Getting a greenhouse can be quite exciting. You have the chance to grow all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and plants. However, you may not know exactly how to look after a greenhouse. The more you look after a greenhouse, the more capable it will be of helping you to grow a wide array of plants.
Many people tend to clean their greenhouses once a year or when they can no longer see into or out of them. However, greenhouses tend to benefit greatly from frequent cleaning. Routine cleaning can help to keep pests and diseases away. In addition to this, a clean greenhouse is a better environment for a wide range of plants to grow in.
Below, you will find a few tips that can help you to keep your greenhouse in good condition.
Remove the Plants
When the weather is good, remove all of your plants from your greenhouse. Make sure you also remove any weeds that you find in the flooring. You can typically find weedkillers at your local greenhouse center that does not harm the environment. Use a weedkiller as instructed on the packaging so that it works effectively for you.
Check your tropical and citrus plants for spider mite, whitefly, and other pests. Use a natural pest killer to deal with any issues that you find.
As a gardener, you’ll know how hard it can be to deal with pests. However, every little bit of effort that you make can help. Deal with pests when you come across them so that the situation does not get any worse.
Accessories and Pots
Now it’s time for you to remove any accessories and pots from your greenhouse. Chances are they have become dirty over time, however, they are easy to clean. Just a quick wipe with a dish cloth and some soap can be sufficient.
If you have some old seed trays or plant pots that you no longer need, remove them from the greenhouse. Offer them to people you know who may want to use them. If the seed trays or pots are damaged, recycle them if you can.
Your accessories and pots do not have to be very clean. However, a bit of a clean up can help to remove debris and weeds. Store your clean pots and accessories nearby so you can use them as and when they are needed.
Remove Soil
Soil, particularly old soil can contain pathogens that may potentially be harmful to your plants. Remove any old soil from your pots, seed trays, and beds and place it on your compost heap. The old soil will do a lot more good on your compost heap than it will where it is.
If you’re considering using the soil, don’t. It will not be any good to your plants. Instead, replace it with new soil that is disease-free. It does not have to be the best quality soil around. It can be cheap, the most important thing is that it’s new and free from diseases and pathogens.
The Greenhouse’s Structure
A lot of people tend to pay attention to their greenhouse’s glass and neglect the structure. However, if the greenhouse has a wooden structure, it can potentially attract pests. Use a bleach solution to wash the structure as it can help to remove a wide variety of pests.
Metal-framed greenhouses can also be disinfected. They are less susceptible to pests than wooden greenhouses, however, pests can still remain.
Replace any wood that is damaged so that your greenhouse is safe to spend time in. if you can’t do it yourself, ask someone to help you.
Finally, sweep up or rake any debris that has accumulated in your greenhouse. Not only will doing this make your greenhouse look cleaner, but it can also help to uncover any pests.
Ongoing Maintenance
As previously mentioned, a lot of people clean their greenhouses when they can no longer see out of them. However, a spot on ongoing maintenance can work wonders. Remove any plants that have become disease-ridden, wash your pots if you plan on reusing them. Deal with volunteer plants that seem to spring up from nowhere.
You may also want to consider cleaning your greenhouse every now and then. Give it a clean every 3 to 4 months if you can. Doing so will help you to stay on top of any issues. You don’t have to give your greenhouse a thorough clean every time. However, the occasional clean can work wonders.
The more you look after your greenhouse, the better environment it will be for your next batch of plants.
Use the above tips to help you to look after your greenhouse. It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s imperative if you want your plants to thrive.
