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Have just managed to complete our polytunnel and thought a couple of observations may help other erectors, even though the supplied instructions were quite good and clear.
Weather forecasting is just that. We had had two lovely still days in which the framework was finished. On the next day and despite the optimistic forecast, the breeze it started to increase the moment we had the plastic cover laid out ! Pulling it over was quite fraught, hoping that yet another
gust would not drag both of us into the next garden - and that was a light breeze
.
Luckily we had five unopened growbags around, these proved ideal to hold the plastic in the trench whilst OH and myself struggled to adjust it over the poles.
Filling in the trench was straightforward The next bit was tightening the plastic around the ends and onto the door posts. We had been previously advised to ensure that the tucks faced downwards as otherwise rain trapped in them would turn green and horrible after some time. This was easier said than done but what did help was the use several soft jawed fast action woodwork clamps that I suddenly remembered I had; these were easily adjusted until the plastic was in ( nearly) the correct position to be
fixed by permanently nailing battens over.
Having got the thing up, I have a question that the more experienced amongst us may be able to answer.
If the plastic is fitted down the side of the tunnel, laid across the width of the trench and then raised up on the other side of the trench before being backfilled with soil as per the instructions --
What prevents the next rainfall turning the entire trench into a high class bog garden ?
Weather forecasting is just that. We had had two lovely still days in which the framework was finished. On the next day and despite the optimistic forecast, the breeze it started to increase the moment we had the plastic cover laid out ! Pulling it over was quite fraught, hoping that yet another
gust would not drag both of us into the next garden - and that was a light breeze
. Luckily we had five unopened growbags around, these proved ideal to hold the plastic in the trench whilst OH and myself struggled to adjust it over the poles.
Filling in the trench was straightforward The next bit was tightening the plastic around the ends and onto the door posts. We had been previously advised to ensure that the tucks faced downwards as otherwise rain trapped in them would turn green and horrible after some time. This was easier said than done but what did help was the use several soft jawed fast action woodwork clamps that I suddenly remembered I had; these were easily adjusted until the plastic was in ( nearly) the correct position to be
fixed by permanently nailing battens over.
Having got the thing up, I have a question that the more experienced amongst us may be able to answer.
If the plastic is fitted down the side of the tunnel, laid across the width of the trench and then raised up on the other side of the trench before being backfilled with soil as per the instructions --
What prevents the next rainfall turning the entire trench into a high class bog garden ?
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