How to Protect Your Greenhouse from Bad Weather

Greenhouses are generally fairly robust, but sometimes wintry weather can leave you worried about your greenhouse itself and the plants inside. Although a greenhouse can be a great place to put plants you especially need to keep sheltered during the winter months, the greenhouse itself needs some attention to make sure it is as stable and well able to protect your plants from the elements. Bare in mind that aluminium is a soft metal and in this case, it’s filled with glass, a delicate material at the best of times. It’s therefore very important to protect your greenhouse from harsh weather conditions as best as you can. It’s important to remember that whilst most greenhouses will come supplied with a manufacturers 5, 10 or 12 Year Warranty, these warranties do not ever cover wind or storm damaged greenhouses, ever.

At this time of year, it can be important to think about how to best make sure your greenhouse is as well protected as possible from things like strong winds, rain, frost and snow. Here are some tips to help you protect your greenhouse from bad weather:

Position Your Greenhouse Carefully

When you are first putting up your greenhouse, think about where you can put it to give it the most sunlight, but also give it some shelter from storms. It is always better to have the greenhouse at a right angle to the wind, so the wind can be directed over the roof rather than through the greenhouse. If you have to put it somewhere where one face of it will be very exposed to wind, place it so that this is one of its sides rather than its front or back. Sheltering your greenhouse when choosing where to put it initially is very important. For instance, if you have a corner position in your garden where the is fencing or a walls to two sides then this is providing good shelter to the greenhouse, dependant of course on the prevailing wind direction in your garden. Hedges and conifers provide very good wind cover also.

Make Sure It Is Level and Secured to Its Base

One of the things that can cause the most weakness in a greenhouse is when it is not properly level. This can leave the panels and glass slightly loose and less protected than they should be – something that becomes far more of a problem when it is windy or wet. Choose a good greenhouse with the best build quality you can afford, and make sure you erect it so it is straight, level and stable.

If your greenhouse is connected to the base using clips, adding some bolts can be a good way to reinforce the structure. In most cases the greenhouse will be fine with the clips, however for the extra peace of mind in severe weather it can be worth the time it takes to bolt it down. Naturally, it is also important to make sure the base itself is secured to the ground as well as possible. This is best done with either a screw, washer and rawl plug in each corner or by using coach bolts that expand in the ground as you tighten the bolt.

Seal The Panes

If the glass panes in your greenhouse are not fixed with a waterproof seal, it is a very good idea to add some silicon sealant to all of the edges of all of the panes. It can also be worth checking that the sealant on an older greenhouse isn’t worn and in need of replacement. As well as the standard use of wire clips, the addition of silicone sealant will add firmness to the fit of the glass and reduce vibrations in windy conditions.

Shield Your Greenhouse

Another good idea for protecting your greenhouse from heavy wind or storms is to physically shield it. Tall natural hedges can be the best way to do this, though you can also consider building fences that can take the brunt of the wind. You can also purchase wind netting that effectively guards your greenhouse from excessive wind pressure. This netting is generally known as HDPE monofilament Knitted Light Duty Windbreak Netting.

By following this advice you can make sure your greenhouse and all the plants inside of it have the best chance of thriving in bad weather!