Follow along below to see how to build your five-minute greenhouse and establish a framework over your raised garden that can be used to help manage weather and temperature for your garden throughout the year .
MATERIALS
• 3 10-foot Lengths of Masonry Ladder
These are similar to tomato cages in material and design , just longer and unshaped . It is the backbone of the greenhouse , and its design doesn ’ t require additional support via twine or garden wire . Three 10-foot ladders is the suggested amount for a 4x4-foot raised garden , six 10-foot ladders for a 4x8 raised garden , and so on .
• 12x12 Plastic Sheeting – 4mm Thick
Plastic sheeting costs little and can be purchased in large cuts / rolls . To create a greenhouse in minutes , it ’ s important that the sheet is in one piece . The four millimeter thickness is recommended because it is malleable but rigid enough to semi-support itself and thick enough to retain a garden ’ s temperature well without blocking off sunlight too much . There are thicker and thinner plastic sheeting option . Keep in mind that the thicker the sheeting , the better temperature retention it will provide your garden . However , it will also reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your plants since sheeting is often translucent or opaque . A 12x12 sheet is ideal for a 4x4-foot raised garden , or 16x12 for a 4x8 garden .
• Bricks
Gardeners , feel free to be creative here . The bricks are simply used to weigh down the sides of the sheeting material , so they don ’ t need to be bricks . You can use anything weighty enough to secure the sheeting sides against the boards of your garden . Rocks , sandbags , or something more aesthetically pleasing is perfectly fine as well .
HOW TO BUILD YOUR RAISED GARDEN GREENHOUSE
1 ) Stick both ends of one masonry ladder into the interior soil of your raised garden , flush with the corresponding corners . You will need to start with one side first and then curve the other side downwards into the ground . It isn ’ t difficult , but keep your face clear of the pointy ends . The raised garden walls will support the curved masonry ladder thanks to the laws of resistance .
2 ) For a 4x4-foot garden repeat Step 1 , except place another masonry ladder over the middle of the garden , and the third at the opposite end of the garden — both parallel with the first curved masonry ladder . When all three are placed , they should run in a parallel row , creating a tunnel-like framework .
GREENHOUSE FRAMEWORK : IT ’ S UP TO YOU
3 ) Lay the sheeting over the masonry ladder framework so that each side equally touches the ground . One side should have extra , bunched-up material that will become your make-shift garden access point .
4 ) Place your bricks or weighted objects along the sides to ensure that wind or animals won ’ t disturb it ’ s positioning .
5 ) When you need to access your raised garden bed under the greenhouse , take the bricks off the side with extra material , and roll it up and out of the way .
6 ) Once done accessing your garden to care for your plants , pull the extra material back down and reposition the bricks to keep the garden closed off . That ’ s it !
Because this is such a simple process , you can wholly erect and dismantle the greenhouse when you wish . However , the framework may prove useful enough that you simply want to keep it up . Decorate it during the summer with fun garden trinkets , or place screen material on it to dissipate higher intensity sun rays and heat to cool off your plants . Whatever you do , a DIY greenhouse that costs so little in time and money is worth the benefits .
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