Simple Tips for Converting Your Garage Into a Bountiful Winter Garden
Who says you have to put a hold on your gardening until spring comes around? Maybe your outdoor garden won’t be in the shape to cultivate plants and flowers during winter, but that doesn’t mean you have to cease gardening altogether. If you have extra space in your garage, or if you don’t mind parking outside for a couple of months, then you can convert that garage into a beautiful, plentiful garden of plants, flowers, and some vegetables, both native and non-native. And here’s the thing, it’s not all that difficult. It simply requires a little time and effort. From decluttering the space to providing a heat supply, here are some tips for turning your garage into a cool-weather garden. Thoroughly Declutter The first part of creating a garden in your garage will be to get rid of any clutter. This includes going through your seasonal clothing, holiday decorations, tools, household equipment, and anything else that may call your garage home. Set everything into one of four piles: keep, trash, sell, or give away. Once you’ve thrown away what you want to, then you can figure out how to neatly store items, list items online to sell, and/or find people or an organization to give items to.
Let the Light Shine Without adequate light, plants and flowers cannot flourish. If your garage has windows perfectly positioned to shine natural sunlight onto your garden, that’s great. However, chances are you will need to add lighting. Research the plants you want to grow, and find out what kind of light they require. According to 101 Grow Lights, some things will grow well under fluorescent bulbs, while others may call for full-spectrum grow lights. Bring on the Heat If your home’s HVAC is connected to your garage, you may not need to worry about additional heating. If it’s not, you will need to add a space heater and/or solar lamps to stabilize the environment. A slightly warmer temperature than freezing is ideal for most plants and flowers, but you will need it a little warmer if you’re growing things like tomatoes and peppers. If your garage is having a tough time retaining heat, you may need to make some repairs. If there’s damage to your roof which is allowing cold air to enter your garage, connect with local roofers to fix the problem. Before hiring anyone, read reviews and learn about ratings for Angi roofers in your area. If you have drafty windows, you should take steps to get those repaired as well. It’s a good idea to document any repairs you make to your home—these updates could boost the value of your home. Consider Plastic Sheets Hanging greenhouse plastic sheets around your garden is especially beneficial when you’ve first planted seedlings and/or are growing in cool weather. They can help to stabilize the temperature by blocking out air drafts and changing temperatures. And since plastic sheets reflect surrounding light, they can also provide more light for your plants. Keep It Organized Once you get the bones of your operation in place, you will need to get the right kinds of planters for storing your plants and flowers. Try to maximize the vertical space of your garage by placing your planters on shelving units along the walls. Not only will this allow you more room to grow plants, but it will give your garden a cleaner, more organized look. If you want to keep growing plants and flowers through winter, consider converting your garage into a garden. Start by decluttering the space, and make sure the garage has an adequate supply of light and heat. Also, consider hanging plastic sheets around your growing areas, and find the right kinds of planters and shelving units to keep your garden space organized and attractive. What’s more, you can store most of your indoor garden items away so that you can easily access them next year!
