Garden & Greenhouse October 2018 Issue | Page 24

glazed with polycarbonate, but if you have a glass greenhouse this is the time to clean the glass. Use a soft brush, like a car washing brush and a mild dish detergent to clean the surfaces inside and out. Rinse well and let everything dry before returning anything to the greenhouse. Check and Repair the Polyfi lm If you have a polyfi lm greenhouse, check for any new tears or small punctures. Be sure to use green- house polyfi lm repair tape and repair these now. Or, if your inspection turns out with more damage than you thought, order a replacement cover and get it in- stalled as soon as possible. Also make sure that all of your clips or fastening system is good and tight. You don’t want your cover blowing off in a cold winter wind. If you are using a double layer with a blower make sure to check this if it has not been in use. systems before attaching any additional covers. Re- move or disengage any automatic roof vent or side vent openers. This is also the time to install a winter heat blanket inside the roof that can be closed at night. If you are using any types of hydroponic or aqua- ponic systems be sure to clean and check them as well. Any supplemental lighting should be inspected at this time as well. Water sources should be checked or turned off if they are not useable in the winter. Frost proof hydrants can be installed so water is read- ily available year round. Remember, this is your last chance to check these before fi lling the greenhouse for winter. This is simi- lar to spring cleaning in the home; just be sure to give everything a thorough inspection and you and your plants will be much happier in the coming win- ter months. GG Final Inspection and Repairs Now that the greenhouse is clean and ready for plants to return, complete any fi nal preparation that is needed. In some colder climates an extra layer of layer of insulation can be placed around the vents, fans and intakes. It is also a good time to the covers from last year to make sure they are in good condi- tion and replace them if needed. To prevent damag- ing any systems, be sure to shut off all of the exhaust Tammy Wylie has been selling and installing greenhouses since 1993. She is the owner of Advance Greenhouses AdvanceGreenhouses.com and blogs at GrowYourOwnFoodAnywhere.com where she discusses different growing methods including container, greenhouse and garden growing. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Arcadia See photos and videos on our website! ™ Greenhouses Quality Greenhouse Kits for Year-round Growing Ask about our new 16mm 5-wall polycarbonate for best energy efficiency. ■ ■ Freestanding, Lean-to, and Kneewall Options ■ Glass or Polycarbonate ■ Strong Extruded Aluminum Frame ■ Professional Installation Standard and Custom Sizes vatories es & Conser Greenhous PS OUSE 10 STE garden or e m ho for your NH ST GREE THE BE LECTING FOR SE ed by Co-author cal Garden and Botani e Cleveland adia GlassHous Arc FREE Greenhouse Planning Guide “10 Steps for Selecting the Right Greenhouse for You.” Call 440-357-0022 24 w w w. A r c a d i a G l a s s H o u s e . c o m www.GardenandGreenhouse.net September 2018