Building the Ultimate Greenhouse
Congratulations on purchasing your new One Stop Gardens 10’ x 12’ Greenhouse! Growing vegetables, cultivating flowers or starting your botany experiment is now close at hand but did you know that you can get even more out of your greenhouse with some extra time, materials and patience? I recently came across a great article that highlights a few ways to expand your greenhouse in ways that you might not otherwise think of at http://hfgh10x12.blogspot.com/2007/08/this-is-greenhouse-we-bought-link-it.html. Let’s take a look at how you can take your greenhouse to the next level with just a few adjustments.
The greenhouse kit comes with a steel base that you would generally just place on the ground. The author of this article explains how to add some extra stability to your greenhouse in order to resist any weather conditions you may encounter like strong winds and heavy rain. “The popular solution is to build a wooden foundation, anchor it into the ground somehow, and mount the steel base on top,” she says. “Everyone finds their own way to do this, but most use at least 4 x 4 sized timbers for the base.”
You’ll also want to add a couple of diagonal beams at each corner before mounting the greenhouse base itself. With your greenhouse secured to a foundation, you can keep the base square and tight for years to come. And once you’ve got the steel base mounted to the wooden foundation, just apply some clear silicone caulk between the wood and the base to keep rain water from seeping in. In order to maintain the integrity of you greenhouse, you’ll need to plan for all types of unforeseen weather and environmental conditions. You can choose from a few different caulks on Harbor Freight’s website too, from Painter’s Acrylic Latex Caulk to Acrylic Latex Caulk plus Silicone.
Now you’re ready to start putting up the walls of your greenhouse. The article has a little tip to keep your frame and posts straight during construction as well. “As you put the corner posts up, temporarily attach the [included] diagonal braces for stability.” You’ll have to remove them before moving on to the next step but this way you can work with a bit more peace of mind and keep the aluminum frame straight and accurate until you add the vertical wall studs. It’s a good idea to check that the base is still square before moving on and make any necessary adjustments. It’s much easier to make minor adjustments as you go rather than a big one later.
Once you’ve got the greenhouse frame constructed, there are a few things you can do to upgrade it for stability in windier areas. The article advises to add horizontal braces at the tops of the walls to prevent the side walls from pulling away from each other. You can do the same for the front and back walls. Just attach a solid piece of material all the way across each wall to reinforce the structure and keep the elements from potentially warping the frame. The author explains how you can also keep the steel base from flexing: “This can be done by bolting small plates of some type to the top and bottom lip of the base at regular intervals, or by covering the inside of the base entirely with wood that's also attached to the top and bottom lip of the base.”
It’s also easy at this point to add insulation to your frame, she continues. “We used ¾” thick expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) insulation, cut into strips about 4 ¼” wide. We also stuffed some foam sill insulation in there first to remove as many air pockets as possible.” You can protect that insulation and further reinforce the base by attaching boards with screws to the top and bottom lips of the base. As the author says, “Now the base is insulated and stiffened by the attached board...and it looks a little dressier, too.”
Well, at this point, you’ve got yourself an extra strong frame of a greenhouse and you’re ready to move on to inserting the panels. The author of the article sealed the ends of each panel with aluminum tape to help keep dirt, condensation and bugs out. “I bought one roll of 1 ½” wide aluminum tape (not duct tape) and cut it into thirds, so I only have a small taped rim visible on the panels. On the bottom edge, it’s apparently good to have small holes in the tape to allow moisture to escape. You can buy special breathable tape from greenhouse supply websites for this purpose, but others have mentioned using a large pin to poke holes in the tape in each chamber on the bottom edge of each panel.”
How about weather stripping? Well, the author has a suggestion for that as well. “Instead of caulk, I used 3/16” thick closed cell foam weather stripping in each panel opening. Closed cell foam is waterproof so rain can’t soak in.” The larger gaps on the tops and bottoms of each panel are also mentioned. “I found some packages of ¾” wide weather stripping. I used that, cutting each strip in half with scissors, so it was 3/8” wide. It worked fine and turned out to be a soft gray color that was hardly visible under the panels after installation.”
