How to make a pergola for grapes with your own hands
The attractiveness and well-groomed nature of a summer cottage depends not only on beautiful beds and neat plants. We are talking about country houses that perform several functions at once. Some serve as a place to relax, others are a decorative element and give the garden an original appearance. These functions are combined by a grape pergola - a simple and practical way to grow grapes and make an interesting accessory out of them. What is a pergola, what are its features and how to make it with your own hands, you will learn from the article.
Pergola for grapes: what is it and why is it needed
A pergola is a grape gazebo that consists of several arches connected by a lattice roof. It is installed in summer cottages and near garden houses. The design has an attractive appearance and originality. Thanks to the pergola, summer residents create cozy and beautiful places where it is convenient to gather with the whole family. The design creates partial shade and zones the garden area.
The branches of the grapes are tied vertically, creating a green wall. All leaves and vines are exposed to light, which has a positive effect on the amount of harvest, the clusters ripen at the same time, and the berries grow large and juicy. Due to the fact that the grapes are constantly ventilated, the risk of developing fungal and bacterial diseases is reduced. In terms of care, the plant does not differ from those grown in the usual way.Placing grapes on a pergola saves space, which is especially important for small areas.
Types of pergola
The design and material of the pergola should fit into the general appearance of the summer cottage. Most often it is installed near the house. So it forms a kind of canopy, the wall and roof of which consist of grapevines. For example, if the house is wooden, a wooden structure is made in a classic style. If the cottage is built of stone and looks like a medieval house, it is logical to pay attention to forged structures. If you have a limited budget, choose simple pergolas from a profile pipe.
Wooden
Wood is valued for its aesthetic and laconic appearance, accessibility and ease of processing, and environmental friendliness. Oak or larch is used for production. The material is expensive, but is reliable and has a long service life. More budget-friendly species - pine or birch - are suitable for making the simplest structures.
The shapes are divided into round, square and semicircular. The choice depends on the size of the garden plot and personal preferences. Lattice structures are often found; they look interesting and fit into any environment. Grapevines wrap around the tree, giving it lightness and airiness. This pergola will be complemented by benches and a table made of wood. It's nice to gather with friends on the open veranda.
In order for a wooden pergola to serve for a long time, before manufacturing, the blanks are thoroughly dried in the sun and treated with an antiseptic and moisture-repellent agent. The tree does not tolerate moisture well; due to rain and watering, the grapes quickly deteriorate and lose their presentation.To prevent this from happening, the structure is lubricated annually with resin or paraffin to create a protective layer.
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Metal
Compared to wood, metal is more durable and easier to maintain, but is more expensive. To make such a pergola, welding skills and a welding machine are required. A profile pipe is used as a base. The products are easy to bend, and with their help they give the structure a stylish appearance.
Pergola arches are created from square or rectangular pipes; it can be one massive structure or several small ones that create a tunnel effect. After manufacturing, the profile pipes are coated with paint to protect against corrosion. The lighter it is, the more weightless the structure seems.
Forged products are also popular, for example, in the form of an awning or a screen. The forging pattern can be strict, consisting of straight lines, or ornate, with patterns and wavy elements that intertwine with each other.
Interesting! A favorite place on the site will be a wrought-iron pergola in the form of a bench. The arched metal structure consists of a bench with a canopy. The pergola itself is decorated with forged patterns that are intertwined with green grape vines. If there are children in the house, a swing is installed instead of a stationary bench.
Made of plastic
Plastic is valued for its frost resistance and a large selection of different options. It does not fade in the sun, washes quickly, and is protected from the formation of fungus and mold.Plastic garden elements are great for those who are just deciding to install a pergola for grapes on their property and do not yet have experience in growing this crop in this way.
The plastic is very light and affordable; you can find such a design in any gardening store. It is easy to assemble, reminiscent of a large construction set. Externally, such pergolas do not fit into all areas, but when the grapes grow, the green shoots will hide the plastic.
The best option for the garden is a polycarbonate pergola. The material is durable and resistant to external influences, fits into any landscape design. Manufacturers offer pergolas of any color, even transparent. The structure is installed thoroughly in cement. But it is better to avoid PVC - the material is very cheap, but is not environmentally friendly and when heated in the sun it spreads an unpleasant odor.
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Stone
A stone pergola can hardly be called just a support for grapes; it is rather an element of art in a summer cottage. This design lasts for decades without losing its attractiveness. For production, artificial or natural stone (basalt, granite, marble) is used. The cost of such a structure is comparable to the price of a small summer house, so this option certainly cannot be called cheap. However, other materials cannot compare with stone in terms of service life and reliability. It is not afraid of temperature changes, moisture, shocks and other external influences.
Interesting! To create an antique style in the garden, pergolas with columns and statues made of light marble are used, for oriental style - in the form of Chinese or Japanese palaces. The structures are decorated not only with grapes, but also with ivy, roses, and vines. For the production of such elements, they turn to specialized companies.
How to make a pergola with your own hands
To create a pergola with their own hands, summer residents prepare the necessary tools and drawings in advance, decide on the design of the building, and choose a suitable location. Let's look at how to make a pergola for grapes from wood with your own hands.
Required materials and tools
To make a pergola, they do not use fruit tree species; it is better to purchase acacia, larch, pine, and spruce. Timber or logs are used as support pillars; pine boards are used for the roof. The harder the rock, the longer the service life of the building.
Craftsmen prepare an axe, a hammer, a saw, a screwdriver, a tape measure, self-tapping screws and twine. You will also need cement, sand, nails and screws, crushed stone and a container for mixing the mortar. The wood is treated with an antiseptic and coated with varnish and paint to give it the original color.
Selection and preparation of a site
Grapes love light and warmth, so choose a sunny and well-lit place for the pergola. If you place it in shade or partial shade, the vines develop slowly and the leaves do not acquire a rich green hue. It is important to remember that a pergola is a permanent structure; it cannot be moved to another location.
Most often, a pergola is placed near:
- garden house or veranda;
- pool or pond;
- trees or garden fence.
Pergola construction process
The initial stage is drawing up a drawing.It indicates the proportions of the future product, its features, and the amount of material required. It is recommended to draw up a diagram of the site and imagine how the pergola will fit into its setting. After this, the construction process begins:
- They level the site and make marks for the future structure.
- Dig a trench 30 cm deep for the base of the pergola wall.
- Mix the solution.
- Broken bricks and crushed stone are poured into the trench and compacted.
- Lay out a wall 40 cm high, construct a support from vertically located bars.
- At a distance of 1 m from the wall, holes are dug for the bars at intervals of 2 m.
- The bars are installed and filled with cement mortar.
- The bars are placed on the supports in the shape of the letter T.
- The sides of the pergola are covered with veneer lathing.
Conclusion
To decorate a garden or cottage, wooden, metal, forged, plastic and stone pergolas are used. Designs can be rectangular or round, multi-tiered or arched. Wood and metal are environmentally friendly and are used more often than other materials. Plastic is inexpensive and easy to install, and stone will turn your garden plot into a real work of art.
In order for the pergola to serve for a long time, it is recommended to choose a suitable location and follow the recommendations of experienced craftsmen during manufacture.