A good crop of crops can only be achieved by creating comfortable conditions for growing plants. Many summer residents for this grow plantings in greenhouses and greenhouses. A plant grown under such conditions is influenced by many factors. Of no small importance is the material with which the greenhouse is hidden. Therefore, many gardeners and care about the question: "How to cover the greenhouse?" This is what will be discussed later.
Types of coverings for the greenhouse
How to cover a greenhouse for growing crops in artificial conditions? The range of covering material is diverse. The most popular shelters are:
- glass;
- film;
- polycarbonate.
Recently, spanbond has established itself well. It is a nonwoven fabric. It is durable, reliable and multi-functional. It transmits light and oxygen well. Plants under such shelter feel comfortable.
How to cover the greenhouse - with film, glass, polycarbonate or other material, each gardener must decide for himself, based on a number of certain conditions.
Greenhouse glazing
Glass for sheltering a greenhouse has been used since ancient times. This is quite justified, since it has many positive properties:
- High light transmission rate of 94%.
- Long service life.
- Resistance to temperature extremes.
- High thermal insulation qualities.
- Resistance to chemicals, abrasives and detergents.
But in addition to its positive qualities, glass has a number of drawbacks, due to which many gardeners refused to use it. Among them:
- The need to create a solid frame, because the fragile base is not able to withstand the material.
- Significant material investment.
- The fragility of the material.
- The penetration of ultraviolet rays.
The very procedure for coating a greenhouse with glass requires some knowledge and is quite complicated. Not every gardener is able to glaze a greenhouse on their own, without the help of specialists.
For glazing greenhouses should choose absolutely smooth, transparent glass. Its thickness should be at least 4 mm. Translucency directly depends on the width of the frames: the larger they are, the better conditions are created for plants. When choosing the width of the frame, one should also take into account the fragility of the glass. On a large glazing surface, it will be significantly higher. If the glass is damaged, repairing the greenhouse will cost more than using other materials.
Film application
How to cover the greenhouse so that the plants feel as comfortable as possible? One of the most common and cheapest materials is film. The greenhouses sheltered are practical. However, this coating has a short life.
Often condensation is collected from the inside of the film, which creates favorable conditions for the spread of various diseases, bacteria and dirt, unsafe for crops. Despite this, the film transmits and scatters light well, but only until its structure is broken.
Despite the obvious disadvantages of covering material, gardeners do not stop using it. Three types of film are popular, these are:
- polyethylene;
- polyvinyl chloride;
- reinforced.
The first is the cheapest, but very short-lived. It is enough for the season. The second is more expensive. With appropriate care, it will last up to 7 years. The service life of the third film is three years. How to cover the greenhouse with a film with your own hands will be written later in the article.
Greenhouse Shelter Wrap
Before you cover the greenhouse with a film, you need to calculate the amount of material. To do this, measure the total length of the frame of the structure and divide by the width of the film. Ten percent around the entire perimeter is added to the overlap of the material and its fastening. The number of paintings multiplies by their length - and the desired length of material is obtained. Do not forget about the ends, the size of which must be added to the calculated figure.
How to cover the greenhouse with a film? This is easy to do if certain rules are followed:
- Material should not be cut in advance. First you need to throw the roll through the greenhouse, stretch the film and add about 25 cm on each side to fix the shelter. Only after this can the blade be cut off. So should cut all the canvas.
- The film is laid on a flat surface and glued the canvas with transparent tape on both sides.
- Parts for the ends of the structure, doors and window leaves are cut out with allowances for fastening.
- In order to avoid sagging and strong tension of the covering material, it is mounted in moderately warm weather. There should not be a strong wind on the street.
- For a longer operation of the canvas, the greenhouse is covered shortly before planting plants in it.
From the cut out details make the frame of the greenhouse. Put it on the structure and fix it at the base. The reinforced film is pressed down with a bar, and on top they are covered with earth. The plastic film glued with tape is pulled onto the frame. The edges of the canvas are pulled, placed on top of a long rail and fixed with nails. After the main part of the structure is covered, they install the ends, the door and the windows. All joints are connected with tape. If the greenhouse is made of plastic and metal tubes, then the material is attached to it with clamps of the appropriate diameter.
Polycarbonate Application
Polycarbonate is the most popular material for greenhouses. It is a hard plastic. It is stronger than glass, but weighs less. It happens monolithic and cellular. The latter is considered the most suitable for greenhouses. It is characterized by high thermal insulation and light transmission. It has a long service life.
The advantages of cellular carbonate include:
- strength;
- full lighting of greenhouses;
- flexibility;
- light weight;
- long service life (up to 20 years).
Thanks to the positive qualities of the material, many gardeners invariably have the question of how to cover the greenhouse with polycarbonate with their own hands.
