| Garden arbors are set up as shaded places in home | | | | some ideas and items would tend to increase in scale. |
| gardens or public parks where one can relax and rest. | | | | As an example, using two posts for a small arbor |
| These open frameworks are typically made of | | | | may mean using four posts for a large one, as a |
| latticework or rustic work, functioning also as a trellis | | | | bigger arbor would need greater support for strength |
| for climbing or creeping plants. Arbors can also be | | | | and stability, and also to enhance alignment. |
| constructed for decks or patios. Today's garden | | | | 3. Designing a Garden Arbor: Some Do-It-Yourself |
| arbors were not the first attempt to enhance the | | | | Fundamentals |
| beauty of gardens. In the 400s B.C. and A.D. 400's, | | | | - To stabilize the arbor, the homeowner should have |
| elaborate courtyards were a hallmark of many | | | | the main posts of the structure sunk into concrete |
| Roman homes. Landscape architecture was also given | | | | poured into holes below the garden's ground level. - |
| a premium in Japanese gardens (A.D. 500's) and | | | | The carpenter's level is used to determine if the |
| Persian gardens (A.D.200's-600's). Beauty was also a | | | | posts stand at equal heights. The tool is also used to |
| priority for civic plazas and hillside estates for Italians | | | | establish plumbness, or if the posts are vertically |
| in the 1400's-1500's. City gardens and majestic | | | | 'level.' - Wooden crosspieces in varying |
| palaces were the highlight of France during the 1600's | | | | measurements can be attached perpendicular to the |
| and 1700's, while country estates with a natural look | | | | posts for further support. - Since some rejects still |
| were the main theme followed by English designers in | | | | make their way to lumber stores, one should be |
| the 1800's. | | | | patient enough to sort through many boards until a |
| 1. Landscape Architecture | | | | good quality board is found. - Buyers should |
| For a good number of these early country estates | | | | remember that conventional measurements are not |
| and gardens, designers were known as landscape | | | | exact: a 4 by 4 may actually measure 3.5 by 3.5, |
| gardeners. An American - Frederick Law Olmsted - | | | | while 2 by 4 may measure 1.5 by 3.5. - The same |
| was the first to use 'landscape architect'. He indicated | | | | consideration for post height must also be given, as |
| this title when he approved design plans for | | | | part of the arbor posts will be underground. |
| Manhattan's Central Park in New York City with | | | | Galvanized post anchors is one option homeowners |
| Calvert Vaux as his partner in the 1850's. Landsape | | | | have if they intends to make use of the post's full |
| architecture is not limited to major projects. Some | | | | height - or have all posts above ground level - for |
| homeowners tap the services of professionals to add | | | | their garden. |
| beauty to their gardens. However, others now feel | | | | 4. Tools For Do-It-Yourself Projects |
| confident in do-it-yourself projects as a | | | | These will actually cost a lot more if one does not |
| cost-effective alternative to make their gardens | | | | have the necessary tools at home for building garden |
| beautiful. | | | | arbors. |
| 2. Use Quality Materials | | | | - Circular saw or handsaw - Stepladder - |
| Creating a small garden arbor is an easy task, with | | | | Wheelbarrow - Hammer - Wrench - Spade bit - |
| costs becoming significantly less if the homeowner is | | | | Garden hose - Carpenter's level - Shovel - Drill - File - |
| patient enough to shop around and compare prices, | | | | Wood chisel |
| particularly for pressure-treated lumber. Other items | | | | 5. Building Tips |
| that may vary slightly across discount stores in price | | | | - Arbor boards can already be pre-drilled and pre-cut |
| terms are deck screws, scrap lumber, crushed stone | | | | as a time-saving step. - The wooden crosspieces can |
| or gravel, washers, bolts and nuts. The same | | | | be designed at the ends. Patterns can be drawn |
| principles apply to building larger arbors, although | | | | using a pencil and later cut using a jigsaw. |