Okay! So now that you’ve gotten your greenhouse constructed and ready to withstand those heavy winds, you’re ready to add even more awesomeness! That’s right, there’s still more you can do to enhance the greenhouse to make it more attractive and convenient. The author added long benches to each side of her greenhouse along with several peninsula-style benches. “Each long side bench is supported by two pressure-treated 4x4s, buried 24" deep and set in concrete. [Then] two horizontal Douglas Fir 4x4's were clamped to either side of the two pressure treated posts. The horizontal 4x4’s were attached by using a 12" long 3/8" drill bit to drill a hole through all three 4x4's. A length of 3/8" all-threads rod was inserted in the hole and capped on each end with a washer and nut.” This addition will provide plenty of shelving space plus ample free space underneath for tools, equipment and supplies.
If you want to get really fancy, the author even added a sink to her greenhouse and explains how it can be used for added benefit. “The sink drain isn’t connected to our house plumbing. It drains into a gravel pit we dug in the floor, and the soil beneath the gravel is the coarse sand of our yard. Another option for the future would be to route the drain water through the wall of the greenhouse and outdoors to water a planting bed.”
Still want more enhancements to your bodacious greenhouse? The author of this article really decked hers out to include some pretty cool additions to improve functionality. She added electrical outlets with plastic covers to keep out moisture, Aluminet shade cloth screen panels to keep temperatures down and even an exhaust fan as a way to let air out. These are obviously more advanced enhancements but the possibilities are there for those willing to put in some extra work. And for those hoping to use their greenhouse continuously, they can be a real help, as the author states, “Without this fan I wouldn't be able to keep plants in the greenhouse year round...our summers would be far too hot. With this fan in place, as well as some additional small fans for HAF (Horizontal Air Flow) and generous amounts of shade cloth, I'll have a fighting chance.”
As you can see, getting your Harbor Freight greenhouse built is only the beginning of your journey and you’re limited only by your imagination! I don’t know about you but I would love to have benches, a sink, air conditioning and weather stripping in my little home garden. For anyone who wants to get serious about their plants and flowers without spending serious money, this is the way to do it.
Light Up for Earth Day
Greetings, Earth people. As I'm sure you've gathered from reminders ad nauseum, it's Earth Day. It's enough to make you miss those posture-oppressing Earth Shoes and splashing on some Coty Wild Musk. Let's just be thankful there isn't a steady stream of Earth Day carols (This Land Is Your Land... I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing... Also Sprach Zarathustra...) saturating the airwaves. But, in the spirit of Earth Day, I want to tell you about this nifty gizmo available at Harbor Freight, that will make the Earth, your inner-hippie, and your HOA much happier.
Self-Igniting Propane Torch
For surgical, non-chemical obliteration of noxious weeds, I submit to you the Harbor Freight Propane Torch With Push Button Igniter, SKU #91037. Propane is nature's own weed killer and this self-igniting torch is perfect for decimating an entire alien race. Outfitted with a long 6-ft, 8-in. hose (350 PSI) and a wand finished with a flow valve and turbo-blast trigger, this is all you need to burn weeds and stumps, soften asphalt and melt ice. The intensity of the flame is such that a couple of passes over weeds leaves little surface debris, and looks almost "swept" clean. It's also a great tool for spot-edging in the garden, preheating metal for welding, melting aluminum, taking out killer bee nests and fire ant hills, and starting the BBQ, smoker or campfire, The torch is fitted with a Piezo electric ignition for safe, matchless starts, and comes with two open-end wrenches for easy hook up to a standard-size propane tank. At only $29.99, this multipurpose wonder is a great deal! Check out the customer reviews and you'll see I'm not just blowing smoke up your terra firma.
