When you spend money and time on putting up a greenhouse in your garden, you want to make sure that you have the right flooring.
Because the wrong choice could cause you problems in the future. If you are unsure of what the best greenhouse flooring is for you, then don’t worry. We have got you covered.
In this article, we show you 5 materials to use to create the best greenhouse flooring for your needs.
#1: Concrete Slab
Many gardeners opt for a concrete slab as a base, as it is long-lasting. It’s also easy to clean and maintain. And it works great as a floor.
If you are planning to grow in pots or containers, then this is a great option, as it will be able to take the weight of many pots.
A Concrete slab will also absorb heat and give it up slowly overnight when it gets colder. So, your greenhouse will get some heating without needing any actual heaters.
It is also a great weed barrier and will keep your greenhouse free of them. And you don’t have to worry about pests, such as rats or other rodents entering your greenhouse.
These are all reasons why many gardeners think a concrete slab makes the best greenhouse flooring.
However, this type of flooring does have some disadvantages. For one, concrete floors don’t give you drainage, unless you pour it with a slope. This will allow excess water to drain away.
This type of flooring is also expensive to install, as the material costs are high, and you need to hire a professional to ensure it’s done properly.
But once it’s installed, it should last you a long time, and it’s easy to maintain.
How To Maintain A Concrete Slab Floor
The best and easiest way to keep your concrete slab floor clean is by using a pressure washer. Make sure you remove your plants before you start the cleaning process though to prevent them from getting damaged.
We recommend the Kärcher K 2 Power Control Home High-Pressure Washer. It’s lightweight and great value for money.
- Efficient cleaning: The K 2 Power Control Home pressure washer uses a maximum pressure of 110 bar to clean bicycles, garden tools and furniture for the garden, patio or balcony, for example
- Knowledge in your pocket: The Kärcher Home & Garden app contains information about how to use pressure washers, its areas of application, lots of tips and tricks as well as the Kärcher service portal
- 2 spray lances: The K 2 Power Control Home comes with a high-pressure gun, Vario Power spray lance and dirt blaster. These can all be quickly connected thanks to the Quick Connect system
If you prefer a cheaper option to keep your concrete slab flooring clean, you can also use a heavy duty outdoor brush.
While it will take longer and be harder work, a bucket of soapy water and a brush will also do a good job.
We recommend this Heavy Duty Outdoor Broom, as it is sturdy and has good reviews. It works both when used wet or dry, so it can be used to brush away soil and leaves as well as giving your flooring a good scrub.
- Stiff 11.5" PVC Broom Outdoor – Sweep your yards with this garden broom outdoor. Featuring the hard-wearing stiff PVC bristles and 11.5-inch size of the yard brush head, this hard bristle broom is perfect to clean leaves and any stubborn dirt in your gardens, yards or patios.
- Strong 120cm Metal Handle – Clean with ease using this outdoor brush heavy duty that comes with a 120cm sturdy metal handle. The head of the stiff broom has a durable plastic bracket. This screw thread support bracket ensures strong and easy control between the PVC hard bristle brush and the broom handle.
- Heavy Duty Broom Ideal for All Outdoor Tasks – This stiff broom outdoor can sweep away large debris like grass or leaves but is also efficient in cleaning small dirt such as wood chips, dust and sands. If you are looking for a hard broom sweeping brush outdoor that is suitable for stone, concrete and wood floors at the garage, patios, gardens and yards, that is exactly what this outside broom is.
#2: Rocks And Pebbles
This is one of the most attractive types of greenhouse flooring, which is why many gardeners think it’s one of the best greenhouse flooring options.
One advantage of this greenhouse floor is that you can install it yourself. So no need to get expensive professionals in.
The rocks and pebbles will also absorb heat and release it when the temperature drops. Keeping your greenhouse nice and warm for your plants.
Depending on the size of your greenhouse, you might need quite a large amount of pebbles though, which could be costly. However, as you can install it yourself, it should still be cheaper than a concrete slab.
To make this type of greenhouse flooring work though, you will have to prepare the ground beforehand.
Otherwise, you will have weeds coming up between the pebbles. To avoid this, you have to clear the area of weeds and also put down a weed mat.
This is a plastic mat that will let water through, but will prevent weeds from being able to come through. You can easily get them online.
We recommend this weed fabric, as it has been treated to prevent biodegradation, which means it will last longer.
- Weed Control fabric measures 2m x 10m / 78.7 inch x 393.7 inch. Can be cut with scissors/knife according to your preferable measurements.
- Ideal for use in Patios, Garden, Flower beds, Landscaping, Pathways, Drives, Under decking etc.
- UV Stabilised fabric to avoid biodegradation on exposure to sunlight.
#3: Gravel
Gravel is seen as one of the best greenhouse flooring options, because it is cheap and easy to install.
It will provide excellent drainage, so you don’t need to be worried about your greenhouse getting waterlogged.
Like with pebbles and rocks, you will need to prepare the ground by removing all the weeds and then put down weed fabric.
This will keep your greenhouse weed free and will also provide a barrier to keep rodents out.
Because gravel tends to move around a lot when walked on, you should consider getting edging material. This will keep your gravel in place.
