Greenhouse shelving ideas need your attention. Organization in your greenhouse is incredibly important. As the variety of plants you are housing grows, as well as the plants themselves, you quickly realize how much of an issue space can be. Figuring out how to organize a greenhouse can turn out to be quite a challenge. You may decide to grow a combination of different plants, requiring different levels of care, lighting ventilation, and so on. So here, we let you in on a few tips to maximize greenhouse space, regardless of the size you have.
Adding Shelves To Your Greenhouse Is A Great Idea
One of the best greenhouse organization ideas is to add shelves. But if you have never managed a greenhouse before, this isn’t as easy as it first sounds. What kinds of plants are you planning to grow? How will the space requirements change over the lifetime of the plants? Will they need to be moved at different times during the year? Can you adjust your shelves so that as the plants grow they have horizontal space if they are bushy plants for example, or vertical space so they don’t touch the greenhouse roof?
Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting the type of shelving to go for.
Best Greenhouse Shelving Ideas
Your choice of the kind of shelving to use in your greenhouse is largely dependent on your practical purposes – what you want to use them for. It also depends, to a large extent, on your aesthetic taste. Let’s take a look at some of the different options available
Glass
Glass matches the transparent walls of greenhouses and therefore fits the look and feel of the greenhouse quite well. It makes your healthy plants stand out even more as they are the only flash of color in the area. Apart from just looks, however, it has practical benefits. Just like the transparent walls, it lets sunlight through to plants on lower shelves. Glass is also a great choice as it does not require specialized care or cleaning to maintain.
Wood
Wood looks great too. It is a natural color that blends well with whatever plants you may be growing. It also gives your greenhouse a classic greenhouse sort of atmosphere. Unlike glass, wood is opaque. This too has practical benefits as some plants will require shade. These can be placed under wooden shelves. Bear in mind that wood can rot, so you will want to pay attention to what kind of wood you use. There will be lots of moisture in your greenhouse so make sure it is resistant to this. Cedar and mahogany come well-recommended for use in greenhouses.
Metal Greenhouse Shelving Ideas
The biggest advantage metal has over the previous two types of shelving is its longevity. It is sturdier and will take a heavier beating than other materials. The practical consideration that gives it a clear advantage is its ability to let air through. Unlike glass or wood, it can be worked into a mesh and improve ventilation to plants below the shelf. Like with wood, you want to ensure you use materials that are not vulnerable to rust or corrosion. Aluminum is a great choice in this regard.
Polyethylene
In terms of practical advantages, polyethylene is a lot like metal. It allows for ventilation, and is long-lasting. Aesthetically, it can come in different colors, so depending on your taste, you can have more of a choice to match the look you want.
What Features To Look For In Greenhouse Shelving
Without having experience of some of the problems encountered over the course of a greenhouse’s lifetime, it is not easy to foresee some of the avoidable challenges that people typically face. Some plants need small greenhouse shelves, but these dimensions might change as they grow and demand more horizontal space. There are weight considerations to take into account when the plants start to yield fruit so materials are important.
Here are a few things to think about before you choose your shelving solution.
Adjustable
A quick search will show you that there are lots of greenhouse shelving ideas out there. But because you have limited space available to cater for growing plants, the area inside your greenhouse will constantly evolve. And over the course of time, you will grow different plants, some of which might not be compatible with your original greenhouse storage ideas. Adjustable shelving gives you the flexibility to make changes as appropriate.
Material
You want to choose materials that are sturdy and will support the weight of different plants. Consider also, that when you water them, the weight goes up. And the plants produce fruit, there is a significant weight increase as well. The weight of the shelves themselves also becomes a factor if you decide to reorganize and move things around. It can make quite a difference to the amount of work involved.
Easy To Install
The design of the shelves also plays a key role. If they are easy to assemble, it makes it that much easier to change or adjust things down the road. It is usually the case that greenhouses that are easy to install also offer the most flexibility. Reducing the height of shelves, for instance, can turn them into benches, enabling you to grow taller plants.
Greenhouse Shelving Ideas Bottom Line
Shelving is an excellent way to make the most out of the space available within your greenhouse. However, bear in mind that a greenhouse is always an evolving space. Making the necessary adjustments to the needs of your plants will depend, in large parts, on how well thought-out your shelving is. Also, the quality of your shelving must hold up to the demands that conditions inside the greenhouse will exert on them year in year out. Materials must be able to handle oxidation for example, humidity, and different temperatures. And finally, your shelving must be designed in such a way as to make it easier for you to make changes. Keeping these points in mind is sure to save you a lot of trouble mid-season and ensure you successfully get bountiful harvests with the minimum of fuss.
