Preparing your greenhouse for Winter
Autumn is a great time for preparing you greenhouse for winter. A little time spend now will ensure the plants come through the winter healthy and disease free.
Framework
Wintertime often brings periods of high winds, so late autumn is a good time to check the framework and make sure it is ready for winter. The framework is very sturdy, but the bolts do need to be tight for it to stay rigid. With a big flat bladed screwdriver (or an Allen key if you have hex head bolts) go round and check the tightness of the bolts. The bolts are stainless steel, so you can get them really tight. If you find several loose bolts, just check the framework is square before tightening everything up.
If you have a taller free-standing model, we recommend that this is firmly bolted down, so check these fixings as well.
End sheets and rear sheets of glass often have rubber wedges to keep the glass in position – make sure these are all in place. If these tend to come out, it is often an indication that the framework is not tight.
Check the internal gutters on the roof and clean if necessary so that the water can freely escape at the ends.
When high winds are forecast, we recommend the frame is completely closed up – this will keep the wind out of the frame and reduce any chance of damage.
Inside the frame
Inside, your plants will nice and snug, but you don’t want pests and bugs to be cosy as well! Choose a nice day and remove the plants. Remove any rubbish, dead leaves etc and wash the inside of the framework with a suitable horticultural disinfectant. Pay attention to the nooks and crannies as this is where bugs will hide. If the glass is dirty remove it and give it a clean as you want to maximise the amount of light inside during the Winter.
Leave for a few hours before replacing the plants, making sure the pots are clean and checking each one for any signs of disease. Remove any dead or damaged leaves. Now you have finished preparing your greenhouse for winter, you are all set! If you want to heat the greenhouse then refer to our blog post How to keep a greenhouse warm in Winter.