HOW TO BUILD a BACKYARD GREENHOUSE

Step-by-step plans for making a plant-filled oasis

- JOSEPH TRUINI

Many backyard gardeners start their plants indoors in late winter or early spring, before the weather is warm. But the best way to jump-start plants for spring gardening and also extend the growing season into winter is with a backyard greenhouse. Our design is a 6-by-8-foot structure, large enough to accommodate dozens of plants but compact enough to fit into the smallest yard. It's also easy to build, requiring only basic carpentry skills and easy-to-use tools. You can finish it over a couple of weekends.

The cost of the materials to build our greenhouse is about $1,200. That's higher than some pre-assembled greenhouses, but our materials are more reliable than any "snap together" model; plus, this one is customizable. We include a potting bench, overhead plant hanger, and deck, but you can add or subtract features as needed. Whether you're an expert gardener or a rookie, our greenhouse will expand your gardening potential and diversify the kinds of plants you can grow at home.

CUT THE TIMBER FRAME FOUNDATION

Start by crosscutting two pressure-treated 4x6 timbers to 8 ft. long, and two other 4x6s to 6 ft. long. Mark both ends of all four timbers for a 134-in.deep x 542-in.-wide half-lap joint. Set the depth of cut on your circular saw to 134 in., and make a shoulder cut across the timber precisely 542 in. from each end of the four 4x6s. Then set the saw to its maximum depth of cut and make the cheek cut in from the end of the timber [1].