Where to site a greenhouse and how to prepare

song_of_calliope

We're currently saving for a greenhouse and, thanks to a recommendation on here, will be buying a Rhino (from here:http://www.greenhousesdirect.co.uk/rhino-greenhouses/rhino-greenhouses.html)

Hopefully we'll have saved enough to get it in April. Just have a couple of questions:

1. Should we put it in the front or back garden? The front garden is south-facing and the ground is more level. We're in Scotland and I think we'd need planning permission to put it out front, and I don't think it would look good in the front garden. The front garden is smaller than the back and is on a main road so there wouldn't be much privacy while pottering around if it's out front. No worries about kids throwing rocks through the glass, though, as we live somewhere that's very unlikely to happen.

The back garden is north-facing but I think we could put it out of the way of any shading from the house - does that make up for it being north-facing? The ground in the back isn't too bad but does undulate/slope a bit.

2. How can we prepare the ground for the greenhouse? Do we need to level it out completely?

3. Could we put up the greenhouse ourselves between the two of us or do we need to hire someone in? We're not great at DIY but can build flatpack furniture. The greenhouse will be pretty big, probably 8x18. How long would it take an inexperienced couple to put up?

Many thanks for any advice!

valk_scot

I'd go for the back garden. You don't want a glass structure out front in reach of the local neds and there's also the increased risk of theft...not much effort required to break into a greenhouse!

The ground needs to be level and solid. If not the panels structure can skew and that will crack the glass. get digging!

As to building it....mmm. It's a very big structure and there's a lot of glass to handle. My felling is that you should price up how much it would cost to get someone in. It would be quicker, a great deal less effort and if you get someone experienced (which you should!) then the final results should be more sturdy. I'm not bad with flat packs but after helping two friends put up a 6' x 8' greenhouse a year ago my first thought would be Never Again.

song_of_calliope

Thanks for the reply, I think we'll definitely be hiring someone in then.

There's really not much risk of theft where I live, amazingly enough. We're in the very north of Scotland in a sleepy little place where a theft of an item of clothing off a clothesline actually made the local news!

valk_scot

How about wind? Is it windy where you are? It might be helpful to site it where there's a bit of shelter from the prevailing wind.

Lotus-eater

I would put it where it gets most sun and where you feel comfortable with it. I wouldn't feel right with a greenhouse in the front garden.
I built my 6x10 a few years ago and it was hard work tbh. I'm pretty good with my hands, but even though I got a half decent make, the instructions weren't the easiest to understand.

Bearing in mind I'm a complete tightwad, after taking 2 days to put this thing up and getting help for one of those days from a mate, I would have taken with both hands the estimate I saw somewhere of a couple of hundred pounds to pay someone to do it for me.

It seems cheap to me, but then that's not including the base, which as said, has to be totally, completely, utterly, level, for a glass GH. Otherwise you are going to be cursing the bloke who made it for you. Concrete base seems the easiest to me for you.

I'd get some quotes for the whole thing, base and build. Then if you can't afford it, start learning how to do it.

J_J_Carter

It's also very useful to have a water supply brought into the greenhouse and a tap to which you can connect automatic drip irrigation etc

song_of_calliope

Thanks, all. Yes, it's extremely windy where we are - that's the biggest problem we have in the garden. We're growing a hedge round the back to hopefully provide some protection. It's an "edible hedge" and is in its first year so pretty thin. That's one of the reasons we're going for the Rhino greenhouse, as it's supposed to be great for withstanding high winds.

If we put the greenhouse out back but beyond the shadow of the house (even in winter) will it be as warm and sunny in there as it would have been in the south-facing front? Daft question I suppose but I'm a total newb to all this gardening stuff!

I had considered a concrete base but would like to be able to dig into the ground in the greenhouse to plant grapes and dwarf fruit trees. The man at the garden centre advised me they would do best planted directly into the ground instead of pots. The greenhouse we're getting only requires concrete supports so I think we'll try to level out the ground and avoid a concrete base if possible.

Scotsbride

I would like OP said site it somewhere sheltered and away from any over hanging trees. Have you got a base for it yet? we used cheap paving slabs .we found when we put up our greenhouse last year that you definately needed two people one to hold the bits together and one to screw it together. As for doing it yourself you'll definately save money but I would only do it personally if you are confident in putting together things like flat packed furniture. As for site it largely depends on when you are going to use it i.e mostly in the summer or in the winter or indeed all year round as you'll need to think about where it will get the most light. Also if you are going to heat it by electric how you can acess that or the greenhouse itself.

Lotus-eater

I didn't mean a solid concrete base, I meant, a concrete surround if you like. But yes, go for whatever the rhino people recommend.