Basic maintenance tips and tricks for your greenhouse including pest prevention, seasonal tasks, cleaning and preparing for big weather events.
Greenhouse Maintenance Tips
Greenhouse Maintenance Tips
Regular Maintenance Tasks
Cleaning Your Greenhouse
Keeping the greenhouse clean – or, at the very least, tidy –helps avoid future problems. A warm, humid greenhouse is the perfect place for pests to call home. We suggest doing a deep clean in mid-November before many owners put their greenhouses to slumber for the winter.
Empty the Greenhouse: Everything must be emptied out. This allows you to get into all the nooks and crannies and to find and eliminate places for pests, algae, and mold to thrive or hide.
Vacuum: A shop vacuum will be your best friend. It’s common to vacuum the floor, but we also recommend vacuuming the walls, interior bolt tracks, door thresholds, vent screens, weather stripping and anywhere else where pests might take up residency.
Scrub it Out: Many customers ask about using a pressure washer and it is certainly a good idea on a low setting. If you have a polycarbonate greenhouse, take extra care to avoid damaging the silicone seal. You do not want to inadvertently get water into the flutes.
How do I deal with algae build-up?
A pressure washer on a low setting works best. If you have build-up between the overlaps on the glass panels, this could be due to lack of air circulation. Air circulation is critical to keep condensation at a minimum which is how algae starts to form. With the pressure washer at the ready, gently push in on the overlapped pane of glass and zap it with the pressure washer. We recommend putting a small bead of silicone on the interior and exterior of the overlap glass to avoid this happening in the future.
How do I deal with algae build-up?
A pressure washer on a low setting works best. If you have build-up between the overlaps on the glass panels, this could be due to lack of air circulation. Air circulation is critical to keep condensation at a minimum which is how algae starts to form. With the pressure washer at the ready, gently push in on the overlapped pane of glass and zap it with the pressure washer. We recommend putting a small bead of silicone on the interior and exterior of the overlap glass to avoid this happening in the future.
What about sap or sticky substances?
If you have something that is sticking to the glazing, you can use any solvent on glass to remove it but there is only one recommended product for polycarbonate called Naptha. You can spot clean it, rinse immediately and dry. Do not use acetone, paint thinners or harsh chemicals on the polycarbonate as it will dissolve and destroy it. Now it’s time to deep clean all your accessories, staging, pots, and containers. Benches, shelving, plastic trays, and tools also need to be cleaned and sterilized. Anything that will be returned to the greenhouse should be scrubbed down and disinfected.
Some general tips to help keep the greenhouse clean daily:
- Clean your tools and containers directly after use
- Keep an eye out for pesky weeds and remove any diseased plants or weeds immediately
- Rinse down your gardening gloves and hang to dry
- Use only one pair of boots or shoes in the greenhouse to avoid tracking in pests or pathogens
- Consider using the old school yellow sticky traps to catch pests –they really work!
Cleaning Glass and Polycarbonate
To Clean Tempered Glass
To clean tempered glass, use a cleaning solution that is a mixture of hot water and a disinfectant such as Lysol, Pinesol, or household bleach. Make sure that the mixture does not leave a residue and rinse the greenhouse thoroughly when you’re finished.
To Clean Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate requires a softer touch. The panels need to be protected to ensure proper light transmission and longevity. First rinse the greenhouse with lukewarm water. Then, using a mild soap such as Safer soap or mild dish soap, use a soft cloth and wipe down the panels. Do not use an abrasive scrub brush or sponge. Rinse the greenhouse again and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Tips for Pest Prevention
To eliminate bringing the pests into the greenhouse from outdoors, it is recommended to wash down plants with soapy water if you are purchasing from a nursery or garden center.
Safer Soap is an insecticide spray with active ingredients and no other pesticides are added. As soon as a pest is visible, a spray of Safer Soap will help contain any outbreak.
Even more maintenance tips…
To ensure optimum climate control, some regular greenhouse accessory maintenance is a great ideal Fans, fireplaces, foundations, and more all requite care and attention too.
Fans and Vents: To prevent drafts and heat loss, close all vents and fans that are not required in winter. Check the fan for wear and tear and alignment. HAF (horizontal air flow fans) should be cleaned and serviced every year.
Thermometer: Calibrate your thermometer against a digital thermometer to make sure it is properly reading temperature.
Foundation: Depending on your foundation type, you should check for gaps, cracks, or possible entry points for critters.
Drainage: If you have a drainage grate, make sure it is clean and clear of dirt, leaves, or stones.
Fireplace: If you have a fireplace or woodstove, ensure the flue is closed in winter. If you have a woodstove, remove the debris inside the box including the ashes. Inspect stove for cracks, corrosion, or holes. Ensure door seal is tight and replace gaskets if needed.
Maintaining Structural Integrity
After One Year
Check that the greenhouse has not shifted or settled to avoid added pressure on the glass panes. Use a level and check both the foundation and the glazing bars on either side of the doors. You should not have to check again as the greenhouse will have settled into position after the first year. A regular tightening of screws and caps will help the greenhouse to maintain its weather resistance and ensure that all components of the greenhouse remain secure in wind and snow storms. If you live in a very windy area, consider using Loctite on the inside bolts. We recommend checking your fasteners every year.
After Five Years
The silicone sealant that you placed on the top, the bottom, inside and outside of your greenhouse is an important part of its weather tightness. It helps to keep out most of the moisture from the end of the panels. If this sealing process is not done properly, water will sit in the bottom of the frame, fill the inside of the panels, and grow algae. Check all silicone seals after 5 years and every year thereafter for degradation. You should anticipate replacing the silicone after 7 to 15 years depending on your climate.
How to Prepare for Extreme Weather
Tidy up ahead of storms, so that in the event of high winds or snow storms items such as trash bins, lawn furniture, pots and trays will not be blown into your greenhouse. If required, move all the accumulated equipment and supplies out of the way along the sides and ends of your greenhouse.
If you would like to create a path to the greenhouse in the winter or prevent snow drifts from accumulating on the sidewalls, this will help creating paths with a snowblower. If you are concerned about an upcoming winter storm, leave some minimal heat on inside the greenhouse to help reduce the amount of snow accumulating on the roof. When heavy snow is predicted, the greenhouse heating system should be turned on and the thermostat set at 70ºF (21 Celsius) or higher.
While our standard greenhouse is rated for 32 pounds per square foot, many of our customers will choose to take a broom and sweep off the snow drifts to be extra cautious. It also allows light in and helps to increase the internal temperature of the greenhouse which will reduce additional snow build up.
