Wooden greenhouses made a comeback to today’s gardening and compete in the durability with aluminum frames.
Some people optimize for the latter option but there is no doubt that classic combo of wood and glass stuns by its appearance.
As well as many years ago when your grandma used to take care of the greenhouse nothing has really change in the wooden greenhouse maintenance routine.
There are a few very common problems associated with wooden greenhouse. So I will try to cover them all and give you a detailed guide on how to take a good care of your wooden greenhouse!
How to maintain a greenhouse?
Start your routine maintenance by looking carefully at the frame and base to find any problems which require fixing. A good base should be solid, so droughts and pests can’t enter the greenhouse.
Check the joints of wooden greenhouse and nails. Also, it is important to check the whole structure on rot and general damage.
Damp and Mold in a Wooden Greenhouse
Damp and mold develop in the excess of water. These can damage the wooden frame of your greenhouse.
For example, during hot summer months the temperature inside the greenhouse rises and humidity increases. This can lead to the damage of wooden frame.
How do you get rid of mold in a greenhouse?
To get rid of mold in a greenhouse make sure that the greenhouse is ventilated. It improves the air circulation and reduces formation of damp and mold.
On the other hand, it is extremely important to install the vapor barrier during winter times. Why?
When it’s cold outside the ventilation in a greenhouse tends to be poor because all the doors are closed and vents are shut to keep the heat inside.
That way the humidity builds up and condensates on the ceiling and glazing. This typically results in the stains.
Water drops are dripping down on the frame leaving stains on the wood. Also, it can affect the insulation, rot the wood and trigger mold development.
If you are not sure of what the vapor barrier is I will explain it briefly. A vapor barrier can be any material which slows down the migration of water vapor.
Most commonly people are using plastic or foil sheets which restrict the movement of moisture through the surface preventing the interstitial condensation.
What is the best wood for a greenhouse?
Today there are tons of wood options on the market. So it might be quite tricky to choose the right one for your needs.
Also, using wood for a greenhouse frame was never the cheapest option and some of them can be really expensive. So bear that in mind. Let’s start with the wood types.
Higher grades of wood like cedars are rot resistant and function for decades. Cheaper grades of wood tend to be pressure treated to extend their lifespan.
Pressure-treatment is a process of preserving wood with chemicals. That way insects stay away from the wood and it won’t rot.
However, this can be toxic to the plants you are growing. Rot resistant wood types do not require pressure-treatment which is a massive advantage.
When choosing wood for your greenhouse pay a particular attention to rot resistance. Greenhouse is an outside structure which will be exposed to heavy rains, humidity and soil.
Each of these factors leads to the susceptibility to fungal infections which make the wood rot. So, what are the best wood options?
What kind of wood is used for greenhouses?
Black locust – high resistance to rot and high availability in the US.
Osage Orange – good resistance to rot but very hard to find wood for a greenhouse.
Pacific Yew – high rot and insects resistance but soon will be an unsustainable lumber source.
Black Walnut – high rot and fungal resistance but tends to be very expensive.
Red Cedar – the most commonly used wood for a greenhouse, very affordable, high rot and insects resistance. Also, it can be easily found across the country.
Cypress – moderately expensive and fairly available, preservative volatile oils within the wood prevent it from the insects and rot.
Also, to prolong the durability of wooden frame you can either stain or paint it.
How to paint a wooden greenhouse?
Before painting your timber you have to wash it down first. Then give it a light sanding and it is ready for repainting.
However, if you have an old greenhouse, the paint tends to build up on the wooden frame.
In this case you have to strip the paint back to the timber before painting it again. To do that simply strip off the build paint using a chemical paint stripper.
Paint or stain wooden greenhouse frame?
What is a best solution for a greenhouse? First, let’s start with a quick definition of both terms.
Paint coats the top of the wood building a thin film. Stain soaks into the surface coloring the substrate. Which one to use is entirely up to you.
Both require re-applying with the same frequency (at least every other year). There are some advantages of using stain over paint.
First, you don’t need any primer and usually one coat of stain is enough. Second, stain tends to be much cheaper than paint.
And finally, stain will not peel or chip like a coat of paint and gives surface a natural look.
The perfect time to re-stain or to re-paint your greenhouse is definitely summer.
What should I clean my greenhouse with?
Use sponges and rags with some warm water to give your wooden frame a good clean. Also, if the surface is really dirty make a weak solution of mild detergent.
Don’t forget to wipe the frame with clean water after the detergent to remove any chemical residues.
Wooden Greenhouse Maintenance Tips
After you gave your frame a good clean it is a perfect time to fix some damaged areas. Let the frame to dry off after a clean and go over it with a medium or fine grade sandpaper.
Rubbing down of the damaged areas pares it back and reveals the fresh wood. If the damage occurred underneath simply cut out that area and replace it with wood filler or a new piece of wood. These are the fixing solution for the minor problems
Now, let’s talk about the major damage. It is very common for a wood to be damaged across the frame from the inside to the outside of the greenhouse.
In this case you have to take your glass panels (or any other glazing material) off. Then it is important to get rid of the rot. Some serious damage can require a complete wooden frame replacement.
I hope that you found the wooden greenhouse maintenance guide useful and informative. If there is anything you are not sure about do not hesitate to ask me in the comments section!
