A polytunnel placed in a good location can be a boon to gardeners. It can make growing your own food so much easier. But placing a polytunnel in the wrong location can lead to all sorts of problems. Here are some tips to help you avoid common pitfalls when placing your polytunnel:
Sunlight is, of course, our prime resource as gardeners. A polytunnel must be placed so as to make full use of the sunlight on offer. This means it cannot be positioned anywhere that does not offer enough sunlight each day. Avoid placing a polytunnel in a position where it is shaded by surrounding trees or buildings and think about how and where the sun hits it each day.
A polytunnel can be extremely sturdy when given appropriate conditions and should last for years. If, however, you place a polytunnel in an extremely windy position, without giving any thought to sheltering it from the worst winds, then your polytunnel may be damaged and you may face expensive repairs far sooner than you should have to do.
Depending on the land contours and prevailing conditions where you live, you may find that certain areas of your land get much colder than others. Avoid placing a polytunnel in a frost pocket, as this may make it much more difficult to overwinter more tender plants.
Land shaping can also have an impact on the amount of ground water on a site. Placing a polytunnel in a natural bowl formation or at the bottom of a slope may mean that the ground beneath it is more prone to flooding or waterlogging. Make sure you think about the potential for excessive ground water when you choose a location for your polytunnel.
If you are short on space, you may be tempted to place a polytunnel too close to existing trees or shubbery. This is a bad idea as the branches of vegetation that is too close may brush against or hit into your polytunnel plastic and, over time, can weaken the plastic and can even cost you money in repairs. Bear in mind also that you will need to be able to access all sides of your polytunnel over the years in order to keep it clean.
