After you’ve figured out that you need a greenhouse, you’ll need to decide next what types of materials you want this greenhouse to be made of. A lot of that will depend on how permanent you want your greenhouse to be and, of course, how expensive. You will find that there are greenhouse varieties that span from easily movable and relatively inexpensive to a bigger investment, both in terms of money and permanence. Let’s take a look at the main types of greenhouse materials to see what will fit into your backyard, your gardening style, and your budget.
If you want to have a structure that you can take up and down depending on what season it is and your specific needs at the time, I would recommend the smallest investment – the plastic tunnel type greenhouse. In general, the plastic tunnel materials are cheaper than more permanent materials. Plastic tunnel greenhouses come in small and large sizes, even large enough to walk through. You can make your own plastic tunnel greenhouse from a set of plans and materials you pick up at a home improvement store or you can buy plastic tunnel greenhouses pre-made.
A more permanent type of greenhouse is one made from plastic, glass, or fiberglass panels. These greenhouses look like small houses in which you can grow just about anything. Unlike plastic tunnel greenhouses though, these are permanent structures that can’t be easily taken up and down for a particular season. Also, most gardeners find them difficult to put together themselves, so I recommend finding a glass greenhouse (or one made of plastic or fiberglass panels) that is already put together for you. Keep in mind that your plants might need ventilation, artificial light, and heat in your permanent greenhouse, all which you will have to arrange. To save yourself some time, look for a permanent greenhouse that makes adding these things easy.
