Like the entire allotment garden, winterizing the foil greenhouse is also on the agenda for all garden lovers. Particular attention should be paid to the absolute tightness of the outer skin and its tight fit as well as the load-bearing elements made of wood and metal.

A poly greenhouse must be cleaned and sealed well before winter

Even if no use is planned between late autumn and the first days of spring, the poly greenhouse itself should already be winterized during this time. The foil cover is particularly vulnerable in wintry conditions, i.e. heavy frost and heavy snowfall, but the wooden or metal frame also has to carry significantly more weight than during the gardening season.

Preparation for winter begins in autumn

The last warm days of the year should therefore be used for an attentive tour to inspect the plant house for visible damage to the outer skin. There are often small cracks near the scaffolding braces, especially near the ground, which need to be repaired before the onset of winter. However, commercially available fabric adhesive tape is not suitable for this. Better to use a slightly more expensive one even for minor repairs, but UV-resistant special adhesive tape for this. Greenhouse film (€15.90) also tends to tear near the ground if pegs were hammered in for attachment. In this context, such problematic areas should be checked particularly thoroughly.

Only a clean plastic greenhouse is winterproof

Therefore send your valuable greenhouse as clean as possible into hibernation. Earth, dust, rain and sun leave their marks even on the highest quality film and are easier to remove in autumn than the crusts that form later and are annoying in spring. It's best to tackle the dirt with the garden hose, the water will soften it. After that, it is usually only necessary to rework the particularly stubborn areas with a broom or mop that is not too hard. Lukewarm water and a little household detergent make this job a lot easier.

Secure windows and doors against animal intruders

Even if the outer shell of the foil greenhouse seems winterproof, many pests and rodents will be looking for a warming hiding place in the coming weeks. It is therefore best to check all windows, ventilation openings and doors for complete tightness, not only now, but at least every two weeks during the winter.

tips

To be on the safe side, watering cans, whether full or empty, and other liquids are not left in the greenhouse in winter. And as far as the gardening tools in the tent are concerned, they can now be cleaned so that they are available again free of rust at the start of the new gardening year.

Category:

Garden design