Topic: Greenhouse Shading

[derbex]

Richard,

I use an old white sheet to cover part of the g/house. I secure it with clothes pegs to the Al. frame -bulldog clips would be stronger.

Otherwise shading paint -comes off with a sponge and soapy water.

All this taking off and putting back on doesn't work if you do :) ,although I'll sometimes take the sheet off if the weather's going to be bad.

Jeremy

[tim]

For those who do want a material covering:
http://www.simplycontrol.com/catalogue/shading/default.asp

And you don't have to do the on-off thing - it's just that I'm a firm believer - in this country - of maximum light.

A nice bit of theory in the Aluminet  article here:
http://www.igcusa.com/greenhouse-shade-cloth.html

[Mrs Ava]

Always done it that way Richard and have never had any complaints.  You do what you can, what you can afford, and what works, and it works a treat for me. ;D

[Merry Tiller]

Nice idea that MT. Might try it. However i hope you dont mean drilling the GH frame?

Why not? Extruded ally is very strong as is timber framing

[SEDUM]

I use an old bamboo blind we no longer use, and have in the past used those beach type grass mats, they work too!

I do the same as you!  I have four old IKEA split-bamboo blinds fitted to the outside of the greenhouse.  They are infinitely adjustable and have lasted for years.

Art

[Garden Manager]

Just sorted out the shading. Got some netting and some special clips for aluminium greenhouses. Easy fixing  too. Sorted.  :)

Thanks for the advice

[tim]

Well here's a strange one - never noticed it before.

The vents on the north side were fully open this am - those on the south side, with plastic shading over them, were barely cracked.

So, the shading is obviously doing something, but I'd rather have the ventilation!!

[Doris_Pinks]

I don't put the shading over my vents, (I use old bamboo blinds) because the weight of the blinds stops my vent opening!

[tim]

With you on that - but, in our case, it was the openers being shaded that limited their operation.

[Doris_Pinks]

What a nuisance!

[tim]

But interesting??

[weedgrower]

there is a product called coolglass that works very well for your problem and it mis fairly easy to remove

[Garden Manager]

Tim, you say the 'shaded' vent wasnt opening much but do you have any idea what the temperature was at the time inside the house? The fact that the vent and opener were shaded might lure one into a false impression that the greenhouse was getting cooled enough. ie the greenhouse might have been cooler if BOTH had been open  ???

I find even with shading its the louvres, vents and door which do the most work keeping the 'house cool. My shading seems to mainly cut out the strong sunlight (which we all know can damage plants terribly), with the secondary effect of reducing the temperature a bit. 

On warm sunny mornings the inside temperature can get up to the high 30s C if not higher, before i can get out there to open the door.

Just something i have observed...... :-\

[tim]

I'm with you on the purpose of shading, Richard - I only keep mine on for 3-4 hours a day. I want all the light I can get.
Just checked yesterday's max - in the coolest part, at ground level - 92F. Too hot!!

This opener observation highlights a regular feature - that the north vents always open before the southern. I've just extended the range of the latter to compensate.

[Garden Manager]

Thing is with my greenhouse, I have one vent (north facing) and one louvre in a 6' x5'  space. I thought this was enough - maybe I need a second vent in the opposite side?

Yesterday even with everything open (and shading on) the temperature in there reached 42 C !

[steves.no1]

hi
i went to B&Q today and they have shading that you mix with water and you can paint it or spray it on & when you don't need any more you just wipe if off with a duster its about £5/7 thinking of getting some for myself ?

steve

[Garden Manager]

hi
i went to B&Q today and they have shading that you mix with water and you can paint it or spray it on & when you don't need any more you just wipe if off with a duster its about £5/7 thinking of getting some for myself ?

steve

Good idea. Go for it. Was thinking of using it myself until I went for netting instead. Might still get some actualy as the netting only covers one side of the 'house. Shade paint might be an option for the rest.

[Kepouros]

On the basis that they are always a b*gger to get out when you want to replace a pane, a few extra strategically placed glazing clips should provide sufficient anchorage to tie lightweight netting or fleece to.