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How to insulate a greenhouse

in Home : Projects: Greenhouse and house plants

You will need

  • Measuring tape
  • Bubble wrap
  • Scissors
  • Nails, drawing pins or wire to fix polythene in place
Do it: late-autumn/winter
Takes just: 30 minutes

Project categories

Overview

Insulate your greenhouse with a layer of bubble wrap and give your plants a helping hand through winter. Your greenhouse will have fewer draughts and will also benefit from lower bills if you use a heater during the very cold months.

How to do it

Measuring greenhouse prior to insulation

1Before buying any bubble wrap, measure the sides, roof and ends of the greenhouse.

Fixing bubble wrap to frame

2Starting with the sides, fix the bubble wrap to the frame using nails, drawing pins or wire, keeping it tight for extra insulation.

Fixing bubble wrap to roof

3When insulating the roof, fix the bubble wrap to the ridge and spread it down the glazing bars.

4Cut and fasten the bubble wrap around windows, vents and louvres so they can be opened.

Adam's tip

Choose polythene with large bubbles as this has better insulating properties and lets in more light.
Buy bubble wrap by the metre from garden centres. Choose polythene that is specifically designed for greenhouses, as it is UV-stabilised and should last for at least three years.

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Talkback: How to insulate a greenhouse
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bc103963 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Fearture useless since it did not allow for aluminium greenhoses only wooden ones

grb 20/09/09

marchend 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I have several 'Dianthus Pink' plant cuttings in my plastic upright cloche.

Can I insulate the cloche using the same method as for the green house, or will it still not be enough to protect my plant cuttings through the winter.

I normally bring them inside the house over winter, but I now have quite a few that would take up allot of space indoors.

FlamingJune 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Just a tip if you haven't got time to bubble wrap the entire greenhouse, get one of those mini plastic greenhouses, stick it inside the glass greenhouse, and use that for small plants.

sweetpea24 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I need instructions for insulating an aluminium greenhouse - how can I fasten the bubble wrap?

potterer 24/11/2011 at 15:28

You can buy plastic clips from any good garden centre
to fix bubble wrap to a aluminium greenhouse,this will be the third year that I have used mine.

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