If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you’ll probably know it’s quite easy to let it fall into disrepair.

To keep it in tiptop condition and prevent any pests spreading in the warm conditions takes around ten minutes a day in the summer, but now’s probably the time to give it its spring clean after the winter, which could take you up to two hours. Here’s our list of top tips for maintaining your greenhouse:

General Maintenance
Support plants with canes to stop them from dropping all over the place and when you get new shoots, be sure to tie them in as soon as they’ve grown enough

Keep up to date with pruning and thinning plants, especially fruit plants such as grape vines

Weed and water regularly to ensure soil and plants don’t dry out or become suffocated, but avoid watering plants in the middle of the day or you risk scorching them

Check if your plants like a high humidity then splash some water onto the greenhouse floor, on a daily basis in the summer (this is called ‘damping down’). You can also use a held-held mist sprayer in and around the greenhouse

Feed your plants regularly with a quality plant food

In early summer, don’t forget to put up shade nets to stop plants from burning in the sun – not too much of a problem in Britain at most times, but better safe than sorry for when the sun chooses to surprise us. You can also buy shade washes now to spray on the outside of the greenhouse, which you then leave on until autumn when you can simply wash them off

Naturally, check for the pests themselves and if you are unlucky enough to get some, then treat with the appropriate treatment. Common pests include aphids or mealy bug and common diseases can include botrytis.