhouses:

Wood is a very familiar construction material for people to work with, so is also popular with many people. It is best to use cedar or a pressure treated lumber to avoid wood rought.

Lean-to Greenhouses:

Ideally built on South facing walls for the most sun light exposure, they use the thermal mass of the wall to stay warm in the evening when the night time temperatures are cooler.

Recycled and Salvaged Materials:

The ultimate greenhouse building material, for the pocket book, as well as the Environment, how can you go wrong with that?

 As with any of the free Greenhouse Construction plans a certain amount of construction know how is needed. But whether this "know how" comes from yourself, a few friends, or a community a greenhouse is a great project to take on for anyone.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Greenhouse Building Supplies - What You Need to Know!

If you're seriously planning on building your first greenhouse - albeit a fairly simple and easy one, here is a basic greenhouse building supplies checklist for an everyday backyard horticulturist.


BENCHES provide not only the extra spacing you need to work in, but they can prevent you from bending over too much. It's a good idea to look for a ventilated shelving system that provides good water draining and air circulation.

Pest Control - Why Is It Important?

With warmer temperatures, sadly, sometimes the bad comes with the good. Where we get spring flowers, picnics, swimming pools and beautiful strolls in the park, we also get bees, cockroaches, flies, mice, termites and a variety of other varmints that make our cushy summer days less than relaxing. Though it is true that we share a world with such things, it doesn't mean we have to have them in our homes.

Termites, spiders, mice, silverfish, bed bugs and several other types of creatures can destroy both your home and your bank account. Don't let this happen to you. Its recommended that each home owner have a thorough pest inspection of their home and any out building on the property. Just because you do not happen to live in a building doesn't mean an infestation would not be costly, both financially and emotionally.

Tips For Better Vegetable Garden Planting

Many beginners wrongly assume that there can't be too much of a good thing. Water, like fertilizer, should be applied correctly to produce healthy vegetables. Deep watering with sufficient intervals will coax plants to develop deep root systems. In general, a vegetable garden planting needs one inch of water per week. Avoid overhead sprinkling, which can promote fungus and mildew. The ideal watering system is a slow-drip method, as with a drip-irrigation system. If you can't afford an installed system, water with a hose by moving it around the garden, positioning a slow flow of water at the base of plants.

Waste to Energy - A Proven Green Non-Toxic Process That WORKS

Over the last 18 months, since I was first introduced to the concept of a totally green waste to energy solution, I have been looking for the '' that could at a stroke:- 

* Solve massive pollution and health issue from an ever-growing amount of waste

* Recycle as much rare raw materials from our waste as possible

* Create as much energy from our waste as possible, reducing our reliance on ever-decreasing fossil fuels

* Remove the need for waste landfill sites, with their inherent potential health hazards.

Why Drip Irrigation Is The Best Way Of Watering Your Garden Plants

While automatic sprinkler systems are the most effective way of watering a lawn, drip irrigation, some drawbacks notwithstanding, is the preferred method for the rest of the garden plants. The essential difference between the two is that sprinklers throw water indiscriminately over the area they cover, as opposed to drippers that emit water in designated spots. Judging by the fact that sprinklers are still widely used for watering flowerbeds, trees and shrubs, it seems that the advantages of drip irrigation are not sufficiently clear to many gardeners. Before dealing with these, let's outline first the disadvantages involved with drippers. 

*Installing a drip irrigation system is more expensive than a sprinkler system in terms of materials and labor. Furthermore, the life span of the dripper lines is limited to about 10 - 15 years - sometimes a lot less if periodic flushing is not carried out. While it's necessary to replace the actual sprinkler heads now and again, the underground piping ought to last well beyond a lifetime.

*The sight of irrigation pipes strewn on the ground is neither pleasing nor aesthetic. In addition, dripper lines are often damaged by birds or rodents, and periodic maintenance of the system is more demanding than for sprinklers. These last problems can be overcome however, by spreading an organic mulch over the pipes.

Despite the drawbacks, the overall advantages gained by using drippers are overwhelming, especially in the matter of water conservation. In fact the use of drip irrigation is vital if the term "water conservation" is to be upgraded from a slogan to a reality. Assuming that the system is installed and operated correctly, how can it save water in comparison to watering with sprinklers?

*Sprinkling water on the bare earth between the shrubs and trees causes a good deal of run-off, meaning that a considerable proportion of the water emitted cannot be taken up by the plants. This problem is particularly acute on slopes and gradients. Drip irrigation on the other hand, emits water at a rate at which it can be absorbed by the soil.

