Let’s Create Some Arbors!

Always on the hunt for fun features to add to the backyard garden, I decided to build a couple of simple arbors, one for the north corner and one for the south corner.  After doing a little research on arbor styles, I headed to Home Depot to buy supplies.

I knew I wanted the arbors to be 8 foot tall, so I came home with four 8′ 4″ x 4″ posts, four 6′ 1″ x 4″ boards, two 1″ x 2″ boards 8 foot long and 4 decorative shelf supports.  I bought treated wood since the posts would be ‘planted’ in the soil.

The first step in this project was to paint all the wood with some cream paint I had on hand; I applied two coats.  Assembling the arbors was actually really quick and simple.  To create the main structure, the only step really, was to attach the 1″ x 6″ boards to each side of the 4″ x 4″ posts at the top.  To decorate the arbor, I then added 9 1/2″ pieces of the 1″ x 2″ board to the top of the 1″ x 6″ boards (boy, does that sound confusing – see picture).  Finishing the decoration, I attached the two decorative shelf supports at the top of the arbor.

Once the arbors were built, hubby and I carried the first one to the back yard.  It was at this point that I realized that my 8 foot arbor would not be 8 foot tall once I dug a hole to ‘plant’ the posts.  Ugh!!!  Redesign time! 

Too keep the height of 8′, I had to figure out a way for the arbors to stay upright.  After some research, I decided to ‘plant’ the posts into planters….so, off to town I went to find 4 planters large enough to support the arbors.  I wasn’t able to find any cream ones so I bought green.

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With planter boxes in hand, it was time to get back to the project.  Starting with the first arbor, I set the planter boxes 4 feet apart, the width between the posts of the arbor.  Adding some rocks in the bottom of each planter helped provide weight and would stabilize them when the arbor was set.  Hubby and I then placed the arbor posts in each planter.  While he held the arbor in place, I attached a stabilizing 1″ x 2″ post and then filled each planter with potting soil.  Since I couldn’t find cream planters, I used the same paint used on the wood and applied two coats to the planters.

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Supplies for arbor

Cost of supplies is approximately $60. That cost will vary depending on where you purchase your supplies, what you have on hand (I had the paint), whether you use decorative shelf brackets or plain and if you use planter boxes or simply install your arbor in the ground.

• Two 4′ x 4″ posts – determine your height and add 1-2 feet as you will want to ‘plant’ the posts in the ground
• Two 1″ x 6″ cross beams – determine the length once you know the width of your arbor
• One 8′  1″ x 2″ board – cut into ten 9 1/2″ pieces
• Two 8′  1″ x 2″ boards for supports
• Two decorative shelf supports
• Screws
• Paint
• Planters if you prefer the look I have

Instructions

• Attach 1″ x 6″ cross beam to each side of the 4″ x 4″ posts using screws
• Cut the 1″ x 2″ into nine 9 1/2″ pieces
• Attach pieces to the top of the cross beams with screws or nails
• Attach 1″ x 2″ posts to the inside of the 4″ x 4″ posts using screws
• Using exterior paint, apply 2 coats
• Install the arbor in the ground or planter boxes
• Hang shelf brackets to both sides of arbor
• If using planter boxes, add rocks around the base of the 4″ x 4″ posts to stabilize then add soil and pack well
• Plant your choice of flowers, vines, ground cover in the planter boxes

For building supplies, see this post

For painting supplies, see this post

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