Pergola is an architectural, often arcuate structure, successfully used in landscape design. In translation, this Italian word means "annex" or "canopy". And indeed, often the pergola adjoins the main building. Although it is also common to use arches and pergolas as stand-alone structures.
Purpose of garden arches and pergolas of wood
According to their functional purpose, these structures are a support for climbing plants, protection from the sun, decoration of landscape design. In any case, they are always very functional and beautiful.
The most common are pergolas in the form of awnings to protect against direct sunlight. They have the appearance of a canopy adjacent to the house, or arbors with frequent horizontal bars to create a shadow. Of course, this kind of construction can not protect from the rain, but to cover the dining table or a children's playground from the scorching sun is quite.
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The so-called pergola screens serve to create secluded corners in the garden, zoning, and to protect the boundaries of the plot from prying eyes. Such pergolas and arches are often interwoven with dense greenery of grapes, roses and other wicker plants.
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Pergolas can play the role of a visor, shading the southern windows of the house and creating a coolness in the rooms and partly on the street. Under such a visor, you can arrange a dining area or parking space for the car.
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Decorative arches made of wood
When pergolas have an arched form and a general direction, they form a tunnel. He looks very impressive over the garden paths, giving the site an atmosphere of mystery, romance and antiquity.
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There is also a variant of a separately standing arch, which immediately becomes an accent of the garden area. This design is also a convenient way of growing some wicker ornamental plants.
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The arch can be located on the path, being a conditional portal in a certain zone. Or greet you and guests over the gate at the entrance to the local area.
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Features of construction and arrangement of pergolas and arches made of wood
You can always buy ready-made structures from wood and other materials, but it's much more pleasant for your garden to make pergolas and arches yourself. Then they will keep a part of your soul, and you will be even more proud of your garden.
For a simple rectangular pergola, you will need strong bars to perform the role of supports. Cross beams and crossbeams can be made from edging boards.
Be sure to cut the bottom of the wooden supports into the ground with bitumen and wrap them with a tar or other waterproofing material. It will be most reliable to concrete the bases, but you can limit yourself to a layer of gravel.
To plants can quickly and quickly braid the pergola, you can pull between the pillars of twine or fill the grilles. All parts of the structure must be treated with a protective layer of moisture and insects.
When your arch or pergola is ready, the decorating time comes. And the main way is planting plants. Plant them closer to the base of the structure. Remember that perennials will grow and braid the construction more slowly than annuals, so you need to be patient.
Alternate planting perennial and annual plants, so that the arch or pergola does not look naked. As annual plants suitable for purple morning glory, sweet peas, decorative beans. You can also hang a few pots with ampel colors of begonia, petunia, pelargonium.
Such a technique will help to wait for the period until the climbing roses or clematis grow. But then you do not need to worry every year over decorating pergolas - perennials perfectly cope with their task.