December 25, 2008

Looking for an Outdoor Structure

by Daniel Rexrode

With all the wonderful choices in outdoor structures, it can be hard to decide which ones will enhance your yard and garden. With this in mind, let’s explore the different types of outdoor garden structures, where they might be placed and for what purpose. This way you can look at your families activity and decide what will work best for all of you.

Let’s start with the trellis. You will find trellises in both the front and back yards in gardens of all kinds and against large and small walls and buildings to help tame the mass of climbing vines. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and you can use them virtually any and everywhere.

If you’re looking to get more bang for your buck, try an arbor. They’re very popular in gardens and can be used to create stand alone focal points in your yard. Using arbors with trellised sides can be a wonderful way of utilizing the climbing vines that will fill in the sides and top thus creating an elegant canopy throughout the arch that is just lovely.

This next structure has an almost meditative feel that cannot be explained. It’s been said that since it lets in nature and the suns rays, the pergola allows you to commune with nature while you are eating or just having fun with family and friends. Of course, sitting in silence and just enjoying your life is another way to experience nature under a pergola. It will provide you with partial shade and, if you choose, can be filled with climbing vines and plants that will fill the slats with a canopy of sorts to create even more shade.

One of the largest outdoor structures that are really fun is the gazebo. Gazebos are natural gathering places and can be used anywhere in the yard where you want people to be able to congregate and have a good time. They can be easily used beside a swimming pool or out in the yard all by itself. They are beautiful and always ready for a party or private dinner and are very versatile.

You may also be looking for a couple of other structures that are not often talked about; raised beds and bridges. If you want to create small flower beds around your yard or around a tree, raised beds are a perfect way to do that and they are easy since there is no digging involved. Bridges, on the other hand are a great way to enhance your landscape, especially around water features and low lying areas in your yard.

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Filed under Landscaping