Gable End Vent for My HFGHThis article was written with the home greenhouse gardener in mind and especially the Harbor Freight Greenhouse projects https://garden.org/thread/view/21716/Harbor-Freight-Greenhouse-projects/?offset=940#end_of_thread (HFGH) thread, but would actually be adaptable to almost anyone with a similar frame greenhouse.
Winter Sowing FlatsDue to all the other gardening chores of spring, I often find it difficult to find time to transplant winter-sown seedlings, so I came up with an easier way to hold the seedlings till I have time.
Recycle and DIY Garden ScoopHave you ever been working with soil mixes, peat moss, or fertilizer and had to stop and retrieve or look for your scoop?
Watering Your Strawberry JarsGetting your strawberry jars established with the soil intact can be challenging. I have tried various methods, such as using some coir (coconut fiber) or sphagnum moss around the transplants to hold the soil in the ports. The best method I've found is to inset a watering pipe into the center of the container as follows:
Row Covers and Plant Supports, Freecycle!Election posters are supposed to be removed the day after elections here, so I help. The metal frames for the posters are excellent for holding row covers.
Replacing a Wall in Our HFGHThe north-facing wall of our greenhouse is bordered by a mixed evergreen planting, so it contributes very little light. It also is the predominantly windward side. The impact in the winter is significant. I decided to replace it with a more efficient wall.
Safely Killing Creepers and Suckers with HerbicideWe have a voracious Chinese Wisteria, and sometimes it gets ahead of us. Suddenly it makes an appearance in our Juniper border 20' away, and here's how we safely deal with it. A variation of this technique can be used on Ailanthus.
A Sliding Door on the Harbor Freight GreenhouseAfter the brutal winter of 2013 I realized that I needed to improve my HFGH if I was going to use it year-round. I believed the doors were one of the major problems. I was able to get a very good Andersen 6' sliding patio door and wanted to incorporate it into the existing structure.
Hoop it up!I was trying to think of an easier way to keep bloom-laden butterfly bushes from flopping over, and I came up with this idea.
Movable Garden PathsDo you need walkways in your garden? I've been using used carpet for my pathways for years. It's easy on the knees while planting and weeding, holds moisture in the soil, reduces soil compaction, and blocks weeds
Flooring for GreenhouseWe poured a concrete floor for our structure. After leveling the space by digging down a bit, we put up 8" forms. For the next step we put down recycled 3" closed-cell foam and covered it with poly. We left the center open for drainage and brick so we could access the power and water if repairs are needed. The pipe next to the shovel is the hydrant.The floor tilts to center 1"/3' to keep water from freezing the walls loose from the base.
Portable PondsDo you live in an apartment or townhouse or are you thinking of moving in a few years? Is digging a pond an issue for you? Then an above-ground water garden is perfect for you. Small above-ground water gardens have many advantages. No digging, no wading in to clean them, lower cost, and portable. Just look around and think out of the ground.
