How to hide a greenhouse

[CatUnderTheStairs]

Small garden, don’t want the greenhouse to be too in your face. What’s the best way of distracting the eye? Or do I suck it up and spend the money on one that looks better?

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Plant something between you and it to break up the outline. Don't try to hide every bit of it, a greenhouse-shaped lump of vegetation will simply draw attention. But something attractive will draw the eye away from the greenhouse.

Alternatively, make sure you always have something attractive in the end of the greenhouse that your see.

Don't plant so close that you impeded the light into the greenhouse.

Sensible choice for a greenhouse is the best you can afford - the only thing that looks worse than a utilitarian greenhouse is one that is starting to fall to bits.

[CatUnderTheStairs]

Good thoughts thank you. A mix of evergreen and taller airy planting should help. I was thinking of a couple of bay trees as they can be strucutural and not too overwhelming. A border with airy stuff and maybe some big pots.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Think also about placement. If you want to hide the greenhouse from your "sitting with a view of the garden" place, a smaller plant close to you will do the job as well as a bigger plant nearer the greenhouse - in fact, better, because as well as the physical hiding, if you focus on the plant, the greenhouse will be less in focus for a near plant than for one which is close to the greenhouse.

[CatUnderTheStairs]

Of course! I hadn't really thought of it that way. It's all a bit academic at the moment as we haven't moved in yet and the garden is going to get destroyed while an extension is built. I'm trying to distract myself by thinking of how lovely it'll be when it's finished.

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

A neighbour has secured a large/ tall panel of trellis between two fence posts and grown climbing plants up it with a herbaceous border in front.

[Greenanchor]

I'd break up as much of the outline/shape of the greenhouse, tall ornamental grasses on the corners(dont chop it down in winter) calamagrostis karl forster is one I use. And a lavender mini hedge along the base, works great as it also attracts loads of bees which will help in your GH. You could go a step further and put a trellis up, use the gravel between the trellis and GH, you'll end up with a warm dry area to walk on that smells of lavender and traps the heat (gravel)

[Teenagedream]

Mine is right in the back garden just off the patio to one side. We had a cheap aluminium one for about 18 years which did an excellent job but didn't look great. This summer I replaced it with a Rhino blue grass one with finials. It looks lovely.

[Fere]

but trellis and tall plants will stop light getting to your plants!

[MereDintofPandiculation]

but trellis and tall plants will stop light getting to your plants! only if right up against your greenhouse and then only from one side. The biggest light source is through the rood, so try not to have overhanging trees.

Another thing you can do is have attractive plants inside the greenhouse on the side you see.

[APerkyPumpkin]

What's in my greenhouse is the first thing I look at each morning when I make my coffee. When I moved it to the allotment, I have do get a smaller mini one, just so I could gaze at it and the seedlings and plants in there every day.

I currently have it full of aloes, and kale and pak choi and other brassicas being used as cut and come again for my juices.

Why have one and hide it? They are glorious.