Greenhouse orientation
Finding the best place to put a greenhouse is a tricky task, and as noted by experts like the Royal Horticultural Society, the optimum position is seldom achieved. You simply have to find the best position for a greenhouse given any limitations at your home, which is especially critical if you are planning to attach a three quarter lean to greenhouse to your property.
One of the main things to keep front of mind is that here in the Northern Hemisphere, the ideal greenhouse orientation would be to have a ridge running from East to West so as to maximise the sun light available throughout the day, whether you choose a contemporary design or a classic Victorian greenhouse.
Light
Capture the daylightThe more daylight your greenhouse can be exposed to, the better. Where possible, avoid any plants, structures or any other shadow-casting obstacles. This will mean it’s possible to grow a greater range of plants, for more of the year.
If you want to grow some plants that require some shade, you can add this in later – it’s much easier to create shade than it is to get rid of it. Getting the maximum light exposure it will ensure you extend your growing season as long as possible.
Cultivar offer a practical and stylish shading solution for the entire range of greenhouses.
Utilities
Power, water and gasIf you want to grow plants out of season, visit your greenhouse in the evenings or have running water, you’ll want to ensure you’re able to run your utilities into the greenhouse. This is best achieved during the base construction by laying a conduit under the concrete. This is simply a pipe that allows you to feed electrics or water into the structure from the outside.
Electricity, plumbing, and even gas can make a big difference to your plants and to how much use you get out of the greenhouse. The closer to your house the greenhouse is placed, the easier and more economical it will be to run services out to it.
Access
Ease of Access for CovenienceIf your greenhouse is placed somewhere out of the way or awkward to get to, it’s going to affect the amount of time you spend in it. If there’s a position near to your house, that’d be ideal.
If you keep gardening supplies and the like in a shed or other outbuilding, then siting your greenhouse nearby would be particularly convenient. That said, Cultivar greenhouses have openings wide enough for most wheelbarrows, so it’s easy enough to transport materials from other points in the garden if needed.
Children
Designed with safety in mindWill you have children playing in your garden regularly? Running around kicking a football can be an expensive activity when near a greenhouse. The reinforced 4mm safety glass in Cultivar greenhouses will stand tough against most knocks, but it’s best to avoid the potential for damage where possible, and site your greenhouse where it’s not in the way.
For added safety, the glass panels in our greenhouse won’t shatter into shards if you do manage to break them, but into small crystals that can be easily swept away.
Slopes
Provide a solid level footingIs your garden level? In an ideal world you should choose a spot with even ground to avoid too much heavy work when constructing the base. When you order a greenhouse from cultivar we will provide a base plan for you or your builder to work to which will specify that the ground be flat and level. As with all things in life a firm foundation will set you in good stead.
Our selection of bases will help you plan for your greenhouse installation.
Trees
Position structure away from TreesWhere possible, avoid siting your greenhouse near any trees. Whilst you may think that the trees provide good protection against wind, greenhouses work best when they receive uninterrupted sunlight throughout the day. Even if the area you’re thinking of isn’t shady now, as the path of the sun changes throughout the year, you may find your trees affect the amount of sunlight your greenhouse receives.
Let’s not forget that in Autumn leaves can find their way into the guttering so the less trees in close proximity the better.
Quality Soil
Give your plants the best chanceWith a good free draining soil comes the option to grow from the ground or beds within your greenhouse. Alternatively, adding staging and shelving will afford you more space for growing plants in pots or other containers at a more convenient level. A popular set up is to have staging and shelving on one side and an area to grow from the ground or from pots on the other.
Set up your greenhouse with our selection of staging & shelving options.
Orientation
Choosing the OptimumGreenhouse Position
The direction your greenhouse should face is a matter of some debate amongst gardeners. In practice, the optimum orientation of your greenhouse depends on your garden, and what you want to grow.
Positioning the greenhouse with the ridge oriented North-South means that both sides of the greenhouse will receive the same amount of light. East-West oriented greenhouses will have the South-facing side receiving more sun which in most circumstances is preferential. Should you choose shading for your greenhouse in this instance it will only require shading on the south facing side.
Clearance
Give your greenhouse spaceAlthough not essential, where possible you should aim to have about a metre of clearance space all the way around your greenhouse. Aside from the benefits during construction, having this clearance will make access and maintenance much easier.
Leaving this clearance space has the added benefit of reducing the amount of shade that can be cast on your structure.
Nothing is Perfect
Remember that there is a very low chance of you finding a location for your greenhouse which ticks all the boxes highlighted above. However, this doesn’t mean that you should give up on the prospect of adding a greenhouse to your home. There are countless ways to compensate for any limitations that you may encounter with your greenhouse orientation.
For instance, if you are concerned that you will not get enough natural sunlight beaming through onto your crops, then you can always greenhouse grow lights to compensate.
It could be that you can’t find a position which is within close proximity of your home. However, you will have be able to take comfort in the fact that all Cultivar Greenhouses come with secure, lockable doors and toughened safety glass to keep your plants and greenhouse equipment safe and secure.
Customise Your Bespoke Greenhouse
Customise Your Bespoke Greenhouse
What does your perfect greenhouse look like? With our online configurator, you can tailor every detail – from size and style to finishes and accessories. Build a greenhouse that fits your space, your style, and your gardening ambitions.
What does your perfect greenhouse look like? With our online configurator, you can tailor every detail – from size and style to finishes and accessories. Build a greenhouse that fits your space, your style, and your gardening ambitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend leaving at least one metre of clearance space all the way around. This recommended perimeter ensures our team can safely install the structure. Furthermore, having some space makes future cleaning and maintenance effortless and prevents adjacent garden fences or walls from casting unwanted shadows on your plants.
We recognise not everyone can avoid trees. But if you have options it is best to position your structure well away from trees. That way you will maximise the potential light and avoid the potential for falling branches to damage your greenhouse. In Autumn keep and eye on the gutters removing any leaves to keep the greenhouse functioning as it is designed.
Yes, capturing maximum uninterrupted sunlight is the ultimate goal. It is always easier to add internal shading solutions during high summer than it is to artificially create light in a shaded spot. Choosing a location with maximum sun exposure extends your growing season significantly, allowing you to cultivate a wider variety of plants.
The ideal orientation is generally East to West. Running the ridge of your structure from East to West ensures the long side faces South, maximizing sunlight exposure during the shorter darker winter months. If you primarily grow summer crops, a North to South orientation also works brilliantly to provide even light across both sides.
Finding the perfect spot for your new glasshouse requires careful consideration. Below, we answer the most common questions about orienting your structure to maximize your growing season. Explore our expert advice, or if you have found the ideal location, begin configuring your bespoke growing space today.
Design Your Perfect Greenhouse