Propane Torch
If the turbo-blast component or self-igniting feature (not to mention the additional ten bucks) seem like more than you need, consider Harbor Freight's other Propane Torch, SKU #91033, selling for $19.99. As with the other torch, this baby burns weeds, melts snow & ice, removes paint from non-flammable surfaces and more! Again, no need to use chemicals or back-breaking shoveling and pulling-- and the weeds won't grow back. Generating temperatures over 3,000 degrees F, this a great propane torch for jobs around the home that require a small, powerful flame. Go from pouring the coals to meat on the grill in less than 5 minutes--no paper or lighter fluid or nursing a fire to life! Remove vinyl flooring, trim the edges of your putting green, shrink wrap your boat, improvise a steel forge with it, use it on a metal spinner, incinerate brush and more.
Either product will thrill your green thumb and/or inner-kid to no end, and will pay for itself in no time! In fact, you'll have no problem recruiting friends to come help you save the planet. Don't forget to clip your Harbor Freight 20% Off coupon before making your purchase!
Start Seeding In Your Greenhouse!
Ah, Spring-- I love it! It means I get to stoke up the barbecue, tinker outside, go to the range, wear my camo cargo shorts on weekends. The wife loves it 'cause she can get me to shovel bull manure (I wish that was a metaphor, folks).
Seriously, she loves her gardening, so that's why I'm getting her a One Stop Gardens 10' x 12' Greenhouse for her birthday. At first I didn't see the point of a greenhouse. I mean, we live in California, right? Swimming pools, movie stars, oranges the size of heads. But then she (kinda) patiently explained it to me, and I, of course (kinda) patiently listened... the greenhouse is an awesome addition to the home for a number of reasons:
- Germination - The greenhouse absorbs the sun and has a warmer environment. You can control the temperature during cold weather months and start seeding herbs, veggies, fruit, etc., much earlier. And, when it gets hot outside, put a tarp over it to keep the temp down.
- Control bugs, birds, etc. - The bugs start coming out in March, and they go right for the seeds. So do the birds. Greenfly, whitefly and red spider mites are particularly pesty. With a greenhouse, you can keep them out.
- Extending your growing season - Whatever part of the country you're in, you can squeeze out at least a few more months of gardening with your greenhouse-- and in some parts (like California) you can do it year-round! Also, during mild and warmer months, your plant life will grow faster in the controlled environment.
- Grow plants and foods you otherwise can't - With your own greenhouse, growing bananas or other tropical plants and fruits is suddenly an option!
- Hours of additional "green thumb therapy" - For those who find joy and peace dwelling in the dirt.
So, I guess having a greenhouse makes sense. And if I get it before the end of March, I can have it for the low price of $549.99 online with this coupon! Just click on the image and, at the checkout, punch in code "40956090" for this great price!
Click Here
The wife also told me to pick up the...
You ask me, she's pushing it. Oh, OK... I'm turning it over to the missus now 'cause she has some Spring gardening tips to add and apparently I'm incapable of doing it myself:
Hello, everyone, and Happy Spring! March is the beginning of spring gardening, so this is the perfect time to get moving. Most bedding and potted plants grow pretty well in the One Stop Gardens 10' x 12' Greenhouse. Some seeds like tomato, melon, and cucumber need extra warmth, while others such as antirrhinum, lobelia, and petunia don't. If you have seedlings from last year, now is the time to transplant them into to bigger pots, and established plants will start growing faster, so watering's going to be needed on a more regular basis. Start feeding the growing plants liquid fertilizer (don't overfeed young plants), preferably with a higher percentage of nitrogen to phosphate, and potash for leaf growth. Flowering plants also need a fertilizer that's high in potash. This will increase flowering as opposed to leaf growth.