When it comes to trees and shrubs, there is no need in any case for water to cover the entire area. Drippers spaced at constant intervals, say 0.5 m × 1.0 m (1.5 ft × 3 ft) that is 0.5 m between the drippers, and 1.0 m between the lines, will supply water evenly and sufficiently for the roots to take up. Furthermore, shrubs and bushes prevent some of the water from reaching the ground, while drippers ensure that all the water applied, percolates down to the root zone. 

*Sprinkling on bare earth, rather like heavy rainfall, causes mechanical damage to the structure of the topsoil. Organic mulch solves this problem of course, but at the expense of wasting water, because the mulch layer itself absorbs much of the water that is emitted. With drippers however, all the benefits of mulch are attained without a similar waste of water.

Although water conservation is the primary reason for adopting drip irrigation, the method has other important benefits. 

*The rate of weed germination is significantly reduced as dry areas are interspersed between the moist ones.

*The majority of pest and disease organisms thrive in humid, warm conditions. Sprinkling on warm evenings for example, means that the air around the plants' foliage is saturated with moisture until the early morning sun, reduces the humidity somewhat. This is great for fungi such as powdery mildew, but disastrous for many garden plants, especially for rose bushes. Watering by means of drippers does not seriously raise the humidity in the crucial vicinity of the plants' foliage.

Conversely, it is sometimes argued that a splash of water on the leaves is beneficial for washing off dust, and for reducing infestations of organisms like spider mites, that prefer dry conditions. All this is true but does not justify the use of sprinklers, as the occasional use of the garden hose, (carried out in the early morning!) is usually enough for these purposes.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Saving Water Using Garden Watering Systems

 You can save your water usage by using the proper garden watering systems for your particular landscape and gardens. Some garden watering systems are very simple and others are quite complex. Choosing native plants that will work well in your environment is not only being plant wise but also water wise.

It is best to always check beneath the surface of your soil for the moisture content before you do any type of watering. Giving your plants or landscape too much water will wash away all the nutrients and the root growth of your plants will be greatly reduced. When it is time to water your garden be sure the drip system nozzle or sprinkler head is aimed at the roots of each individual plant and give a little extra care to the ones that need water the most. You will end up wasting water if you water between the plants. Generally speaking the plants needing extra water are the youngest transplants because their roots will still be very shallow; flowering fruit plants and those with growing fruit are another priority.

The majority of ground soil is made up of mineral particles in all different shapes and sizes. Sand is one mineral that is a large particle and if the soil contains many of these particles water will drain through it very quickly. If your soil contains small particles such as clay, water passes through at a much slower pace. Both kinds of soil can be a problem but if you add organic material such as mulched leaves or compost it improves the texture and the water holding abilities. If you have sandy soil or clay soil it is best to add the organic material on a yearly basis.

The more organic material that is added the better moisture retention in the soil. This water that is retained in the soil will now be available for plant roots when it is needed. Soaking up water is the main job of the root hairs and root tips of your plants and if conditions become too wet or too dry they become damaged. Using a soaker hose for watering your plants and place a layer of mulch on the surface will help reduce water evaporation. Mulch will also maintain an even amount of moisture for the soil and keep healthy roots.

Be sure your garden watering systems are aimed directly at the roots of the plants and not the top. Drip irrigation systems allow you to install spray nozzles that are low to the ground and aim right at each plant's root system. The drip system lowers the evaporation of water and keeps the ground between plants dry therefore you use less water and have fewer weeds. Using a conventional sprinkler system will only give you a 40 to 50 percent chance that the water reaches the roots. There are devices such as Aqua Cones that will send the water right to the roots. A flat soaker hose will deliver water evenly and slowly to landscape beds or flower garden beds.

'Free water' or rainwater is the best to use because it is free, clear, and un-chlorinated. You can save over 600 gallons of rainwater from a roof that is 1,000 square feet from just an inch of rain. All you need to do is route your gutter down spouts to drain into a rain barrel that can be covered so you can use the water at a later time. Collecting rainwater during your rainy season will definitely save money and water usage during drought times in the summer. The wind is another way of losing moisture. The wind will not only dry out the ground but will cause your plants moisture loss through their leaves much quicker than normal. Garden fabric placed over a newly seeded garden will prevent the wind drying the top of the soil after watering. This fabric will also help protect seedlings from wind damage. Hopefully some of these ideas will help save you some money and water while caring for your landscape and gardens.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Fall Lawn Care - Fertilize, Thatch and Reseed

As the temperatures are beginning to fall, it becomes time for your annual fall care therapies to begin. Your lard has been lush and green all summer and has seen a number of barbecues and a number of other gatherings. It's time for your lawn to do some changing and you need to help it into the next stage.

