Insulating glasshouses and other RHS advice

Alison Patel writes: Credit-conscious consumers will be pleased to hear that they can reduce their heating bills and save energy by insulating their glasshouses.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has said that fixing horticultural fleece or bubble wrap to the inside of glazing bars can reduce bills by up to 25 per cent.

Alternatively, gardeners can put panels of wood or polystyrene around the lower portions of the greenhouse, both on the inside and outside.

Increased condensation can be a problem and gardeners are advised to ventilate their greenhouses to reduce moisture levels.

If bubble wrap has been used, care should be taken not to allow plants to touch the plastic and to ensure that there they are not sitting under dripping condensation.

There can also be a problem with reduced light levels in greenhouses that have cladding on them.

Gardeners whose glasshouses contain plants that need high light should only clad the north end or the side that the gets the brunt of the wind.

The RHS suggest that cold frames and mini-greenhouses provide a low-cost, space-saving alternative for protecting plants.

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