BUILD A PERGOLA

Bring some height and drama to your planting with an easy pergola! Perfect for small gardens to maximise your planting area, they’re a great way to add a shady spot to seating areas, too. This is a day’s job, where you can be getting on with something else while the concrete sets.

1

Dig holes for each of your posts 30cm (1ft) wide and 60cm (2ft) deep. Measure and a ach three of your uprights with their beams using metal bracket clips and screws.

2

Prop your three uprights into their holes. Use a spirit level to check the levels are even and backfill or dig holes as necessary until they are. Use scrap lengths of ba en nailed to the uprights to keep them steady.

3

Use quick-drying Postmix concrete, £3.45 a bag from Homebase. Make the mix and pour in each hole. The ba ens should keep uprights level, but ask a friend to hold each one and check they’re level as you do it.

4

Repeat on the other side and once the posts are set, a ach the cross beams. This will be easier now the frame’s secure. Use brackets and screws or cut out halving joints to nestle and screw into each other.

5

Measure up and a ach all your remaining beams using metal brackets. To give a nice finish and to keep it all secure, use cantilevered cross supports to firm up all your uprights and keep them a ached to the horizontal beams.

6

When it’s all in place, treat and paint your structure with a coloured stain and leave to dry before planting anything. To help some climbers along, try fastening wires or chicken wire around the bo oms of the uprights so they’ve something to grab on to.