STARTING YOUR SEEDS
1. Do not open the seed packet until you are ready to plant.
2. Use a container with drainage. Avoid wooden trays as they accommodate disease organisms. Plastic is your best option.
3. Fill your container with compost or place directly in growing medium. The surface should be about 1" below the top of the container. The surface should be moist but not wet; sprinkle it with water the day before sowing. Scatter the seeds thinly over the surface (or larger seeds can be planted in rows).
4. Seeds should be covered with planting material according to the directions on your seed packet (usually you will leave the finer seeds uncovered). Gently firm the soil surface. Most, but not all, seeds need darkness to germinate. Cover your seeds with either a black plastic bag or a brown paper bag and place in your greenhouse for warmth. This excludes the seeds that need light to germinate such as Begonia, Mimulus and Alyssum.
5. Most seeds need to maintain a temperature between 65-70F degrees, but you should germinate the seed at a temperature 10 degrees higher than the recommended temperature for growing the plant.
6. Once the seedlings break through the surface, remove the brown paper bag or black plastic, but then you may want to cover it with a piece of clear plastic for extra warmth and moisture. Never let the compost or planting medium dry out; use a fine mist to keep it watered.
7. Once the first set of true leaves has opened, transplant the seedlings to trays or small pots with multipurpose compost (set the seedlings so the leaves are just above the soil surface). Handle the plants by the leaves, never the stems. Set the seedlings 1-1 1/2" apart and water as necessary, keeping the temperatures between 50-55F degrees.
8. Seedlings that will be going outside must be hardened off to prepare them for the garden. You should move them to the coldest part of the greenhouse and then to a cold frame. Also, set the plants outside during the day for a few days before planting them in the garden.
For more great deals on Gardening Supplies, visit Harbor Freight Tools today!
Daylight Savings Solar Deals
You work hard to keep your yard looking beautiful. From adding fresh soil, to fertilizing and enriching, to seeding and watering, a lot goes into creating the yard and garden you want to show off. But, why only get to do it half the day? As you prepare your gardens for the approaching warm weather, there's an easy way to show them off at night as well, with sun-powered solar lights from Harbor Freight!
3-Pc. Decorative Solar Light Set
It's the little things, as they say. This Decorative 3-Piece Solar Light Set from One-Stop Gardens is a genuine crowd-pleaser, and one of the biggest best-sellers at HFT! This cool, little light set is the perfect addition to your yard, garden, flower pots, etc., and costs nothing to operate! As soon as it gets dark, the color-changing LEDs inside the transparent hummingbird, butterfly and dragonfly start turning from red to green to blue. How it works is, a 1-3/4"-square solar panel hangs from each stake and charges built-in AA NiCd batteries from the sun, so once dusk comes, these solar lights automatically illuminate your yard with changing colors that give off a magical effect. Currently on sale at $14.29, they're affordable enough to get a few sets and spread them throughout the property!
4-pc. Solar Light Set
Illuminate your walkway, driveway, shrubbery or garden with this super-bright, long-lasting 4-pc. Solar Light Set. These efficient lights charge in the daytime, giving up to 8 hours of pleasant, inviting light at night. Easy to install-- simple assembly and they're on!-- the rugged, weatherproof light set automatically turns on and off as illumination is needed, and is completely maintenance-free. Even after cloudy days, they'll deliver the illumination you need. It's a great deal at $11.99-- you'll want to get more than one of these sets, too!
10-pc. Solar Pathway Light Set
Speaking of lighting up the pathway, One Stop Garden's got a dandy 10-piece Stainless Steel Solar Light Set that's specifically made for just that. Use the sun's energy to light your walkway in the yard, patio or garden with these long-lasting, bright white LED lamps. Durable and weather-resistant with an attractive copper finish, they're dumb-proof easy to install (just stick them in the ground) and, like the other solar units, turn on automatically at dusk. For only $24.99, they outshine any other deal out there.
