Pergola Blog
Pergola Blog
The Pergola Blog is my mini-journal. It lets you know:
- When new web pages and updates are available on the site.
- Keeps you up-to-date with new postings or news. It might be a new pergola plan, a not-to-be-missed, fantastic offer on a particular tool, or beautiful plant that I really must tell you about!
- Gives information on landscaping projects that I have done for clients, which will give you an insight into pergola designs and ideas, or garden landscaping in general.
- Lets you know when my 'Love Gardening' Ezine articles are sent out (in case you don't like to give your e-mail address, or through over-filtering, causing you to miss an issue)!
To subscribe to my Pergola Blog (no e-mail address necessary):
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If you are not sure what RSS and blogging is all about, click on the '?' next to where it says 'Subscribe To My Blog Posts'.
Once you start, you will be amazed at how RSS delivers the information you want to see.
Garden Furniture Products
Cool and contemporary or fun and funky. Ideas for using garden furniture products to enhance your outdoor living space.
Fantastic Pergola Offers
Here are the latest updated garden bargains and voucher codes. Finding fantastic pergola offers and gardening discounts can mean big savings!
Pergola Swing Bench
Brian asked how to build an hexagonal pergola with a swing bench. Any pergola style can have a cosy and romantic hanging bench adorning its rafters. Get ideas here....
Alan's Patio Pergola
We wanted a more shady place on our patio, so with the help of your plans we amalgamted a few of the designs and built this. All made from green oak,
Canopy for a Pergola
I need a canopy for a pergola to provide shade. What's the best way to achieve this?
Attached Lean-to Pergola
An attached lean-to pergola, entry pergola, or canopy can be a fabulous extension to your home. Build your own or find a lean-to pergola kit here.
Metal Pergola Kits
Choose a fabulous metal pergola kit in a variety of designs and styles. Find ideas for metal canopies and arches too, including the rust-free, modern, aluminium pergola canopy...
Budget Friendly Popadome Fruit Cages
These are interesting!
Reasonably priced pop-up cages to stop understandably tempted birds, rabbit and other critters taking a nibble at your succulent and hard worked-for produce. They seem ideal, especially if a full-blown fruit cage is a bit out of the question at the moment.
The larger fruit cages are very handy, as they have more height and come in interesting and varied styles, but they do require quite a bit of space. It all depends on budget and size of plot.
If you 'grow your own' in the ground or in raised beds, these handy, easy to install cages might be worth a look!
Beautiful Garden Furniture!
As a new addition this year to their more formal circular and rectangular dining sets, this gorgeous Southwold garden furniture has a more relaxed style than their previous sets in the same range; and isn't it just amazing! It is rare to find an outdoor table at this height, so this feature makes it even more special; your seating area becomes a truly relaxing space.
Quintessentially English country garden, each piece is hand etched to give a unique verdigris patina, and the finish means the furniture is not only beautiful but also rust-proof and durable.
Even though considerably more expensive than your average garden furniture, it will last for many years to come, and will definitely give your garden the wow factor it deserves.
The constituent parts of the set can be mixed and matched to give your ideal combination so, for example, if you would like two sofas rather than a sofa and two chairs you can have these pieces. All can be ordered separately.
Blissful relaxation!
My Asian Style Pergola (Almost!)
I purchased the Asian Style Pergola plan from this web-site and it is well worth the money. You do have to read it a few times to fully understand the
The Most Popular Pergola Kit Of Last Season
This beautiful metal pergola was a real hit last season and is set to be just as popular this time around. Handmade and timeless, it is both elegant and functional.
The canopy adds an airy feel, while protecting against the sun. It comes as part of a collection with dining sets to match perfectly, making your patio a very special place to be.
Continue reading "The Most Popular Pergola Kit Of Last Season"
An eBay Code Worth Having!
Here's the discount code. Just apply to your basket at checkout. Happy days!
Amazing Tulip Combinations!
What a fantastic way of creating a tulip planting scheme. So many beautiful ideas brought to life in a vase!
On offer at the moment as collections in small or large packs.
Be inspired. It's worth a look if you love your tulips.
Pergola Pictures
Pergola pictures can be a great source of inspiration! Take a look at some fabulous DIY pergola and pergola kit ideas.
Modern Pergola Bracket Kit
Use this pergola bracket kit to build a modern, individually styled pergola in less than a day with this easy and affordable system!
Carl's Modern Cottage Small Garden Makeover
Carl loves colourful borders and a tidy lawn, so something needed to be done! In such a small garden design is key.
Here's how we did it...
Continue reading "Carl's Modern Cottage Small Garden Makeover"
Our Quiet Spot In The Garden
We have a dining room that opens out on to hard standing which although nice on its own needed a bit of smartning up. If you opened the doors when it was
Raised Beds
There are some fantastic new designs in raised beds. Here are some ideas for using them to make your garden look amazing!
Sleek and Sensational - The New Look Metal Raised Beds
What a find these were! Just had to share them with you.
So beautiful, especially if you're creating a modern, sleek garden design...and, being powder coated, they more or less maintenance free.
So many exciting things to think about. Why not create a striking raised bed with bold, architectural planting, a home grown veg patch with a difference, or even a stunning water feature. The possibilities are endless.
Continue reading "Sleek and Sensational - The New Look Metal Raised Beds"
The Perfect Wedding Bower
Pergolas and arches are fantastic accessories for your wedding day.
How beautiful is this?
Sammy asked about using the free pergola plans for her wedding bower. There are many ways you can make your wedding day or reception just stunning. Here are a few ideas....
Metal Furniture With Serious Style
I've shown these on my website for a little while now (they have been very popular with my readers), so if you haven't seen them yet, it's worth taking a look!
What a truly stunning outdoor dining area they make. Created in an aged verdigris, they add a softness and charm to any garden. Partnered with pale pink and soft purples blooms, grey-green foliage, pastel cushions and throws, they sit perfectly in harmony, as if they have hosted many a gathering, over many a year.
There are uniquely styled metal pergolas too, both the pergolas and dining sets giving the garden a wonderfully magical touch.
It's so good to see these new and innovative designs coming on to the market!
Pergola Height
Find the ideal pergola height, with maximum and minimum post lengths, and how to raise your lean-to pergola height
A New Modern Pergola
Here's a new one just in today: an attractive modern pergola called 'The Cube', with clean lines and a sturdy build it's just perfect for the contemporary garden.
Nik & Helen's Corner Pergola
We built our pergola using the corner pergola plans, just adjusted the measurements to fit the space. As our ground is full of massive rocks we couldn't
Thompson & Morgan Offer
I recently placed an order with Thompson & Morgan and they’ve given me an exclusive discount to share.
It's a good discount of 20% off all plants, bulbs and seeds on your first order, when you place your order from my referral (I get something, too, but I'm not sure what yet!). It's only for plants, bulbs and seeds not already on offer.
They seem to be having a lot of interesting promotions on their website at the moment, so I may be posting more soon.
Just click on the picture and we'll see how it goes!
Enjoy!
Pergola Styles
Inspiration for lots of pergola styles, with ideas including the free pergola plans, the additional pergola plans and many pergola kits...
Gorgeousness This Summer Just Got A Whole Lot Easier!
Easyplanter baskets and tubs are a clever new idea this year, especially for those of us who like instant gratification.
No mess. No fuss. Just beauty!
Pergola Hammock
A pergola hammock can be great fun and relaxing too! