Landscape Design – Have you thought about a pergola or Arbor?
Garden structures like arbors and pergolas can provide intrigue to your landscape designs. Arbors and pergolas add an element of interest to a yard or garden by drawing the eye upward. Whether functional or ornamental, there are many ways you can utilize these structures to enhance your landscape design.
You may have thought, like many non-gardeners, if there’s a difference between an arbor or a pergola at all. Even if there are no concurrence on this, the arbor is a small architecture which has an arch on top, with a measurement that stands 6 1/2 to 9 feet at the summit. Arbors are placed overhead in walkways near a gate. Pergolas, in the meanwhile, has a flat top at the crossing of the straight sides it rests on. Pergolas can range in size from small enough to just cover a walkway to large enough to span a deck or patio area.
I living in Calgary, Alberta Canada and I always try to incorporate an arbor or pergola when I create a Calgary Landscape Design.
There are many materials for this structures and this includes iron, vinyl or even wood. The use of wood gives a more rustic appeal to a pergola or an arbor, which has an option of being repainted to change its tone. Wood is usually the most cost effective option; however, it won’t last as long as metal or vinyl. Some concerns with wood structures include rotting, splintering, and decay caused by wood boring pests.
Vinyl, on the contrary, has easy maintenance with no need for staining or painting. This material does not decay or disintegrate not unlike wood. Vinyl typically costs more than wood, but the longevity of the product may pay off in the long run. If you decide to go with a vinyl unit, be sure to look for a UV resistant plastic that won’t fade or discolor when exposed to the sun.
Metal can also be a good material choice because it’s very durable and long lasting. Carefully consider the type of metal, though. Steel and iron rusts easily, and this is real trouble if you choose it as material for your structure. You can use aluminum if you still like metal, it’s resistant to rust and can also be lightweight. Try to have a metal with a powder coat finish if you want a painted look.
We use all types of materials when doing a Landscape Design in Calgary. It just really depends on what your preference is, no matter where you live.
Whatever you decide, garden structures are a great way to add a focal point to your landscape. They will enhance your garden’s aesthetics and add a vertical element to spaces that are usually constructed on horizontal planes. Structures like arbors and pergolas can turn an ordinary looking garden into something full of symmetry and beauty which your visitors would surely take pleasure in.
I have a lot of fun with Calgary Landscape Design, and no matter where you live it is important to take the unique canvass you have available to you to be as creative as possible!
Written by: Custom Stone and Waterscapes 3829 Parkhill Place SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2W6 (403) 870-1142
