It’s a question we hear a lot. How do I protect my polytunnel from the wind and stop it blowing away? It’s an understandable concern. Especially if you haven’t owned a polytunnel before. After all they don’t look the most robust of structures.

But don’t worry there are some easy steps you can take to make sure your polytunnel stays securely anchored. But firstly, let’s put to bed one of the concerns you may have when deciding whether to buy a polytunnel.

Are polytunnels windproof?

Despite their tent-like appearance polytunnels are surprisingly wind resistant. Of course, there are a couple of caveats to that statement.

Firstly, the quality of polytunnels you can buy online vary hugely in quality. Be aware that many of the products you’ll see, especially on auction sites, are low-quality imports made from inferior materials.

Here at Direct Polytunnels we make our own products in our Norfolk workshops. We manufacture heavy duty commercial grade polytunnels using high tensile steel and tough covers. Our frames include storm bracing bars and will last decades. Even our polythene covers are guaranteed for five years but can last twice that.

Assuming you purchase a high-quality polytunnel it will be manufactured and designed to withstand wind.

However, the second caveat is that no matter how well made your tunnel is it must be secured anchored on as level a piece of ground as possible. That shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. When building your polytunnel follow the instructions provided and you’ll have a strong and secure structure. You can see a video on building a polytunnel by clicking over to our buyer’s guide.

How to protect your polytunnel from the wind

Ok, let’s circle back a little. We now know that polytunnels are windproof - to a degree and depending on the quality of the product and how well it’s anchored.

But, with the best will in the world, the occasional winter storms we experience in the UK which seem to be getting more and more violent will test any structure. Even normal everyday conditions in parts of the country have the potential to damage any polytunnel.

However, there are steps you can take to protect your polytunnel from the wind before you even begin to build the structure.

Positioning your polytunnel

Where you decide to position your polytunnel is so important. Obviously, you don’t always have a lot of choice but the ideal location is one that is level, gets plenty of sunlight and is in as sheltered a position as possible. Trees, buildings, walls, natural folds in the landscape will all help protect your polytunnel from the wind.

Do take time to work out the usual wind direction on your site. If the site you’ve chosen is exposed or prone to high winds (you may be at the coast or on a hill) you need to lessen the impact the prevailing winds will have on your polytunnel.

Protecting your polytunnel with a windbreak

The best, well only, way to provide extra protection from the wind to your polytunnel is to build a windbreak. A windbreak deflects prevailing winds away from your polytunnel providing added protection against storms or persistently strong winds.

A line of trees will provide the best protection. Which is great if you already have an established treeline you can position your polytunnel behind. If you’re not in that fortunate position you can plant your own natural windbreak.

Hedging is a great windbreak. And the good news is you can buy pallet loads of deep-rooted mature hedging to create an instant windbreak. The hedge doesn’t have to be massive to be effective. A six-foot hedge will provide excellent protection against the wind for a polytunnel sited up to 50 metres behind it.

A word of warning

If you do position your polytunnel behind a line of trees just be aware that strong winds can dislodge branches which can in turn damage your polytunnel. You can mitigate the risk by regularly inspecting the trees (if you own them of course) and by not positioning your tunnel too close to the trees.

Commercial grade polytunnels

Our polytunnels are used by home gardeners, small holders and commercial growers in some of most windswept locations in the country. If you’re looking for a new polytunnel we have a huge selection of heavy-duty tunnels to choose from in all sizes from 10x12’ to 18x66’.

Click here to see the full range.