General Maintenance

Making the most of your Greenhouse

It is very important to keep your greenhouse clean and tidy to prevent pests and diseases spreading rapidly in the warm humid conditions.

Time needed - 10 minutes a day during summer. 2 hours for spring cleaning depending on greenhouse size.

You will need:
- Watering can.
- Mist sprayer.
- Trowel and hand fork.
- Canes.
- Shade nets.
- Secateurs.

What to do:
- Put canes around plants that need support, for example cordon tomatoes and melons and tie in emerging roots.
- Prick out, pot on and pinch out plants as needed. Summer pruning and fruit thinning may be required with some plants, such as grape vines.
- Weed around plants and in the beds.
- Make sure plants are fed as required.
- Put up shade nets in early summer - this will protect plants from scorching by direct overhead sunlight. Shading washes can also be sprayed onto the outside of the greenhouse and then washed off in autumn.
- Avoid watering plants in the middle of the day during summer as this can scorch the leaves.
- Some plants prefer high humidity, so splash the floor with water (called 'damping down' each day in the summer or use a hand held mist sprayer.
- Look out for pests and diseases and then treat appropriately. Common pests in warm, humid conditions include aphids, red spider mite and mealy buy. Disease include mildew and botrytis.