As spring approaches, many people face the dilemma of cheap greenhouses versus their more expensive brethren: which is better? Is there really a difference? Before purchasing anything, you must consider the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a greenhouse, whether cheap or expensive. Ultimately, it comes down to what you need in your life, and, as tempting as it is to simply buy a cheaper greenhouse, you must be certain that it meets all of your needs.
Cheap Greenhouses: Advantages
The obvious advantage is that they are, indeed, cheap. Many gardeners do not want to spend all of their money on a greenhouse; they want to save that for their plants and supplies. This is understandable–and, luckily, there are affordable houses that can be bought. Cheap greenhouses do not instantly equal bad greenhouses; just because you are saving money does not always mean that you are losing quality.
Many companies produce well-made and efficient greenhouse kits for affordable prices. Also, an advantage to buying these kits is that you can put them together yourself without difficulty. Cheap greenhouses are, often, smaller and can be constructed by the average gardener. This makes them ideal for when you have little time or yard space to maneuver in.
Cheap Green Houses: Disadvantages
Like with any product, there is a downside to buying a cheaper house. It is often argued that the less you spend, the more likely you are to suffer. Now, that is not always true but it can be. Some gardeners have complained that the materials cheaper houses are made of are less sturdy and more likely to break or fall apart. This can happen during severe weather conditions (wind, rain, etc). Also, since most cheap greenhouses are smaller, you can lose some of your space. If you intend to have lots of plants and lots of room, they are not the best way to go.
Choose Which Is Best For You:
If you are a serious gardener, with plans to continue with plants and growing, then a cheaper greenhouse is not recommended. However, for a first-time grower or someone just pottering about with a hobby, they can be excellent introductions to the world of gardening. Just decide what suits you best: the cheap greenhouse or the expensive one.
Long Handle Garden Tools
The benefits of long handle garden tools are not restricted to making gardening easier; they have far greater health benefits. As every gardener already knows, you have more time to spend in the garden as you grow older. Unfortunately, it’s also at such times that your body no longer has the ability to cope with as much stress as it used to in the past. It becomes important at this stage to look for ways of making gardening more fun, easier, and less stressful on the body. Long handle garden tools can help in this regard.
Benefits of Long Handle Garden Tools
1. They have a greater reach. You could reach farther and do more work while remaining in the same place– very good for those who have conditions like knee or ankle arthritis.
2. Enable you to work while standing upright. So you don’t bend to work and that horrible backache doesn’t come.
3. According to the laws of physics, they would require less energy to do more work. This is pure mechanics and you may not notice any difference except you are doing some particularly energy-demanding chore.
Which tools are good as long handle variants?
1. Tools that are good with long handles include Garden brooms, shovels, spades, cultivators, leaf rakes, and hand-held grass mowers.
2. Those better with short handles include the tools used for close-range gardening activities e.g. garden trowel, pruning shears, and a garden knife.
Things you need to consider:
1. They require more storage space.
2. They may cost a bit more than shorter handle models.
3. Some gardening chores are better done with short-handled gardening tools. E.g. Pruning and harvesting vegetables. In such situations, it’s advisable to get a garden stool or kneeler so you can work at close range in a comfortable position.
4. They are usually heavier than their short-handle counterparts.
Buying Tips for Long handle garden tools
1. Check out the length. Make sure the handle is long enough to allow you to work comfortably for a long time in a comfortable position.
2. Try out the grip. Can your hand fit in comfortably? Is the grip solid and strong? Does it have rubber sleeves to make it gentler on your hands? The whole point is to make sure it’s comfortable and safe.
3. Some have adjustable lengths. If you intend to get one like that, ask for a demonstration and make sure you know how to work it and are comfortable with the procedure for adjusting the length before you buy it.
4. Long-handle garden tools with handles that can be detached from the working ends of the tools are better because, if the handle gets damaged, you can simply order a new one and have it replaced.
5. Try out the weight. Are you comfortable with the weight? Tools made of lightweight materials like aluminum are easier to use.
6. Ask a friend who has had experience with a particular tool before you buy. That way you’d make a better buying decision.
7. Finally check out the variety of long-handle garden tools available before you buy.