36 LED Solar Security Light
Here's a neat product that adds light AND security to the home. The 36 LED Solar Security Light from Bunker Hill Security gives off an attractive, gentle blue light when unattended, but when someone approaches to within 35 feet, it suddenly brightens the area. It's a perfect light for pathways, driveways or in the yard, making areas safe for treading-- and alerting the owners there's someone there! The security light automatically switches on its bright 36 LED illumination motion is detected and has an output equivalent of a 10 watt incandescent bulb. The unit recharges easily in the sun during the day, and you can even adjust the light to stay on for up to 60 seconds past the last motion detected. Priced to sell, the solar security light is only $22.99.
For these and other outdoor solar lights to illuminate and enhance your home, check out the Lighting section in Harbor Freight's Lawn & Garden dept. And don't forget to use your 20% Off Coupon when you make your purchase, online or at the store.
Here Comes Honey Chip Chip
Now that fall is here and winter in the not-too-distant future, death is all around us: dead leaves, dead branches, and all other sorts of recently-deceased debris-- a virtual backyard apocalypse. Make disposing the remains easy on yourself with a powerful chipper/shredder or leaf eater/shredder from Harbor Freight. Choose from these high-performance models:
Quickly reduce piles of leaves and small branches into useful mulch. Mulch is a standard form of winter protection for many shallow-rooted plant, acting as insulation for the soil and plant roots. This powerful 14 amp electric chipper-shredder can handle limbs up to 1-1/2" in diameter and its rugged polypropylene hopper won't rust or dent. Also, it maneuvers easily through the yard on smooth-rolling 6" wheels.
This gas-powered dynamo is an essential tool for landscapers or anyone cleaning up their yard. The chipper-shredder handles limbs up to 1-1/4" thick and features a four-chipper-blade design to quickly turn limbs, twigs and small branches into mulch, perfect for flower beds and vegetable gardens. Easy on gas, tough on branches, this little chipper eats brush like it's nothing.
The Godzilla of the group! Easily decimate tree branches, leaves and vines with this wide-mouthed, 11 horsepower gas-powered chipper-shredder. The wood chipper chute handles branches and vines up to 2-7/8" in diameter while the leaf-hopper shreds leaves and grass clippings up to 3/8" in diameter. This dynamic chipper/compost shredder features a dual-blade design with both a chipper blade and impeller blade. Even though it's a tree-thrashing brute, it moves and maneuvers easily on smooth-rolling pneumatic tires.
When life hands you thousands of dead leaves, make mulch! This efficient, economical, and ecological electric shredder makes it simple to get rid of leaves by breaking them down into serviceable mulch or compost for your yard and garden. No more laborious bagging of yard waste! Choose between fine, medium and coarse shredding levels.
Shop Harbor Freight for the right heavy-duty chipper and/or shredder for your needs. As always, you'll find great performance at incredibly low prices!
The All-Purpose 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer
The summer's almost over, but you wouldn't know it, stepping outside. As the heat persists, so do bugs, thirsty gardens, weeds, dirt-splattered recreati0nal toys, dusty windows, etc.-- all perfect reasons to keep a One Stop Gardens 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer in the garage.
As attested by Harbor Freight customers, the durable 4-gallon backpack sprayer works great in the garden, spraying water, fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, soil conditioner, kelp solutions and weed killer. Others use it for washing their boats, motorcycles and ATVs when hoses are not available. One customer said the backpack sprayer was perfect for carrying cleaner for washing their windows.
As deer hunters are fully aware, the game have already started hitting the crops, preparing for the winter ahead. Many hunters anticipate the season by creating food plots-- cover crops planted for the express purpose of attracting and holding the deer (soybean and clover are both favorites)-- which means they need to keep the area clear of weeds, grass and other noxious growth. The 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer is perfect for transporting and spreading the weed & grass killer to the area.
Needless to say, the list of uses for the backpack sprayer ends with the imagination. You can use it to spray down dusty campsites, balconies, high-sitting wasp nests, sandy kids at the beach, out-of-reach sheds, fence lines, and so much more! And, at such a low price, there's no excuse not to get one!
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