About Our Small Wooden Greenhouses
Small wooden greenhouses offer the perfect solution for gardeners with limited space who refuse to compromise on quality. Our collection features compact models from 4ft to 6ft wide, crafted from premium Thermowood timber and glazed with toughened safety glass. Whether you're working with a small garden, patio, or allotment plot, these timber structures deliver professional growing capabilities in a footprint that fits anywhere.
Our range includes the popular Swallow Lark 4ft Wide Wooden Greenhouses, perfect for tight spaces at 4ft x 4ft to 4ft x 20ft lengths. The Swallow Robin 5ft Wide Wooden Greenhouses offer additional growing room whilst remaining compact, whilst our 4ft Wide Wooden Greenhouses and 5ft Wide Wooden Greenhouses collections showcase the full variety of sizes available. Every small wooden greenhouse includes automatic roof vents, full-length slatted staging, and a locking single door as standard. You'll benefit from FREE UK mainland installation and a 12-year warranty on all timber structures.
Why Choose a Small Wooden Greenhouse?
Wooden greenhouses provide 30–40% better natural insulation than aluminium alternatives, maintaining temperatures up to 5°C warmer during cold nights without additional heating. This superior thermal performance means your seedlings establish faster and tender plants overwinter successfully. The natural timber construction creates a traditional garden aesthetic that aluminium simply can't match, blending beautifully with fencing, sheds, and established planting schemes.
Our Thermowood construction undergoes heat treatment at 212°C, eliminating moisture and creating timber that's naturally resistant to rot, fungal decay, and insect damage. This process means your greenhouse arrives with an oiled finish and requires no further treatment for years. The dimensional stability of Thermowood prevents the warping and twisting common in standard softwoods, keeping glazing seals tight and doors operating smoothly throughout the seasons. Combined with toughened safety glass that offers 90% light transmission, you get growing conditions that rival structures costing significantly more.
Choosing the Right Size: 4ft, 5ft & 6ft Models
Our small wooden greenhouses range from the compact Swallow Lark 4ft x 4ft at £1,295 through to 6ft wide models extending 20ft in length. The 4ft width suits narrow spaces, side passages, and small patios where every inch counts. These models typically accommodate two tiers of staging along one side, providing growing space for 40–60 seed trays or 20–30 larger pots.
The 5ft width represents the sweet spot for most gardeners, offering central access with staging on both sides. You'll comfortably work inside without feeling cramped, with room for a potting bench at one end. The 6ft width from our Lichfield range provides the most versatile growing space whilst remaining genuinely compact compared to 8ft or 10ft models.
Lengths start at 4ft for the absolute minimum footprint and extend through 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, and beyond. A 4ft x 6ft greenhouse occupies just 24 square feet—roughly the size of a garden shed—but provides sufficient space for serious vegetable propagation or a collection of 30–40 tomato plants. Consider your base installation carefully; our guides on how to build a concrete base provide step-by-step instructions.
What You Get With Every Model
- Thermowood timber construction throughout the frame – no untreated softwood components
- 3mm toughened safety glass glazing meeting BS EN 12150 standards
- Automatic roof vents opening at 15°C for optimal airflow
- Full-length two-tier slatted staging bench
- Locking single door for secure access
- FREE UK mainland installation included (4–6 hours build time)
- 12-year timber warranty covering structure and materials
- Choice of 10 optional paint colours or natural oiled finish
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How much do small wooden greenhouses cost?
Small wooden greenhouses start from £1,295 for a 4ft x 4ft model and range to £3,500+ for premium 6ft wide models in longer lengths. Most customers choose 4ft x 6ft or 5ft x 6ft sizes costing £1,600–£2,200, which offer excellent growing space for the footprint. All prices include toughened glass, automatic vents, staging, and FREE UK installation.
-
What size small wooden greenhouse do I need?
A 4ft x 6ft greenhouse provides space for 30–40 tomato plants or propagating 200+ seedlings across two staging tiers. Choose 4ft width for narrow spaces, 5ft width for staging both sides, and 6ft width for internal workspace. Measure your area carefully and leave at least 1ft clearance on all sides for maintenance.
-
Do small wooden greenhouses need a base?
Yes, all wooden greenhouses require a solid, level base for the 12-year warranty to remain valid. Concrete bases offer the longest life, while paving slabs on 50mm sand are an excellent DIY option. The base must be level within 5mm across its surface and match the external dimensions of the frame exactly.
-
How long do small wooden greenhouses last?
Thermowood small wooden greenhouses typically last 30–40 years with minimal maintenance due to the heat treatment process. The 12-year manufacturer warranty covers structural defects, and many customers report much longer lifespans with occasional oiling.
-
What's the best small wooden greenhouse for beginners?
The Swallow Lark 4ft x 6ft is the ideal beginner model at £1,595, offering automatic vents, staging, and toughened glass as standard. It provides enough room for diverse growing projects without taking over your space.
-
Can I put a small wooden greenhouse on a patio?
Yes, small wooden greenhouses work perfectly on patios if positioned in a sunny, south or west-facing location. Ensure the patio is level within 5mm and strong enough to support 150–200kg/m². Many customers position 4ft or 5ft models against walls as lean-to-style shelters for tender plants.
Need advice on choosing the right size? Call our team on 0800 098 8877 or email sales@greenhousestores.co.uk for expert guidance.