You can build it yourself: good garden construction

Flower & Garden Magazine, June-July, 1984 by Monte Burch

Building your own garden structures is not a hard task. In most instances you can create a better project, and one more suited to your needs and tastes, than you can purchase. Most garden furniture and/or structures can be constructed using hand tools, although portable electric tools such as a circular saw, saber saw and portable electric drill can greatly speed up the process and make many jobs much easier.

There are three basic rules governing construction of garden structures such as fences, gates, garden seats, and the like. Use the proper wood, build strong and simple, and use a scale and design that harmonizes with existing structures or garden fixtures. All of these elements are equally important in

assuring a long lasting, enjoyable complement to you garden. Choose The Right Wood

Although almost any type of wood can be and has been used for building outdoor structures, there are two basic types that will insure a long lasting, good looking project. The first is a naturally decay and insect resistant wood such as redwood, cedar or cypress. These woods are not treated in any manner. They provide easy-to-work, long lasting and beautiful woods for garden structures. Redwood is particularly beautiful when finished natural or left to age to its familiar gray weathered look. There are two drawbacks to these woods. First, they are quite high in costs; and second, some may be unavailable in certain parts of the country.

The second type of wood is "pressure-treated" wood. This is chemically treated under pressure to resist insects and decay. So effective is this type of treatment that the woods so treated can actually be used for in-ground construction such as for swimming pool liners. Pressure-treated woods are normally more economical because they're made using the plentiful grades and species of lumber such as Southern pine. The only disadvantages may be the tell-tale green cast of the treated wood or the smell of the chemicals which may be irritating to some.

You can soak untreated woods in a wood preservative such as copper naphthenate, a fungicide/insecticide nontoxic to plants, but it seems hardly worth the bother and mess.

Of course, wither of these types of woods can be choses to suit a particular project. Fence posts of pressure-treated wood will last longer than almost any other type of wood post. On the other hand, a beautiful wood project that is to have a natural finish would be best made of heartwood redwood for appearance's sake. Design For Strength, Simplicity

Regardless of what woods are used, the main rule in constructing outdoor furniture, fencing and other garden structures is to build strong and simple. In fact, the simpler you can make the project, the easier it will be to build, and in most instances it will be longer lasting and better looking. For instance, projects with rounded, smooth surfaces allow better release of rainwater than projects with lots of sharp pointed corners, nooks and crannies, and unnecessary joints and fitted places. Each such joint provides a potential spot for water to seep in and start decay. The top surfaces of all outdoor projects should be slightly rounded or convex for this reason.

If at all possible, fasteners used for outdoor projects should not be steel or irons as they rust and not only weaken the project but cause unsightly streaking. Use galvanized metal for nails or brass for screws or small brads. By the same token, glue used for outdoor projects should be a waterproof type such as resorcinol formaldehyde glue consisting of two separate components mixed together. It does show as a dark purple line, so apply it carefully.

The choice of a finish is also extremely important to outdoor structures. In many cases the wood is left to weather without finish, and if heartwood redwood or even pressure-treated wood is used, the wood will in either case gradually turn to a gray, weathered look. No other finish or preservative is needed. If you do wish to finish the wood, then one of the exterior wipe-on oil finishes provides the best choice. For color finishes, wood paints can be used; however, even the best paints require maintenance. The best choice if you wish to provide a color to your finished wood (other than white) is to use one of the pigmented exterior stains such as those made by Cabot. For white, paint is the only choice. Build So It Blends

The last rule is to build the structure so it blends properly with the rest of your landscape and the existing structures. It should be made of the same type of wood and of the same basic design or one in harmony with the rest of the garden and should be finished in the same manner unless it is to be used as an accent apiece. For instance, a trellis is usually painted the same color as the rest of the house, or perhaps to match a contrasting trim. Painting it a separate color will detract from the beauty of the flowers growing on the trellis.

Size is also important. The structure must be in scale with the rest of your garden. Standard dimensions have been established for the projects presented here.