Experts advise not to rush and carefully familiarize yourself with all the features of the material. Pay attention to the thickness value. I advise you to take sheets with a thickness of 5 to 8 mm.
Before using cellular carbonate, you should pay attention to the fact that, when heated, it lengthens. A six-meter sheet when heated increases by 5 cm in length and 2 cm in width. Therefore, the greenhouse should be covered at a temperature of at least + 10 ยฐ C, while the polycarbonate blocks are mounted with an overlap.
How to cover the greenhouse with polycarbonate?
Standard polycarbonate sheets have a width of 2.1 m and a length of 6 or 12 m. All dimensions of the gable of the frame are transferred to the material, and then all the details are carefully cut with a jigsaw. Sometimes the question arises which side of the polycarbonate to cover the greenhouse. Sheets are laid during installation only with the right side, outward, vertically. Otherwise, the light transmission capacity will drop, which will affect the cultivation of crops in the future.
After all the details are cut out, the greenhouse is installed, which is divided into:
For point mounting, the material is attached directly to the frame by using thermal washers. Holes are drilled at the attachment points. Polycarbonate is applied to the frame and secured with screws. At the end of installation, all ends are closed with an end profile using thermal insulation tape.
In the profile method, sheets are inserted into special profiles for carbonate and stretched. Drill holes for self-tapping screws, which secure the covering material. The rafters are glued with a thermal tape.
Spanbond
One of the popular materials for greenhouses is spanbond. This is a nonwoven fabric made of extruded polymer fibers. It is ideal for sheltering greenhouses. It transmits light and provides free air access, even distribution of both moisture and heat. Helps maintain a stable microclimate. It is characterized by optimal thermal insulation properties. Practical and durable. Resistant to frost, chemicals and bacteria and mold. Safe for plants. It can be used year-round.
This material is of three types:
- for open ground;
- for sheltering greenhouses or hotbeds;
- for mulching the soil.
The first two species are white, the last is black. Spanbond for sheltering greenhouses has a density of 30-60 g / sq. m
Work with aero fiber
Much has been said about how to cover the greenhouse with your own hands. The installation of aerial fiber (spunbond) is similar in its technology to sheltering a greenhouse with plastic wrap. In addition, there are some tricks when using non-woven material:
- Sewing in the center of the canvas strips of fabric that has ropes for tying the covering material to the frame of the greenhouse. This greatly facilitates the installation of the spunbond.
- In order for the canvas to fit snugly, it should be covered with thin wooden battens from the outside.
- The material can be combined with PET film. Some gardeners make only a roof of aero fiber, while others design inserts of a certain width and after a given distance.
- If the greenhouse is arch type, then it is not necessary to remove aerial fiber for the winter.
- Spanbond, unsuitable for sheltering the greenhouse, can be used to protect plants in the winter season.
Non-woven material will provide the plants with proper ventilation and watering, and if you use it for mulching, then there will be no need for weeding plants. Spanbond also helps maintain a constant temperature in the greenhouse and regulates atmospheric humidity. It accelerates the ripening of fruits in the greenhouse and makes the growing season of crops longer.
Unpopular coatings
In addition to the above materials for the greenhouse, gardeners also use other canvases with certain properties:
- Acrylic (plexiglass). Differs in special durability. Most preferred for northern areas. It has a high cost.
- Polyvinyl chloride. It is corrugated sheets. They are transparent and therefore transmit light well. Prevent the penetration of ultraviolet rays.
- Fiberglass. Made from special polyester resins. It is reinforced. It has low thermal conductivity, as a result of which it retains daytime heat throughout the night.
Each of the above shelters has its pros and cons. What is better to choose is up to the owner of the greenhouse to decide.
Material Tips
Before buying a covering material, you should take into account all the nuances of the paintings, ask what is the best material for certain conditions. The following factors must be considered:
- shelter area;
- climatic conditions of the area in which the greenhouse will be located;
- period of operation of the structure;
- crops to be grown in the building;
- the amount of money allocated for the arrangement of the greenhouse;
- purpose of use of the structure;
- complexity of installation.
When choosing a greenhouse, the gardener can rely on other factors that are important for him.
Conclusion
What is better to cover the greenhouse? If it will serve year-round, then it should be covered thoroughly. Here, glass, polycarbonate or acrylic will do. For growing seedlings, a film or spanbond will be very useful.
It is important not only to choose the right material for sheltering the greenhouse, but also to properly care for it. Carry out minor repairs on time. If the greenhouse is not planned to be used, then the covering material should be removed. It must be stored in a dry and ventilated area.
You should always remember that the right choice of covering material will provide the proper conditions for the growth and fruiting of crops, will contribute in every way to the collection of a rich harvest, which will more than pay for all investments.