Thursday, August 25, 2011

Build A Garden Arbor Out Of Conduit

A smaller scale of garden arbors like this make great focal points in any garden.


A garden arbor showcases climbing plants and provides a focal point for your garden or pathway. The shape and material used can vary dramatically. One arbor may be arched wrought iron and include a gate. Another might designate a garden room with an open-air, cedar beam roof. Local hardware stores sell these support structures for $200 or more. When you want to invest more in plants than hardscaping, electrical conduit makes an affordable garden arbor choice. Does this Spark an idea?


Instructions


1. Sketch out your plan. Include dimensions for how wide and deep you want your arbor.


2. Choose your site. Measure the space based on the dimensions in your plan. Mark corner support positions with spray paint.


3. Drive concrete reinforcing bar, also called rebar, into the ground until it's about half buried, keeping it as straight and level as possible.


4. Cut conduit for the horizontal support to the planned width of your arbor. Attach one corner coupling to the top of each 10-foot vertical leg and connect them with your horizontal support to complete the front side of the arbor. Repeat for the back side. Position corner couplings so all open joints face the opposite side.


5. Cut two pieces of conduit to the arbor's desired depth. Attach the front and back faces using these vertical segments. Secure nylon netting along sides and top of arbor.


6. Slide the vertical legs of arbor over rebar posts. Plant your climbing perennials or vegetables according to packaging.







Tags: garden arbor, horizontal support, your arbor, your plan