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Greenhouses & Garden Structures

Did anyone put up a greenhouse when ground was frozen?

18 years ago

I was wondering.I was planning on doing mine(HFGH) this weekend and the ground is frozen solid. I hope to use a 2x10 base, but without pouring a pad, how can I anchor the thing? I was thinking of putting cinder blocks all around it and attaching to them until the ground thaws. Does any one have any ideas? My husband is sure it is going to just blow away.

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Comments (9)

mylu
18 years ago
I know it's hard to do but I would wait. The ground won't be frozen for long. How big is it? I would not want to work in it if it is not secure. Better safe then sorry.
megdagooch
Original Author
18 years ago
It is hard to wait. I am afraid if I dont do it now it wont get done it time to use this season. It is the Harbor Freight GH that is 6x8
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You don't say how large your greenhouse will be, but perhaps the attached link will help; it is from an older thread on constructing a 6'x8' HFGH on a slope - excellent pictures and descriptions. Basically, he built a concrete block foundation on the lower side to create a level surface for his wood foundation. There are a some other good ideas there, too. The link was posted by GW member 'marbs' on 2/27/05. If you want to view the entire thread and his original post, go to http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/strucs/msg0220164716982.html Here is a link that might be useful: Marbs' Harbor Freight Greenhouse
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ground still not frozen!
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wait until a good hard frost or three. i have already covered mine with mulch, but i have 50 yards of rose hedge, so a few mice here or there means nothing. there is no problem with waiting, but keep your eyes open on theweathernetwork.com and let that be your judge. Just MAKE SURE that you have a good supply of UNFROZEN compost to protect the bushes. I used oak leaves many years ago, and they are bad news. for oak leaves just put on a few inches - if you pile them, like what you're saying, the snow will pack them down, in the spring they get wet and full of molds and fungus, which makes a MESS of the roses. I would say NO! don't use leaves, but if you have to, use only a few inches.
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When will the soil be NOT frozen
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Comments (13)
Songbirdmommy you have the right idea. In lasgna gardening most people line the ground with several layers of newspaper or one of cardboard to block weeds, then build right on top of them. You layer things like compost, manure, grass clipping, kitchen waste, shredded paper, etc onto the newspaper or cardboard, then you can either let them self compost (with the help of worms, which seem to be drawn by the paper products) or you can plant directly into them right away. Amazing, right, but they are supposed to work great and if you mulch them with straw or grass clippings (my favorite) the weeds stay at bay and the bed stays wetter and requires less water. I have been doing some reading on permaculture, which is a way of having each part of the yard or garden set so that it creates beneficial relationships with other parts of the landscape (an interesting concept, but it's hard to get specific details on how to do it), anyway, he does the same thing. The only thing to watch for is bareroot plants and trees can't be planted in lasagna beds unless they are will composted, so you have to dig into the ground to set their roots, or at least most of the root and root ball. Because you don't *ever* till the beds, only add more mulch to them periodically, they are supposed to be much easier and less work. If you go to gw forums, accessible gardening, there are lots of posts about this technique, and they can give a lot more info on it.
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How are you guys up north with greenhouses holding up?
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Comments (51)
Thanks guys! Hibiscus and Jenny, I had just rearranged the benches and trees to make the space look more open. It was a relief just to get the gh enclosed in time before the big chill and we were so tired that we just put the benches in for the citrus, hung lights above them and that was enough at the time. Christmas is over and now that I have more of a feel for the space, room, light and heat wise, I can shift things around.. I did not want to put all of the citrus trees down in the gh at once until I knew the temperature was stable and I had enough hookups for lights , so I still have a few trees upstairs in my sunroom. The trees will get bigger and need repotting into larger pots eventually and I still have close to 20 small citrus tree liners of various varieties and also seedlings. As they grow they will take up more space so I need to be careful of all the enabling that goes on around here.. lol.. I really only want 2 or three more trees and hopefully I can remain strong and resist the urge to aquire more and more.. lol.. Brian, only 12 more weeks of winter? Lol.. I am looking forward to ordering and starting my garden seeds. I have been getting lots of garden catalogs in the mail and have not had the time to look at them. I planted a lot of daffodil bulbs in the fall and have 2 new grandbabies arriving in 2018. Have a lot to look forward too. :)
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cottagefarmer
18 years ago
Yes, I had planned to build a concrete foundation so I cleared the snow, got out the shovel and tried to dig a hole. This was in the first week of February. After working for about 15 minutes, I had chopped a groove about a shovel width wide and 3 inches deep. I then changed my plan and built a treated wood foundation. You can see the construction photos at the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Greenhouse Construction
megdagooch
Original Author
18 years ago
Oh my goodness!What a setup, picture perfect. I can only dream of a greenhouse like that, and all the accessories! Wow!
I can not tell from the pic's, did you drive 2x4's into the ground to attach it to the ground?
cottagefarmer
18 years ago
There are diagonal braces at the corners of the foundation frame that have rebar rods pounded into the ground through them. The base was also filled with a couple of cubic yards of rocks and gravel, so it is not going to blow away.
megdagooch
Original Author
18 years ago
That is what I am thinking of doing. I hope once DH sees your pic's he'll feel better about it. Thank You!
puffysmom
18 years ago
I would love to have a setup like that but am not knowledgeable enough to start up such a wonderful setup. I was also wondering if one could build in winter. I live about 30 miles west of Green Bay and we do still have snow.....until after the weekend. I want to get in mine also. I am also thinking of seeing if a handyman in town can build mine as my son has to many irons in the fire as it is.
I live in a city so will not have to much of a problem with wind. Just cold.
I suppose I could go out with a hair dryer and melt the snow faster. teehee.
megdagooch
Original Author
18 years ago
Oohhh a hairdryer! Now dont go giving me ideas!!!!
nathanhurst
18 years ago
Would a bonfire be quicker and more fun?

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