To keep your aluminium greenhouse in service for years if not decades, some simple, regular greenhouse maintenance and care should be carried out. Within our greenhouse maintenance guide, we include everything from simply cleaning your greenhouse, to replacing missing glazing clips. Just spending a small amount of time regularly cleaning your greenhouse throughout the year will keep your greenhouse in tip top condition.
Greenhouse Cleaning Routines
Simply cleaning your greenhouse, inside and out, will not only keep your greenhouse looking good, it will also improve the growing environment for your plants.
Engaging in greenhouse cleaning by removing grime, cleaning glass, clearing away algae and moss will ensure maximum light can reach your plants and will reduce the chance of greenhouse pests and diseases.
Top Tip
Ideally, before cleaning your greenhouse, you should first remove any plants temporarily, so you have easy access to all areas within your greenhouse.
Remove Grime and Debris
When cleaning your greenhouse, use a brush to sweep down any greenhouse benches, remove cobwebs from corners of the greenhouse and brush away any debris from the floor.
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If you have a flagstone or cement base to your greenhouse, then this Cleansweep Brush Head has strong nylon bristles that will enable you to give it a thorough clean. Use dry or with a Spiral Flow Hose for easy cleaning with water. |
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Also ensure the greenhouse guttering is free of any debris, especially important if you are diverting water into a water butt.
Clean The Greenhouse Frame And Glazing
Use hot soapy water or a greenhouse disinfectant, such as Citrox, to clean both the greenhouse frame and glazing, inside and out.
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Keeping the greenhouse glazing clean will ensure maximum light reaches your plants. Remember to take the time to remove any algae / moss growing where the greenhouse glass panes overlap. |
Wipe And Disinfect Greenhouse Garden Tools
Wipe clean the surface of any greenhouse benches and shelves. Wash and disinfect any empty seed trays, pots and trays etc.
Soak any water matting or capillary matting to remove any algae or moss - make it easier by using perforated polythene on top of the matting which can be wiped clean or replaced.
Greenhouse Maintenance Routines
To ensure your greenhouse performs as an effective growing space for your plants, keeping on top of greenhouse maintenance and repairs will keep costs to a minimum and help your greenhouse last longer.
Repair Or Replace Damaged Greenhouse Glazing
If your greenhouse is glazed with horticultural glass, there is always the possibility that over the years a pane might get cracked or damaged.
A simple crack can be sealed by covering with a strip of All Weather Tape.
However, if something has completely broken the pane it should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Either replace with the same type of glass or use a sheet of polycarbonate.
Replace Missing Greenhouse Glazing Clips
If a glazing clip has been damaged or comes loose and been lost, it is important to replace it to ensure the glazing remains securely in place.
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This is especially important for your greenhouse maintenance pre the colder months when glazing will be affected more by winds and extremes of weather. A few pounds spent on buying clips is cost effective compared to having to replace a pane of glass. |
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Check Greenhouse Doors Run Smoothly
Most greenhouses - and all Elite greenhouses - having sliding doors that rely on wheels to slide open and closed easily.
To prevent greenhouse doors from being jammed open or closed, or coming away from the greenhouse, check the wheels are running smoothly and replace if needed. Also check the sliding rails are securely attached to the greenhouse.
Ensure Greenhouse Roof Vents Work
Check that your opening roof vents in your greenhouse are fitted correctly and nothing is obstructing them preventing them from opening.
If you have automatic openers fitted to your greenhouse roof vents ensure these are operating and replace cylinders if required.
Ensure Greenhouse Louvre Windows Open
Louvre windows are an important way to improve air circulation within your greenhouse. They should be used all year round - even in the winter months - to ensure fresh air enters your greenhouse to prevent damp conditions which could increase the chance of disease.
Always check that nothing is stopping the louvre blades from opening in your greenhouse - if you have an automatic opener fitted to the louvre also check this is still working correctly.
Our Tip For Greenhouse Maintenance
Ideally spend at least twice a year giving your greenhouse a thorough clean and maintenance check. We recommend doing this once prior to the main growing season starting, and once in the Autumn when your greenhouse should be less crowded with plants and before fixing any insulation in place.
Our blog posts are created from our personal knowledge, information gathered by speaking to other gardeners or manufacturers in the gardening industry, by reading gardening magazines and devouring information from books and the internet. We aim to be as accurate as we can, so if you find a mistake, please remember, we’re only human. if you have any queries you can contact us today!