Keeping Your Greenhouse Interior in Shape this Autumn

‘Out of sight, out of mind!’ This statement often refers to clutter in the home, but it can equally apply to the garden. Aside from the shed, another frequently-used garden building that may need some TLC after the summer period is the greenhouse. Are you keen that your glasshouse and its plants look their best over the winter period, but not sure where to start? Here are five priority tasks from Madingley Mulch, suppliers of high quality garden products including bark mulch in Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Give it a Good Scrub

It may seem obvious for a glass building, but cleaning the windows inside and out should be top of your list of things to do before winter sets in. You can either use a commercial cleaning product for greenhouses, or just use soapy water and a sponge. Making sure the glass is clear helps the sun filter through on cold days and also helps prevent the spread of bugs and disease. While you have all your cleaning tools to hand, you may want to sweep the floor and give the shelves a good scrub too.

Put Away Protective Covering

If you used protective covering over the windows of your greenhouse during the summer, (to prevent your plants being scorched by harmful rays), now is the time to take it down. Packing away the shading will help make the most of natural light – even on the shortest days of the year – and will help keep frost at bay.

Invest in a Heater

The inside of a greenhouse is generally 5C warmer than the air outside, but you still might want to invest in a heater to keep your plants protected. Heaters of all sizes are available and are priced around £35 upwards. Small ones are ideal for sectioned areas of the glasshouse, and the larger ones can keep the whole area warm. They have a dual purpose: they not only keep plants warm, but they also prevent the build-up of fungi.

Bring Your Plants in

October is the ideal month to bring your most vulnerable plants inside, to shield them from the cold and wet (as wet plants are more likely to freeze than dry ones). Among the plants that you may want to keep warm are herbs, such as mint, parsley and chives, rocket salad leaves, perennials and alpines. A top tip is to space your plants apart in the greenhouse, as this will help prevent the spread of disease and keep the air flow constant. Meanwhile, it is a good idea to mulch the soil around plants that you are not bringing into the greenhouse.

Check Your Plants for Pests

Before you bring your plants in, check each one for pests to prevent a bigger problem a few months down the track. Pests that you should watch out for include white flies, slugs and aphids (also known as plant lice). Aphids can hitchhike on clothes or incoming plants and move around as they look for something to feast on. They thrive in a greenhouse environment and can reproduce quite quickly too. If you find plants with these mites, there are insecticides available that are suitable for use on aphids.

About Madingley Mulch

Madingley Mulch  provides a wide range of garden products in the East Anglian area including paving, fencing, turf, decorative stones, cobbles, soil conditioners, compost and bags of mulch for delivery in the Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire area. To view our complete range of products and to order direct from us, just click on the link above.

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