Even a small greenhouse will bring a rich harvest if the space in it is properly organized. For comfortable growth and development, plantings need wide beds, and gardeners need convenient passages to care for plants. We have prepared options for practical, aesthetic and safe greenhouse paths materials in this article.
How to properly make beds in a greenhouse
The length and width of the beds depends on the greenhouse and the crops grown in it:
- If the width of the greenhouse is less than 6.5 feet, then make two beds with a path in the middle.
- If the width of the greenhouse is more than 6.5 feet, then three beds are made. Their sizes depend on the type of crop grown, lighting features and frame configuration. There are three options:
- There is a wide bed along the center line, and two narrow ones on the sides. This option is the most convenient, since the plants will be accessible from two paths.
- A narrow bed in the center, and wide ones on the sides;
- All three beds are the same size.
- If the length of the greenhouse is significantly greater than the width, then the beds are placed in the shape of the letter “U”, with the short side at the end wall. If it is difficult to reach the plants located near the wall from the edge of the path, then it is better to mark three beds.
Please note! Don’t skimp on the pass! It must be at least 20 inches wide. This will make it convenient to work when tying up and pruning plants, or to walk around the greenhouse with a watering can, bucket or basket.
How to separate beds from paths?
Before starting to design the paths, raise and separate the beds. To do this, grooves are dug along the contour of the path, into which boards 1′ thick are inserted so that they rise above the level of the path by 8′-10′.
Wooden or metal boards are buried 4′-5′ into the soil. Before installation, the wood is treated with antiseptics. Products used in roofing work are well suited. It is not recommended to use impregnation with a strong odor. It will not benefit either plants or people.
Materials for greenhouse paths
The easiest and cheapest way to make a path is to trample the soil between the beds. However, simpler does not mean better, and this method has many disadvantages:
- slippery surface;
- dirt on shoes;
- spread of pathogens;
- unattractive appearance.
Gravel, crushed stone, pebbles
These materials are easy to purchase and will not cost much. Gravel, crushed stone and pebbles for the base of the passage are chosen in medium fractions with a size of 10 -15 mm. The backfill layer is 5 – 8 cm. Small fractions of crushed stone or gravel 3-5 mm in size are poured on top, which will fill the gaps between large fragments. Then the path is compacted.
Paving slabs
This option will be more expensive than backfilling with gravel and will require a certain level of construction skill.
To lay the tiles, prepare the base: cover the soil with agrofibre, fill it with a sand layer, level it and lay the tiles.
Please note! Even in an industrial greenhouse it is not recommended to use a cement-sand mixture. If you have to change the soil completely, then dismantling tiles on a concrete base will cause a lot of trouble.
Natural stone for greenhouse path
For paths in greenhouses, they use stone, which is easy to divide into flat fragments, or make at least one edge smooth. Suitable for this purpose:
- flagstone;
- sandstone;
- slate;
- shungite and granite paving stones;
- sawn stone of any type;
- large boulders.
To get a beautiful relief surface you will need a lot of stones and a high sand layer. For installation, shallow trenches are dug along the contour of the paths, covered with sand, stone laid and compacted.
Brick paths
If there is brick left after construction, you can save money and use it for greenhouse paths. They lay it in different ways:
- on a flat face;
- on the edge;
- in a combined way;
- herringbone;
- in a checkerboard pattern;
- parquet laying.
For brick paths you need a sand cushion and agrofibre. As a rule, bricks are not held together with mortar. In the case of decorative masonry, a weak lime mortar is used.
Sand
Irreplaceable material as a base and impractical material for passages. The sand does not hold its shape, scatters beyond the path, is carried on shoes throughout the entire area and gets into the house.
Plastic paths
It is best to use decking (tiled modules with a wooden surface), designed for terraces, piers and garden paths. The main difficulty is to level the soil before laying it in order to connect the modules to each other.
Wooden boards
Excellent paths in a greenhouse are made from boards. They are laid on a pre-leveled passage on top of agrofibre, the gaps are filled with sand. The simplest installation option is to use the long part of the board along the path. Before laying, the wood is treated with an antiseptic and painted.
Concrete greenhouse paths
Excellent material for large industrial greenhouses. Dividing the space into sections with concrete passages is appropriate if several varieties or even types of crops are grown.
Polypropylene mats
A simple and inexpensive option. The mats are placed on sand, compacted gravel or directly on the ground. The lowest layer of the base is agrofibre. Rugs are selected according to the width of the path; they should not bend upward.
Caring for greenhouse paths
It is very important that the paths are always clean, free from plant debris, leaves and crumbled soil. In spring and autumn, the passages are washed with a disinfectant. When treating plants with insecticides, fungicides and other preparations, the paths must also be sprayed. To maintain cleanliness, place a mat at the entrance to the greenhouse. You can soak it with an antiseptic solution so as not to bring pests and pathogens inside.
