Greenhouse Clean Up: Tips and Pointers - Frequently Asked Questions

Greenhouse Clean Up: Tips and Pointers
Failure to properly maintain and sanitize greenhouse facilities and equipment can result in the development of insect and disease problems. Sanitation should take place through out the growing season and intensive cleanup should be conducted between crops. The following steps can/may be taken to minimize problem development.

In Season Sanitation

Remove ALL infected plant materials
Remove any weeds
Control algal build-ups on surfaces
Fix problems as they arise
Maintain drip irrigation system
- Check filters regularly
- Watch lines for leaks
- Watch drippers to ensure they are functioning properly (i.e. not plugged or excess flow)
- Avoid build up of algae
  - Inject chlorine or biocide at end of each irrigation cycle, as regular cleanup reduces the need for intensive flushes
Sanitize propagation area regularly

End of Season / Between Crop Sanitation

Use Mother Nature to kill off pests
Turn off heat for a period of time in winter (e.g. 1 week)
- Allow temperature to build up (sunlight and zero ventilation = potential pasteurization)
- Flush irrigation system to kill accumulated organisms (chlorine/biocide flush) and to remove precipitates (acid flush)
Repair areas with poor drainage
Remove all debris and trash from entire facility; may include vacuuming
Remove all used growing media
Clean and disinfect all surfaces
Check and/or repair ventilation, heating/cooling and fertilizer injection systems

More detailed cleanup procedures can be found at the following links:

End of Season Cleanup
Maintenance and Cleaning Drip Irrigation Systems

Prepared by Robert Spencer, Ag-Info Centre, Alberta Agriculture & Forestry

For more information about the content of this document, contact Robert Spencer.
This document is maintained by Brenda McLellan.
This information published to the web on November 20, 2003.
Last Reviewed/Revised on September 5, 2017.