Sometimes you want to grow a certain flower or vegetable, but your local climate isn’t suited for it. Because of that, you need to rely on a potting shed or greenhouse to ensure it will thrive regardless of the weather in your area. However, which one is the best for this task or your other gardening needs?
To know the answer to that question, continue reading.
What Is A Potting Shed?
A potting shed is a simple yet versatile small building where you can garden, store tools, and protect your plants against the weather. They’re often made out of wood or metal. And most of the time, gardeners convert their old and unused outhouses or tool sheds into one.
Choose Treated Timber Potting Sheds
When you’re leaving a wooden structure outside, you want to ensure the wood has been treated to stop it from rotting. SWGreenhouses only sell treated timber potting sheds, including the range from Swallow and Clearview, which means you can shop their without worrying about the material quality.
Advantages Of A Potting Shed
Potting sheds are a cheaper alternative to greenhouses. You can turn an existing shed into one or build a simple structure with four enclosed walls. There’s no need to worry about sunlight and ventilation, so the cost is low.
Of course, the cost can increase if you want a very functional potting shed. But even a basic one can do almost everything a greenhouse can, like starting seeds, potting plants, overwintering plants, and storing gardening supplies. You can also prune, water, fertilize, label, and take care of indoor house plants for your home.
Drawbacks Of A Potting Shed
Potting sheds can protect plants from harsh weather outside but can’t control the temperature or humidity inside. If you don’t want to invest in a heating and cooling system, you’ll need to do extra work to set up or renovate the shed to meet your needs. So, it might be more work than you bargained for.
If you’re planning a big project or want to grow a lot of crops, a greenhouse might be a better option. Greenhouses can control the temperature and humidity inside, so your plants will be protected from the elements, and you can grow them year-round.
What Is A Greenhouse?
A greenhouse is a gardening structure with a transparent roof and walls that allow sunlight to enter and warm the interior. This will enable plants to grow year-round, regardless of the weather outside.
They’re a valuable tool for gardeners and growers, as they allow them to extend the growing season and grow a wider variety of plants. They’re also a sustainable way to grow food, as they can help to conserve energy and water.
Choose Lean-To Greenhouse
Lean-to greenhouses are an excellent option for gardeners with limited space or budget. They can be attached to your home or potting shed, which saves space and money. They’re also convenient because they’re easy to access from your home or shed.
Advantages Of A Greenhouse
A greenhouse can allow you to control the environment for your plants. With the right equipment and materials, you can control its temperature, humidity, and light. This means you can grow almost any plant, no matter where you live.
You can also control the growing season for your plants by adjusting the microclimate inside the greenhouse. This means you can extend or prolong the growing season or even prevent the seasons from changing altogether.
In addition to letting you control the microclimate inside, a greenhouse can protect your plants from pests and diseases by shielding them from the outside environment. This helps minimize your losses and increase the chances of your plants surviving until they’re naturally out of season.
Drawbacks Of A Greenhouse
Greenhouses tend to be pricier because of the increased control they offer. In addition to the upfront cost, maintenance expenses can also add to your expenses, unlike potting sheds that basically require no upkeep until there’s structural damage.
Moreover, you have to keep an eye on your greenhouse. Even though you can adjust its microclimate, it’s easy to think you have everything under control. Unfortunately, the weather outside can still affect the conditions inside your greenhouse, even if it’s shielded from the outside.
So, if the weather outside gets really extreme, your plants inside might get negatively affected. Your setup might even worsen things if it’s not designed to handle severe weather conditions.
Furthermore, due to the higher costs associated with greenhouses, some gardeners build smaller structures to keep expenses in check. Consequently, this leads to limited available space. Additionally, since most of the greenhouse area is primarily dedicated to planting, there might be less room for non-growing activities like storing garden equipment.
Conclusion
When it comes to potting sheds and greenhouses, it often boils down to cost and functionality. A greenhouse is a good choice if you want complete control over the crops that you grow and have the money. However, a regular potting shed is fine if you just want a place to garden and protect your plants from extreme weather.
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