We recommend this flexible edging, as it can be used for any shape. It is also very easy to use.
- Our plastic lawn edging is very flexible and can be bent at any angle to suit different shapes.
- The material in our garden edging is excellent, you don't have to worry about it breaking.
- No need to dig the edge of the lawn, the installation is simple, enhance the beauty of the garden.
#4: Brick Floor
A brick floor can also double up as your greenhouse foundation, which means you can get both installed for the price of one.
Depending on the size of your greenhouse, you could get away with a single-skin brick floor. But as it will also provide the foundation for your greenhouse, it needs to be strong enough for stability.
So, if you have a bigger greenhouse, you might want to consider a double-skin layer.
Using bricks as flooring material has many benefits. Not only will it look really nice, but the bricks will also absorb moisture, which will create more humid conditions in your greenhouse.
So, if you are planning to grow plants that need such conditions, like fruits and vegetables, then a brick floor is ideal.
The bricks also have very good heat retention. Which they will release when the temperatures drop, thereby keeping your greenhouse at a good temperature.
A brick floor is also durable, if maintained properly.
To ensure that you have good drainage, you should lay your brick floor on a layer of sand.
If you are after a nice looking floor that is easy to clean, then a brick floor is the best greenhouse flooring option for you.
How To Maintain A Brick Floor
While bricks are a durable material, dirt and grit can damage them. They can damage the surface, over time, so it is important to keep your brick floor clean.
You want to brush or even vacuum your brick floor on a regular basis to keep the dirt at bay.
A brick floor will also benefit from regular mopping. You can do this, using an ordinary mop and bucket, such as this one.
- One Vileda SuperMocio 3Action Mop and Bucket kit with three-piece handle and torsion wringer mop bucket
- Microfibre mop includes non-scratch scouring, grease removal and extra hair and particle pick up for a trio of cleaning actions that makes floor cleaning easy
- Vileda 3Action XL mop head provides 25% more floor contact and the bucket's torsion power wringer squeezes the head with less effort for more efficient floor cleaning
You can use just water, depending on how dirty your greenhouse floor gets and how clean you want it.
If you use a commercial cleaning product, make sure it’s suitable for stone floors, such as this one.
- HG Neutral tile floor cleaner for natural stone surfaces: Specially developed to clean marble, terrazzo, travertine, slate, limestone and other natural stone flooring regularly, thoroughly and safely
- Gentle yet powerful for daily deep cleaning: Does not contain acids, alkaline or other chemical ingredients which could harm the surface or gloss, for regular streak-free cleaning of tiled surfaces
- Won’t damage your floors: The ideal kitchen floor cleaner, living area or bathroom floor cleaner. Safe to use on shiny or matte floor tiles and all types of non-calciferous, sealed or unsealed tiles
#5: Weed Cloth
If you want to floor your greenhouse like a commercial greenhouse, then a weed cloth is the way to go.
These are used in big scale greenhouses because they are cheap, drain well and prevent weeds from coming up.
They also help to keep pests out of the greenhouse.
This type of flooring is very easy to install yourself and easy to clean.
What Types Of Greenhouse Flooring Not To Use
All of the above are popular choices when it comes to greenhouse flooring, which will work well.
However, there are also materials that shouldn’t be used.
Wood
While a wooden floor might look nice, there are problems with it.
Because you will have to water your plants in the greenhouse regularly, the floor will get wet a lot. And with a wooden floor, this can cause issues.
The moisture could cause the floor to get mouldy and rot. On one hand, this means it won’t last very long.
On the other hand, it can also be dangerous, if it suddenly collapses.
You also don’t want mould in your greenhouse, as this could cause fungal infections to your plants. Many of which will destroy your crops.
Other pests could also find a home in the wood, from which to attack your plants.
Mulch
The opinions on this are divided. Some think this is one of the best greenhouse flooring types, because it is cheap and will provide drainage.
And also because it will suppress weeds and will add nutrients to the soil.
However, you would have to renew it on a regular basis, at least every one to two years.
Mulch is designed to decompose and release its nutrients into the soil and in a humid environment, such as in a greenhouse, it will decompose even quicker.
It is also possible to introduce fungal spores and insects into your greenhouse with the mulch. This could cause illnesses and pest attacks, which could damage your crops.
It is also not possible to clean a mulch floor.
Does A Greenhouse Need A Concrete Base?
No, you can build a greenhouse on other types of base than a concrete base.
However, a concrete base is considered the best choice, as it will provide a secure and level foundation for your greenhouse.
And this is the most important thing when considering what base to use.
And it will also provide you with one of the best greenhouse flooring options.
One alternative is soil. However, this will only work if the soil is well compacted and firm. Sandy soil will not work.
You still need to concrete in four posts at the corner of the frame though.
Unless you install some sort of greenhouse flooring, the floor could get waterlogged and muddy, which is not ideal.
Also, rodents will find it easy to get into your greenhouse if you rely solely on the soil floor.
The best greenhouse flooring options will prevent pests, such as rodents, from entering your greenhouse.
You could also build a base for your greenhouse out of slabs or paving. It looks attractive and will last you for years.
Now that you know what options there are, you can choose the best greenhouse flooring for your needs and start growing tomatoes, cucumbers and so much more.
