Metal base direct in soil...

[chris]

I've searched through all the threads about this, but still am kind of undecided. I know it's a personal choice - and my main aim is to grow in pots in my GH. I'd also like the opportunity of growing in the soil at at later date - but I'm also now thinking of saving a bit of money. If I go ecobase, its going to be £182+a tonne of pea shingle (~£50).

If I go flag stones, I'm looking at a similar amount + an extra weeks work as I'll only be able to do it in the evenings.

I'd like some staging in there to start things off, before planting out.

if I go flag stones, i'm going to have to buy a few more tools too - such as a vice, soft mallet, and large hacksaw - as you n eed to cut the backets down that anchor the metal base into the ground normally.

Anyways - question is if I went with putting the base straight into the ground has anyone who has done this used postfix, or cement to anchor the brackets/pegs into the ground? Just thinking this may give it a bit more sturdyness. It's a glass GH is that makes any difference.

[Capsid]

For a previous greenhouse, I dug a small tench and then filled it with hardcore and placed the base on that. In the current greenhouse, I have screwed the greenhouse directly onto the flagstone base. The weight of the glass gives a good amount of sturdiness.

[Bigmallly]

My GH sits on breeze blocks for extra height.

[chris]

I need to drop it down a bit, below my fence line ideally.. Part of the reason I put the fence up was that a couple individuals seem to chuck their beer bottles in that side garden, which has stopped now thankfully. I don't want to tempt fate with them seeing a greenhouse then lobbing a bottle through it!

[Buleste]

My fathers original greenhouse did have the base on the soil with the corner posts concreted in so you can do it however there are problems. The first is even though the base will be made of galvanised steel or covered in a protective coating the coatings will wear off and the base will rot quicker than if you have it on a more solid footing (Okay it takes years but it does take a few years off the overall life of your GH.). Another is because the soil inside is connected directly with outside then you are prone to invaders. Some of the slimy kind, some of the furry kind and some of the rooted kind. It's a case of you may save money now but you might pay later.

I know it costs a heluva lot for just the materials to pave and it's backbreaking work but the satisfaction of finishing is immense and admiring your new Green House on it's new paving is worth it.

Have a look on www.greenhousepeople.co.uk and click on the HELP button at the top and you go to a page that has various instructions on bases.

[Patchninja]

Mine is super-simples. I took 4 flower pots and mixed up some concrete. I dug small holes in the ground and lightly rested the base on the pots and made sure it was level. Removed the base and fill pots and holes with concrete. This made a nice even (VERY important) basis for the metal base to sit on. It has been there for years.

[black olive]

other option is a small trench filled with gravel. this will also give you drainage for run off water. having rescued a greenhouse that had been put on soil, it makes a mess of the aluminium.
you could lay sheets of polystyrene insulation down to go under the pots

[chris]

Thanks chaps.. I've ummed and arred about it since posting, I really need to get it up, so I'm going to do a mix of yours, Patchninja, and black olive.

I'll bury pots (or similar) for the spikes to rest in for a bit more anchorage [filled with post concreated/fix, or similar] - then dig a shallow trench around where the base will rest on the soil. - line that with weed fabric, and fill with pea shingle.

I'll then get some heavy duty weed control fabric, or similar - put down and cover with pea shingle too with some slabs as a walk way. That way, I've drainage, the ability to dampen down (slightly), and then option of growing in the border if needed later on.

[Flummery]

Mine's directly on the soil - well clay in that area! It is anchored with those metal pegs and here and there is levelled on a brick. It's withstood some ferocious winds since we erected it - 10 years ago. I like to grow in my greenhouse soil. I have a foot wide flagged path down the centre and the staging is on bricks at the corners to level it too.

[Madasafish]

My greenhouse was installed (DIY) on a galvanised base directly onto soil. The brackets were sunk into the soil and post mortar mix stuffed into the hole. The galvanised base was painted with black bitumen paint.

28 years later the base is still intact - the paint has been touched up and rusty areas derusted, covered with anti rust paint and retreated... and it looks good for another 28 years..