A garden pergola
Dress up your back garden or patio with a shady, plant-cover pergola. This project includes designs for several types of timber frame and a version with columns. A pergola can add interest to all kinds of garden design, whether it encloses a small patio-type back garden or covers a walkway in large landscaped area. The choice of site can quite radically effect the construction, so you should consider this carefully first.For example, a pergola over a patio attached to the house may best be built as a lean-to supported on one side by the house wall. A pergola covering a walkway between two areas of the garden will be free-standing, but if it is along the edge of the plot you need to incorporate fencing along one side. If the ground is uneven, you can either set the tops of the posts level or keep them the same length and have the pergola following the undulations of the ground. Few points of the design, which is essentially an open skeleton are critical : simply pick those features which best suit the pergola you have in mind and the materials you have in mind and the materials you have in available. But in general, you should work to the height and width indicated so the height and width indicated so that you provide an adequate walkway when the structure is covered with plants. Most of the materials specified are sawn softwood. This should be well treated with timber preservative before use since is difficult to re-proof without disturbing the plants. If available, oak will provide the most durable timber structure, or you can use larch poles for a rustic look. Stone or brick piers are ideal for a really long lasting structure. Set all the uprights in concrete, then add the beams. Several different beam arrangements are detailed. For extra support for climbing plants, add trellis or plastic coated wire mesh frames to the uprights. Many kinds of plant are suitable-you can plant climbers such as vines or rambling roses at the base of the uprights and border plants in between. Remember that the structure will look bare in winter unless you include some evergreens. All timber must be thoroughly treated with timber preservative, paying particular attention to the end grain. See text for further details.