Cloches and tunnels are essential for a garden. If you want to grow plants in your back garden, then look for some cloches to keep your plants healthy. A variety of designs are available and gardeners can choose them according to their requirements. It is a flexible solution for your garden that you can conveniently move around as and when needed.
Cloches and tunnels are suitable for domestic as well as commercial gardens. Many gardeners prefer to build them on their own. However, DIY cloches may not be durable and also affect the outlook of your otherwise beautiful garden.
Garden cloches can be made of any material, but the most common ones include fabric and plastic. You can also opt for traditional cold frames if you’re looking for better protection from low temperatures and humidity. However, cold frames are fixed and you can’t move them around. Let’s have a look at some benefits of cloches and tunnels.
Weather Protection
The use of cloches is quite common in small gardens. You need to keep young plants or seedlings safe from rain, strong winds and snowfall. These cloches also prove to be useful for protection of well-grown plants. They ensure that you don’t lose your crops to frosting.
It is an affordable solution that every gardener must use to keep vegetation safe from extreme weather. They can also help you in growing some plants that usually don’t sustain in local climatic conditions. Cloches and tunnels maintain a warm environment that keeps plants fresh and healthy.
Keeping Soil Warm
You can make the most of tunnel cloches by preparing soil a week or two before sowing seeds. Always use cloches to prepare soil before sowing seeds. They make soil suitable for the growth of plants. However, you can’t leave them on for long. Make sure you remove them soon so that they don’t become the reason behind spreading diseases and infections.
Healthy Conditions
Cloches act as a protective layer for plants. The major threats for plants and trees are birds, pests and insects. Tunnel cloches assist in keeping them safe from damaging your crops. Plastic cloches are effective against small animals, insects and birds. However, you can’t keep them on for long, since they tend to block air and sunlight.
You can opt for mesh tunnels, but choose the width and strength of meshes carefully. Use a durable garden cloche so that your plants can withstand pests, birds and harsh weather conditions. The better the protection against such harmful elements, the more time seeds will get to germinate.
It maintains ideal conditions for plants to grow. For instance, you’ll notice that spinach and cauliflower grown under a tunnel cloche are more tender and fresh than standard plants.
Greenhouse Effect
Tunnel cloches create greenhouse effect which helps in the growth of plants. When sunrays enter the space, they are converted into heat energy. The increased heat is beneficial for plants, since it speeds up their growth.
