Do-it-yourself wooden arch, materials used, design options, photos

arch with bench

The wooden arch serves as a decorative decoration for the garden. It can be installed above the path and used as a support for climbing plants.

Anyone can make such a structure. A do-it-yourself wooden arch will be a structure that will add originality to the design of your site.

Content:

Wooden arch: functions of the structure and requirements for execution

The arched design looks very stylish in nature. In addition to decorative functions, it can serve as a support for various botanical species, be part of a hedge, and simply be an architectural accessory.

The arched structure can serve as visual zoning of the site. Such products are collapsible, they can be purchased at any hardware store with a wide range. You can also make a wooden arch with your own hands, using available materials and available drawings.

Before building an arch on a site, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the ergonomic and aesthetic recommendations regarding this type of structure:

  • The arch is made taking into account the dimensions of all family members, as well as possible visitors.
  • A structure that is too low and narrow will constantly cause inconvenience and injury, especially if it crowns a gate. The width of a standard arch is about one and a half meters, the recommended height is at least 2.5-3 meters;
  • The design of the arch is made in such a way that the structure is aesthetically attractive in the autumn and winter periods, when it is open to the views of guests and household members;
  • For outdoor accessories, choose materials that can withstand adverse weather conditions. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the rotten structure will collapse at an unforeseen moment.

DIY wooden arch for the garden

Making an architectural structure yourself is quite simple. To do this, it is not necessary to have professional carpentry skills, because we are talking about decoration for the home garden.

Small flaws will not spoil the impression of the arched structure. All work is usually completed within one day.

Any type of wood is used as the starting material. This can be pine, oak, birch or parts of pressed particle board material. The latter option is more affordable, but less durable.

If owners prefer practical materials, they should think about cypress or mahogany.

These rocks are less susceptible to rotting. Such arches will last much longer, and they will look more monumental.

The construction of a garden requires a small amount of material.If there is a lumber yard nearby, you can go there and select suitable pieces of wood.

To work in the garden you will need the following tools:

  • a circular saw;
  • jigsaw;
  • hammer;
  • drill;
  • shovel.

After manufacturing and installation of the architectural structure, the surface of the arch is covered with wood varnish or stain. Without additional processing, the product, when exposed to air, will rot within a matter of years.

varnish stain for exterior use

Only thanks to the protective properties of paint and varnish products can the life of an outdoor decorative structure be extended.

Let's watch a video on how to make a wooden arch with your own hands:

Photos of garden arches, options for classic designs

A wooden arch is a classic garden decoration option. The naturalness of the material allows the design to be combined with any botanical species.

Also, a wooden arch is in harmony with garden benches, tables, and gazebos. Designed within the framework of one concept, the products form an original stylish ensemble.

You can make a wooden garden arch more interesting with the help of side flower boxes. In this case, it is important to plant botanical species that will match the color and shape of the leaves:

Among classical decorations, the most monumental are arches with a clearly defined domed top.

Exclusive arches made of wood materials

In addition to classic designs, you can decorate your garden with more original fruits of craftsmanship.

To make them, you will need less accessible materials and richer creative imagination, but the results are worth it. Just look at the ponderous beauty of the arch made of wooden logs:

arch made of firewood

Of course, to support such a structure, a metal base is required.However, if you want to make your site a local landmark, you can weld the fittings necessary to support the woodpile.

An arch woven from wicker looks very fashionable. Such a structure is a real highlight for lovers of rustic-style decoration.

wicker arch

This type of work requires certain skills and perseverance. You also need to take into account that the lightweight structure should not be overly burdened by climbing plants.

The wicker arch itself looks like a self-sufficient decoration.

wicker arch

A few bright floral splashes are enough to complete the image of a simple old Russian household.

untreated wood arch

The crudely made structure, made from round timber that was at hand, is a distinctive work in a rustic style:

Such an arch should also not be completely hidden behind flowers. Guests and household members will get more pleasure by observing this seemingly simple support.

Let's watch a video about making a wicker arch:

DIY arches for climbing plants

When making a decorative support for climbing flowers, the most difficult part is making the top round part.

arch for roses

To make it easier to solve the problem, craftsmen use a semicircular plywood template as a visual guide. After the arcs of the arch are formed, transverse slats are nailed to them.

The side slats are stuffed horizontally, vertically or diagonally. This is done after installing the structure in the ground and concreting the supports.

Drawing of an arch for grapes, installation procedure

If an arch is needed for growing grapes, you can make a structure with a flat ceiling. This way, when harvesting, the owners will not have to climb too high. Such structures are also called pergolas. Their primary purpose is to protect crossings from the scorching sun.

arch for grapes

The role of the main defender is assigned to climbing plants: ivy, grapes, petunias. In this way, it is possible to combine business with pleasure, growing delicious berries at the same time.

A drawing of a simple pergola for grapes looks like this:

  • Assembly should begin from the top elements.
  • After installing the structure, you need to dig a hole at least 70 cm deep for each support.
  • That part of the support that will be underground is pre-treated with a special septic tank, tar or resin.
  • Then crushed stone is poured into the holes and the assembled structure is installed.
  • Using a level, the pergola is perfectly leveled.
  • Then the pits are concreted and the decorative finishing of the structure proceeds.

Plants for decoration

Most arched structures benefit greatly when they are decorated with climbing plants.

In addition to grapes, these can be climbing roses - flowers with unusually bright, rich and abundant flowering. Wisteria, honeysuckle, and clematis look simpler and nicer.

plants for arch decoration

You can make an arch monumental and “heavy” if you decorate it with ivy.

The arch frame can be used for vegetable crops: cucumbers, zucchini, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons. Using lattice ceilings, you can grow any berry bushes in the form of trellises.

How to make an arch from a living tree

Some craftsmen successfully create natural arches from living trees. Of course, such work lasts more than one year. A widely known specialist from Sweden, Axel Erlandson, became famous throughout the world for his living arch of two fused plane trees.

arch made of living wood

To grow such structures, gardeners weave branches of young seedlings. Also, to create original arbosculptures, they resort to grafting, pruning, and splicing.

If you want to recreate something similar on your site, you should plant two identical flexible seedlings, intertwine their tops and observe.

During the splicing process, corrective pruning must be done.

Installing a decorative arch is an easy way to make your garden area more cozy and attractive. Wood is the most suitable material for this.

It is easy to make a garden arch made of wood with your own hands, without the help of professionals. A wooden arch successfully combines the functions of decorative decoration and support for plants grown as trellises.

varnish stain for exterior useDIY wooden archarch with flower boxesDIY wooden archDIY wooden archplants for arch decorationwicker archwicker archarch made of firewooduntreated wood archarch for rosesarch for grapesarch made of living wood

Comments

I liked the garden arch with a bench inside; it resembles a gazebo, only without a roof. In summer it doesn’t rain so often and in such an arch, entwined with climbing plants, it will be very comfortable to relax.

We also installed the wooden arch with our own hands. It turned out, of course, not as beautiful as in the photographs. But when the vineyard grew, minor errors were not noticeable.

This is a very delicate work and not easy, of course it is better when the arch looks beautiful and harmonious even without entwining grape branches, but until these grapes grow, you will have to admire the bare arch for a long time.