El Dorado Hills Garage Door Repair

Tag: Garage conversions

  • Choosing the Best Grow Light for Starting Seedlings In Your Garage

    Why Grow Plants in the Garage When You Live in California?

    Most gardeners who overwinter or start plants in their garage are shielding their seedlings and prize succulents from harsh winters and below freezing temps. One of the best perks of gardening in California is allowing plants to flourish outdoors year round, without interrupting their growth by uprooting them in winter and shocking them with a less-desirable home indoors. There are a few cases, however, when making use of your garage is a great idea for your garden’s inhabitants. Finding a good grow light is a crucial step.

    Starting Seeds with the Right Light

    It’s common sense that seedlings and young plants require more attention and care — that’s why greenhouses are also called nurseries. While plenty of native seeds will do just fine sown directly in the ground, that method is better for fields of wildflowers that aren’t planned and precise. If you truly want an organized garden with perfectly placed plants, ensuring they survive their first months before planting can prevent you from having to rearrange things later. Seed trays are great because they allow you to easily water all your seedlings at once, and can be placed on a heating mat to expedite germination. VIVOSUN Durable Waterproof Seedling Heat Mat is a good choice. The perfect light for this situation, according to The Spruce (which is the best online resource for home and garden product reviews), is the Roleadro LED 75W Grow Light.

    Because this light is a square panel as opposed to a bulb or gooseneck lamp, it distributes light perfectly above a seed tray. When placed 18-24 inches above the seedlings, it effectively nourishes seedlings and prevents them from stretching and becoming weak, like many do when they have to reach for their light source. Check out more tips for starting plants in your garage in our blog from spring 2016, Green Thumb? How to Grow Starter Plants in Your Garage Space

  • Green Thumb? How to Grow Starter Plants in Your Garage Space

    Green Thumb? How to Grow Starter Plants in Your Garage Space

    Green Thum How to Grow Starter Plants in Your Garage Space

    It’s springtime — the time of year to break out your green thumb and start gardening. Wouldn’t it be great to take what’s likely the largest covered room in your home and turn it into your own functional plant nursery? It doesn’t have to be a dream. Here’s how to make this a reality and have beautiful starts to begin your garden — grown right in your garage.

    Plan It Out

    It helps to start early. Sit down with that seed catalog in January and plan out your garden. Dream a little, get excited. This is where the fun part comes in — where you conceptualize your growing space.

    Decide which plants you want to grow. Map out where you’ll set them up in the garage. Card tables, shelves, bookcases work great. Plan to lay out plants side by side that take similar nutrients, have similar light needs, and similar growing patterns.

    Basil, for example, is great to grow with tomatoes because it will protect them from insects. Cabbages, however, will stunt tomatoes and shouldn’t be grown close together.

    Plan out what you’ll transplant when.

    Arranging Space in Your Garage

    Decide how much space you’ll need for your starts. Unless you are planning on only starting a few plants, you’ll likely need to dedicate at least half if not the full garage to your growing area. It may be a good idea to park your car outside for the time being.

    Arrange card tables or shelving to hold the starts. 2x4s are great are a great use of space. Arrange for space to transplant so you have room to work. Plastic on the ground and around the growing area can keep the space clean and avoid any contaminants from compromising the starts. You’ll want to keep all the plants elevated for ideal growing temperatures.

    Pay attention to drafts from open windows. Is your garage insulated? Do you have an insulated garage door? You might consider it as an option. Consider installing electric heaters for cold days.

    How much natural light does your garage get? Garage door window slats are helpful, but might not provide enough light. Growing lights may be used to supplement natural light.

    Pay attention to soil and humidity. These things can make or break an indoor plant space. Open the garage on nice sunny days to give the plants plenty of sunlight.

    And of course the garage is just where you get the starting plants off and running. When the plants are the right size, you’ll transplant them to an outdoor garden area when the season is right.