Greenhouses in the winter

Most greenhouses are not in use during the winter as it will get too cold inside the greenhouse for plants to grow. However, if you have a well-insulated greenhouse, you can use it all year – for plants or as a pavilion. With a bit of effort, you can use your ordinary greenhouse for storing various potted plants and more. Maybe you will have to insulate the greenhouse with bubble wrap or put a heater inside to avoid temperatures below zero, depending on the plants you have inside the greenhouse. We offer winter protection plant tents to protects your potted plants even better.

Snow-proof greenhouses 

We also offer a wide range of Snow-proof greenhouses made for areas with much snow. The sturdy greenhouses are ordinary greenhouses with an enhanced frame made to withstand the snow load or pressure from snow on top of the greenhouse. However, most of the greenhouses are arched, so the amount of snow building on top is limited, to begin with. We offer different kinds of snow-proof greenhouses with various snow load to match the area you live in.     

Prepare your greenhouse for the winter

Start preparing your greenhouse for winter sometime during the late autumn, depending on the weather. With a few preparations, your greenhouse will do fine on cold days without any problems. You can use many of our greenhouses all year, depending on where you live. Please note that our polytunnel greenhouses, in general, are intended as a seasonal form of coverage and not as a permanent structure. We recommend that you take down your polytunnel greenhouse during the winter so you can enjoy it for many summer seasons.

Checklist for preparing the greenhouse for winter

1. Check your greenhouse for any damages. Start by checking your greenhouse for any damages on the window panes, frame, base, doors, and ventilation windows. Do you find cracks or similar damages to the glass or polycarbonate? It would be best if you repaired it to avoid more damage during winter.
2. Look for holes and openings in the ground and more. If there are cracks or holes, rodents and other animals can access the greenhouse during the winter. The temperature inside is relatively warm, especially if you have an insulated and heated greenhouse. All kinds of animals will seek a sheltered place causing all sorts of damages you do not want.
3. Check the seals around the windows. When you check the greenhouse for cracks and more, remember to check the seals around the windows. The seals play an essential part in keeping the greenhouse dry and warm and saving energy if you heat the greenhouse.
4. Clean the windows. As part of your preparations for winter, you should clean the windows. In the autumn, when most of the plants are finished, you can get closer to the windows and clean them. It is often enough to remove the dust and soil with a water hose. This way, you make the windows clear to ensure optimal lighting conditions in the greenhouse.
5. Provide a heater. Do you want a greenhouse for storing plants? Then you may have to get a heater to avoid temperatures below zero. It is a good idea to have a thermometer, so you know how warm and cold there is inside the greenhouse – in the summer and winter. With a heater with a built-in thermostat, you can be sure that the temperature is regulated automatically. However, it will be a costly affair if the greenhouse is not insulated correctly.
6. Provide ventilation. The warm and humid climate inside a greenhouse can create mould and rot. In the summer, ventilation is often made by opening and closing doors and ventilation windows, but you will have to make sure that the greenhouse is ventilated from time to time during the winter.
7. Make sure the plants have enough light. If you have plants inside your greenhouse during the winter, make sure that they get enough light. Either by artificial light or from the outside. If there is snow on your greenhouse, make sure you remove the snow so the light can get inside.