Pergola - a special garden building. The word is taken from the Italian language, where it means "extension" or "canopy".
It can be made either as a separate building or as an extension to the main building. (for example, home or summer kitchen).
Pergola - something between a lattice support for climbers and a garden arbor.
It is made of repeating elements (for example, arches or pillars) connected by horizontal bars.
The whole structure is covered with plants.
Why do we need pergola?
Pergola can perform a variety of functions..
- Can serve as an excellent support for your climbing plants.
- Perfectly protects from sunshine.
- Suitable for creating a small recreation area.
- It is a great decoration for your garden.
Types of buildings
First you need to understand what exactly you need such a building. There are different variants of pergolas, but they all have one thing in common: such a structure must necessarily be twined with plants.
So, the types of such construction:
Awning. Pergola of this type may be adjacent directly to the building, although this is not necessary. Under this canopy, you can arrange a playground or put a car there. It can also be used instead of a gazebo, for example, to dine there in the summer. The only drawback - pergola badly protects from rain. But it creates a light shade and is blown even by the quietest wind, which is very nice during the summer heat.
Screen. This pergola is perfect for installation along the fence, and is also good for dividing your garden space into areas.
Visor. This type of pergola is borrowed from the southerners: a small canopy, overgrown with greenery, perfectly shadows the windows, protecting it from the scorching sun.
Tunnel. Pergola of this type is usually built over the path in order to decorate it and hide the outbuildings. It consists of several arches fastened with horizontal rods.
How to do it?
There are a few rules to follow when building a pergola..
- The material and design of the pergolas should be combined with the style in which your site is decorated.
- A beautiful pergola should look easy, and no matter what it is made of.
- The building should be combined with your site in size.
- A sturdy construction is needed that can withstand the weight of plants.
- Such a building has significant windage, so it should not be higher than 2.5 m. Before installing the pergola, you need to know in which direction the wind is predominantly blowing, and in particularly windy regions it is generally unsafe to build a pergola.
- Pergola should look beautiful even in winter when it will not be covered with leaves.
- The wooden pergola should be regularly treated with an antiseptic to prevent excessive moisture from damaging it. Metal structures also need to be protected from corrosion.
You can build the pergola yourself from the beginning to the end, you can assemble from the parts purchased at the store, or you can completely entrust the construction to the master. The main thing is that you like it and combine with the design of your garden.
