The Best Cheap and Easy DIY Greenhouses moodboard
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Heads up folks: it might not feel like it, but spring is just a few short weeks away. And all of our expert gardeners know that means one thing: now is the time to start prepping! If you want to start spring with your plant babies already thriving, you’ll need to start those seeds in a greenhouse before putting them in the dirt after the first frost (psst: learn more about when to plant and your USDA hardiness zone here!).
A greenhouse doesn’t have to be an elaborate setup reserved only for the most experienced gardeners with plenty of money to spare. There are tons of inexpensive DIY greenhouses available nowadays, including many that are portable (ideal for putting atop a raised garden bed) and some as small as a cabinet, in case you’re working with a small patio. In addition to being a great way to get a head start on the gardening season, greenhouses are also ideal protection from critters that frequently nibble on plants, like deer, chipmunks, and squirrels. No matter your reason for snagging one, these DIY greenhouses will keep your plant babies protected from the elements and are a breeze to set up.
More ways to gussy up your garden:
Portable Walk-in Greenhouse
If you’re looking for an easy-to-assemble walk-in greenhouse for a good price, it’s pretty hard to beat this pop-up option. There’s barely any assembly required — just pop the metal stand out, lay the plastic covering over top, and stake the covering down to prevent it from blowing off. From there, you can add shelving if you’d like, or you can simply pop the greenhouse over your garden bed. Some reviewers complained about the plastic covering not holding up as well as they’d hoped, but all did mention that the company was quick to handle the problem and send in a new cover.
Portable Mini Greenhouse
Gardeners hoping to start their in-bed growing season a little earlier will benefit from a portable mini greenhouse like this one. It easily installs right on top of your garden bed and is simple to remove once temperatures are past the frost-point. Many reviewers even mentioned that the frame makes a wonderful cage for tall-climbers like tomatoes!
Wooden Greenhouse
We love the ease, convenience, and price of so many of the plastic greenhouses on the market, but they’re definitely not an aesthetically pleasing option. If you’re looking for something that looks great and protects your plants, then we’d recommend this wooden walk-in greenhouse. You can leave it natural or paint the wood to match your home and improve the durability. The roof features four vented panels in case your plant babies need a little breeze, and there’s wrap-around shelving inside. Of course, all of this comes at a steeper price than most other greenhouses. But if you’re looking for something that looks great and can be left up year-round, then this is your best bet.
Walk-in 3-Tier Greenhouse with Wire Shelves
Hooray! No tools are required for assembly of this greenhouse! With plenty of space for vegetables, herbs, and flowers, it’s a reasonably priced option for most budgets. This walk-in greenhouse is ideal for starting seeds in the late spring and keeping potted plants inside on chilly evenings. For any in-ground plants, you’ll likely want to pick a different option.
Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse
If you want something sturdier than plastic and more durable than wood, then you’ll love this metal greenhouse. It includes an adjustable roof vent, rain gutters, and a lockable door handle. While it’s not a tool-free installation, pre-drilled holes do make putting it together a breeze. And, speaking of breeze, the roof vent is ideal for when the temperature starts to rise over the summer. In cooler climates, you might not even need to take potted plants out of the greenhouse for the season!
Portable Greenhouse
This large walk-in greenhouse features zippered front and back doors in addition to exhaust vents, a coated steel frame, and an airtight, UV-protected cover. Window and door coverings roll up to let in a breeze while still providing protection from garden critters. This greenhouse also features an extended skirt bottom, so users can add stakes or stones to weigh it down and prevent any fly-away attempts. The material includes an anti-UV inhibitor to slow down the aging of the fabric, so this budget-friendly investment will last you for years to come.
Quictent
Portable Greenhouse
This greenhouse is a great solution for starting your gardening just a bit earlier in the season. It’s not designed for heavy weather, such as snow or high winds, but it will help seeds get a faster start and shelter tender baby plants at a budget price. It’s a great option if you prefer to plant seeds directly in the garden bed since it isn’t a walk-in greenhouse and doesn’t have shelves. Just don’t forget to water your plant babies!
Quictent
Wooden Cabinet Greenhouse
This wooden cold frame/greenhouse can store quite a few plants on its three shelves, plus it’s more attractive than many others—but it’s still budget-priced. It comes in white, charcoal, and natural (shown) and is made of sturdy fir wood. The shelf is adjustable with the five pre-drilled holes and easy to put together. While some reviews mention that the wood seems like it should be thicker, many make note of how durable the cabinet is during inclement weather.
Mini Wire-shelf Greenhouse
If you just have a few plants to shelter, this simple wire shelf unit will work perfectly. The cover is UV protected and waterproof, so you won’t need to worry about this greenhouse wimping out on you halfway through the season. You can also completely remove the cover and just use the shelving unit, making this greenhouse ideal for balconies and decks.
Nova Microdermabrasion
Lean-to Greenhouse
This lean-to greenhouse is designed to be sheltered on one side by your house, shed or garage to help provide wind protection and radiate heat from the building to your plants. While it’s made as a walk-in greenhouse to be used with shelves, some users put it atop garden beds against fences or their homes.
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