Fall may be the time you simply stop mowing and stop watering your lawn. On the contrary, your lawn still requires the proper maintenance although not as much. The fall lawn care required will depend upon the region that you live in.

As fall turns into winter, the colors of the leaves begin to change. The plants that require rest begin to enter their hibernation mode and growth slows. As the plants move into the next season, they still require fertilization and some water to get them to the next point.

This is the best time to do some cleanup. Do another full maintenance program on your yard. From mowing to fertilizing; pulling weeds and doing some trimming to prepare the plants for winter. One of the most important things you should do as part of your fall lawn care is to fertilize.

There are a number of great fertilizer products on the market today. If you don't want to infuse a ton of chemicals, there are homemade fertilizers that you can use as well. The point is to give your lawn another meal before it hits the hay, so to speak.

The best fertilizer to use would preferably be one that offers a slow or controlled release of nutrients. This way, the nourishment is not used all at once but throughout the next season. Taking this extra step isn't necessarily going to keep your lawn green, but it will keep the grass stimulated until spring.

Earlier in the fall season, using a fertilizer with the NPK of a 3:1:2 or a 4:1:2 help maintain your hard work from the past spring and summer. These ratios are just suggestions. They are not as strong as what you needed in the spring however it's sufficient until it's time to winterize your lawn.

In addition, this is also the time to kill those weeds. We all know that weeds manage to survive through almost any condition and if you can get rid of them now, winterizing will be much simpler. Thatching your lawn is also an important step; this process removes the dead and mulched grass from your weekly mowing. This gives more oxygen to the soil which allows the grass a jump start on

Another part of fall lawn care is to planting new seed and establish it for spring. Typically, depending upon the region you live in, mid-August and into September is a good time to do this process. Because the weeds grow slower, the grass can grow faster.

It is certainly a wonder how the trees and plants know when it's time to slow down and prepare for the colder months ahead. We have enjoyed nature all year and now it's time to give back and allow our yards to recoup. Fall lawn care is just as important as any other time of year; besides the little extra work will help your lawn look even better in the months ahead.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Lawn Care: Prepping Your Grass For Winter

The trick to a beautiful yard once spring begins is preparing it for the long winter. Whether you live in a cold climate or a more moderate one, it's a great idea to take a few simple steps that will bring your grass back greener and healthier than ever.


Rake Up Those Leaves
If fall has left your grass covered in crunchy brown leaves, don't leave them there -- rake them up. Leaving a thick layer of leaves on your yard can keep your grass from receiving the air and nutrients it needs and cause it to die a slow death as it struggles with a limited air supply. However, a few leaves and clippings can actually break down into fertilizer as the winter goes on, providing your yard with nutrients it needs to remain healthy.

Mow One Last Time Then Aerate
Before packing your mower away for the season, proper lawn care calls for one last mowing session. Cut the grass a little shorter than you would normally because lengths longer than two inches could trap moisture and lead to disease in the spring. Once you've mown for the last time, the next lawn care step is to aerate the soil. This includes using a piece of machinery that penetrates the soil, pulling small plugs of dirt out and allowing oxygen to reach the grass. Many lawn care services can provide this service for a small fee or you can rent the equipment from a home improvement store.

Lawn Care Basics: Seed, Fertilize, Then Water
If you have sparse patches or bald spots in your yard, apply some grass seed after aerating. This will allow the seed to germinate in the cooler temperatures, which helps cut down on the number of weeds that could grow alongside your new seed. After you've given your new seeds a chance to grow, apply a slow releasing fertilizer. Choose a formula that's specially designed for winterizing. This will help make sure your yard receives nutrients throughout the cold weather season. After application, give your yard one last good drink: the water will activate the fertilizer.

Contact A Professional For Lawn Pest Control
The type of pests can vary greatly depending on where you live so it's a good ideal to contact a professional for lawn pest control. Whether you're faced with grubs or other pests, a lawn pest control company will know how to get rid of them, yet still leave friendly creatures like earthworms alone.

Check Your Sprinklers
If you have an underground sprinkler system, check to make sure it's been drained properly, especially if you're in a part of the country that freezes. Water that's left in the underground lines can expand when it freezes, causing the pipes to burst, explode and spew water all over your yard.

Preparing for the winter goes a long way towards a healthy yard in the spring. Take these few simple steps and you'll be greeted with lush, green grass when spring finally appears.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com