How to Build a Vine Pergola
Growing heavy climbing vines like wisteria requires a structure that can carry the heavy weight of mature plants. Consider the amount of room in your yard or garden space and site and size your pergola accordingly. Choose your vines for shade cover in the summer, or evergreen interest in winter. Deciduous climbers like wisteria will have a bare framework in winter. A well planned and sited pergola will become an outdoor garden room where you can entertain friends or relax with family. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Eight 4-inch by 4-inch by 12-foot posts
- Two 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot posts
- Eleven 2-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot boards
- Six 1-inch by 2-inch by 6-foot boards
- Eight 4-inch by 4-inch column caps
- Hurricane clips
- Galvanized nails
- Scrap lumber for braces
- Stakes
- String
- Measuring tape
- Jig saw for decorative end cuts
- Power drill
- Non-toxic wood preservative or stain
- Paintbrush
- Rented power auger
- Level
- Gravel
- Four 50-pound bags of fast-setting concrete
Instructions
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Cutting, Staining and Post Setting
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1
Cut decorative end details into the 2-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot boards and the two 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot posts if desired. Cut the 1-inch by 2-inch by 6-foot boards into 24 18-inch lengths. Paint all wood with a non-toxic wood preservative or stain like SoyGuard and let it dry according to manufacturer's directions.
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2
Measure and mark all the post sites. The pergola is 6 feet wide by 6 feet deep and will have four posts along the back and four along the front. Set two posts 1 foot apart at each end of the back of the square and repeat for the front. Make sure you set your posts square with each other, and spaced properly. An excellent tutorial for measuring and marking can be found at the "Building Overhead Structures" Web site (see Resources).
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3
Dig eight holes 3 feet 6 inches deep and 10 inches in diameter with your rented auger. Put a 6-inch layer of gravel in each hole. Set a 4-inch by 4-inch by 12-foot post in each hole and plumb it.
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4
Determine if the posts tops are level with each other by putting a 2-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot board across the tops and setting a level on it. Shim and level all post tops so they are even and then brace the posts in position. Follow directions for setting posts like those given on packagepavement.com.
Complete the Structure
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5
When the cement has set install a 4-inch by 4-inch column cap on each post to connect the 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot cross beams to the post columns. Set a 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot beam in place across the front set of columns in the column caps. Set the back beam in place and make sure the ends are even with each other. Nail them in place.
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6
Measure the outer crossbeams to mark the position of the 2-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot louvers. Measure in 6 inches from the end of an outer crossbeam and make a mark. Mark every 6 inches across the beam, you should have 11 evenly spaced marks. These are the center points for your louvers. Repeat with the back outer beam.
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7
Lay the 2-by-4-by-8-inch boards from beam to beam on their narrow edges. Align by centering over the marks. Leave 1 foot of board protruding over the beams, front and back. Secure with hurricane clips and galvanized nails.
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8
Measure down 12 inches from the bottom of each support beam on the outside face of the post and mark it. Measure and mark five more 12 inch intervals on each post. Secure the braces for the vines at these intervals across the outside faces of the posts with deck screws. Plant the vine of your choice at each corner of the pergola.
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Tips & Warnings
Use galvanized or stainless bolts, screws and nuts for your project. Corrosion resistant fasteners will not rust and or stain the construction.
Select vines for a pergola according to the type of support you have for them. Tendril type vines may need wires for extra support.
Check the twining stems of wisteria every year to be sure it is not forcing louvers apart on your pergola. Wisteria is a very vigorous climber that needs pruning every year to keep it in check.
Wear safety goggles, gloves and hearing protection when using power equipment.
Using a rented auger to drill holes without knowing where utilities are located may sever sewer, water or power lines. Check with power companies or city building departments to locate any underground utilities.
Untreated wood will not hold up in outdoor applications. Use treated wood that is safe for plants or treat wood with a non-toxic preservative.
