A lean-to greenhouse uses a wall of your house, garage or garden as its back. It takes up less space than a freestanding greenhouse, and the wall stores heat by day and gives it back at night. For small gardens and patios it is often the best choice.
Which wall?
- South-facing: the most light and warmth. Ideal for tomatoes, chillies and peppers, but it can overheat in summer, so you need good ventilation and shading.
- West-facing: afternoon sun and warm evenings. A good all-round choice.
- East-facing: morning sun, cooler in the afternoon. Fine for salad and seedlings.
- North-facing: too little light for most crops. Use it for ferns and shade plants, or choose another spot.
Why a lean-to stays warmer
A brick or stone wall soaks up heat in the day and releases it at night. A house wall also loses a little heat from the house. Both help keep frost out in spring and autumn. A lean-to is also close to a tap and a socket, so watering and heating are easier.
Before you fix it to the wall
- The wall must be solid. Some models, such as the Halls Wall Garden, must be fixed to a solid wall.
- Check the height: windows, gutters and air bricks above the lean-to.
- Plan the rainwater: the roof sheds water onto the ground in front unless you fit a gutter.
- Planning: a lean-to fixed to your house is not a detached outbuilding, so the outbuilding rules do not cover it. Check the extension rules on the Planning Portal or ask your council. See our planning permission guide.
The lean-to greenhouses we list
- Halls Wall Garden 2x6: narrow and shallow, with toughened glass, for a sunny wall on a patio.
- Vitavia Ida 3300 4x8: a glass lean-to with double sliding doors and a 12 year frame guarantee.
- Elite Kensington 6x8: a deeper glass lean-to with a roof vent, a side vent and a 20 year guarantee. The base is an extra.
- Palram Canopia Lean-to 8x4: polycarbonate with a base plinth included.
- Outsunny Lean-to 6x4: a budget polycarbonate lean-to with a base and gutter.
Scores and specs are below and under lean-to greenhouses.
Tips
- Fit an automatic vent opener. A lean-to on a south wall overheats fast.
- Paint the wall inside white to reflect more light onto the plants.
- Use the back wall for climbing crops such as cucumbers or a grape vine.
