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babylady · Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 43

Hi All

Eventually ordered my tunnel and need some help and advise putting it up...PLEASE.

Its 12 x 20 and its a trench tunnel.

Do I need to dig out the ground where the tunnel is to be put up or will this depend on whether I am using raised beds or leaving the ground flat and using the soil already there?

I have a ground cover sheet and am confused as to what I should do with the ground.
The book that came with the tunnel says to dig out the ground? Help!!!

Wink

dizandstell · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject:

Hello,
We have put our tunnel up at the begining of the year. It went up suprisingly easy! Have a look at www.firsttunnels.co.uk then on top right corner of the page, click on polytunnels.tv. There are short clips of tunnels being put up with lots of tips.
I think the trench you mention is the method of tensioning the cover. Once your plot is level(side to side), hoops up and door frames fitted. A trench is dug,(about a shovel wide and deep) about 10cm from the hoops and around to the door frame.( I used a wooden batten along the hoops as a guide.) Put the cover over and get in the right position. A bit like a flat sheet on a bed! Grip the edge and put your foot in the trench pushing the cover to the bottom. Back fill the trench with the spoil.(make sure the spoil is on the outside of the hoops!) Repeat the process all the way down one side. You should end up with the cover over the hoops, a filled in trench and spare cover sticking up. The other side is the same process but, put as much weight on the cover to pull it as tight as you can. The door frame can then be pulled and nailed. One person pull the cover as tight as you can. The other nail a batten at the top. Pleat the cover below it and next nail in. Carry on to the bottom.
The most important thing on putting polly tunnels up is, once it is up, make sure you sit down with a glass of wine and admire your work!
Hope this helps
diz n stell

dizandstell · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

Forgot to mention, put the cover on on a warm day. Let it warm up and expand. When it cools it will be very tight. If you can do it on a windless day, that is a bonus. The cover can become a very expensive kite otherwise!
dns

babylady · Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 43

Hi

Thanks for the info but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I understand the trench details but an unsure about thw whole area within the polytunnel ie where I will grow stuff-does this need to be dug out or can I just cover this with a ground sheet?

Thanks

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

I dont like covering the soil for any length of time, and so I would mark out the path and then dig into the beds loads of manure etc and then just plant and enjoy. A potting bench area is a good idea also. Good luck.
_________________
Leave not a trace.

dizandstell · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

We didnt use a ground sheet as such.We took the turf off the whole area, rotivated and then put raised beds in where the planting was going to happen. Mixed in loads of rotted horse muck in and mixed again. The paths that were formed between the raised beds where coverd with the cardboard packadgeing from our floor. The idea is to keep the paths free from grass/weeds. This will break down quite quickly due to walking on, geting wet from watering and worms snacking on it.

babylady · Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 43

Thanks so much for the advise. Will start digging. Plenty of horses around me so will also start collecting some poo!!!