Building a cheap greenhouse or fenced garden

Our old enclosed garden/greenhouse

Building a greenhouse sounds overwhelming but can be cheap and easy. We built an enclosed garden in the back yard of our apartment building before we bought our house. In the winter months, with the help of a little sheet plastic, it served as a cheap greenhouse. Greenhouse building is not in my list of skills but this method was quite simple. I learned quickly.

To begin building a simple greenhouse or enclosed garden you will need 2x4x8 lumber and cement mix. The amount needed depends on the size of the greenhouse. You will need 4 vertical corner posts as well as one vertical post every three to four feet for the frame. You will also need horizontal posts all the way around the top and bottom of the frame.

Use a post hole digger to dig holes for building the four corners of the greenhouse. Be sure to take accurate measurements to evenly place the holes. Stand a 2x4 up in one of the holes and brace it while using a level to insure that it is straight. The 4 inch width should face the front and back of the greenhouse. Now mix the cement as directed and pour it into the hole with the post braced in place.

Repeat this step in building the other three corner posts of the cheap greenhouse. When the cement is dry, remove the braces. The other support posts do not need to be cemented in. They can be dirt packed in. A string can be strung around all the corner posts to help place the rest of the posts evenly. Use the level and braces for these dirt packed posts.

Once all the posts are in place, it's time to build the rest of the frame. The horizontal posts at the top and bottom are screwed into the vertical posts with an electric drill with a screwdriver bit and three inch construction screws. The posts should be measured so as to be flush at the corners of the cheap greenhouse. The horizontal posts will need to meet in the center of the other posts for attachment purposes. Use the level prior to screwing the frame together.

If your cheap greenhouse is larger than 8x10, bracing posts will need to be screwed in from side to side. Measure the distance between sides and use the level for placement. Drill screws in from the front and back of the frame to hold the bracing posts in place. The bracing posts will insure the stability of the cheap greenhouse in bad weather.

We used an old screen door that was a bit tall for our cheap greenhouse. One that fits better can be constructed by building a frame and stretching screen across it. Hinges and a lock can be placed on the outside of the cheap greenhouse frame to eliminate the need for a built in door frame. Once the door is in place, it's time to weather proof your garden.

Coat the entire frame and the wooden part of the door with outdoor paint or weatherproofing. We wanted to keep things cheap so we used some old paint purchased for the shed and picnic table in our yard. Weather proofing and paint are available in brush on and sprays. Weather proofing leaves a more natural look to the wood frame. One coat is sufficient but two coats lasts longer.

If you are using the structure as an enclosed garden in the summer months, it will need to be screened in. Chicken wire is the cheap alternative to screening. It gives the enclosed garden a rustic look. The chicken wire is also great for climbing vines. Use an industrial staple gun or hand pounded staples to attach the chicken wire all around and across the top of the frame.

In the winter months, purchase rolls of cheap plastic and staple them to the cheap greenhouse frame. The enclosed garden can continue to be utilized this way for most of the winter. With the addition of a portable heater, the cheap greenhouse garden can continue to produce crops all winter.