How to Attach Greenhouse Plastic

Creating a greenhouse requires that you make maximum use of sunlight during the growing cycle of your plants. To do so, you need a covering of clear material that allows the sun to shine through, while trapping the heat inside. For inexpensive greenhouse builds, this clear material is often plastic. Using plastic allows you to mold the material closely to the body of the greenhouse, wasting no space and trapping in as much heat as possible. Keeping the plastic in place, however, requires that you attach it securely without tearing it, and for that you'll need to follow the proper procedure.

Things You'll Need

Clear greenhouse plastic
Staples

Utility knife

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the greenhouse with plastic, from end to end, pulling the plastic over the structure until it reaches the ground.
- 2
  Pull the plastic tightly against the body of the greenhouse structure at one end, and attach it to the framework using staples. Repeat the process for the center of the structure, and again at the opposite end of the greenhouse frame.
- 3
  Staple the plastic to each vertical framework support along the length of the greenhouse, always molding the plastic as tightly to the framework as possible.
- 4
  Staple the plastic to the horizontal supporting frame along the base of the greenhouse. Place a staple every 6 inches along the length of the support frame to hold the material securely in place.
- 5
  Secure the plastic to either end of the greenhouse by folding the material from the sides over the edges, and then pulling the plastic on top of the greenhouse straight down to overlap the end area. Attach it to the frame boards with staples every 6 inches as you did along the sides. Using a utility knife, cut the plastic for fitting over the greenhouse door. Trim the plastic so there are about 4 inches remaining to fold over the door edges, and then staple along both sides of the door frame to secure the plastic in place.

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