Orientation

[chris]

Not really sure which way to have my greenhouse. It's going to be a 6x10; the garden that it is going in runs along the side of the house - which faces roughly East-South-East (if that makes sense) I'm having a fence put it up now around the side garden, so the positioning of the greenhouse will also effect he position of the lourve (is this ok on the side, if I use that side that the lourve will be on to plant in the ground?)

I've staked it out, and gone arond with string so you can see the planned layout of them. The fenc is going to be running up against the border that you can see in the foregrond, with a gate in it as well for access.

It's only rough, so not square and I could if needed push the GH back into the corner by another foot comfortably, 2foot squeezing it right in (which I don't really want to do).

If the greenhouse is going to be run along the border pointing towards the house (to the right of where this photo was taken) then it'll get the sun as it moves around -- it'll be lying in a postiion that is roughly east-west.

Otherwise, it'll be running north-south if laid against where you can see the fence posts in the background.

[chris]

D'oh - you can't see the border in this photo, chose the wrong one heh. The border is running where the nearest stake is, near the bottom of the attached photo.

[Capsid]

An east-west aspect is preferred as the long axis of the greenhouse will get maximum sun during the day. I'd place the louvre on the side at the bottom (on the border side should be fine) as long as you get good air movement. Putting the greenhouse too close to a fence may restrict airflow and also impede your access to it if you need to replace panes or make repairs.

[Bigmallly]

As Capsid said, air flow is important so the louvre ideally should be at low level opposite your roof opener so you get good air flow

[piskieinboots]

East-west is best as you will get maximum daylight, which is obviously very important

[chris]

thanks all.. pretty much cleared the garden completely. Shattered, so will leave this forum in peace for a night as I'm off for a bath, food + bed!

[chris]

Bah, typed out a reply and I think I closed the window rather than submitting it.

Bit confused about the E-W/N-S orientation. My veg beds are N-S as advised on this board, so why is it different to a GH? My house runs North - South (checked finally) - the GH is going in the side garden, so if it runs E-W when the sun reaches around 5/6pm it'll be in the shadow of the house.. which I don't think is a problem really, as if it was N-S only the very tip of it would be in the sun at that sort of time anyway?

I've included a pic of what I've dug out so far, and am planning on (if it runs E-W as is dug out so far) to have a bed on the right hand side of the GH (running paralell to it) - with a trelis going up the side - sort of a screen if you like, but also to grow climbers up too. Would this cause too much shade? I'd like to try and make a feature out of the GH too you see. If the lourve goes on the RHS of the greenhouse, will this obstruct the airflow too much? Likewise, if it goes on the LHS of the GH will this be an issue (it'd be facing the fence then). there's probably 2-3 feet between the GH position and the fence to allow room for my gooseberry - that'll be fan trained on that fence, and also for access around - and maybe behind the GH have a compst bin.

Thanks again for all the advice!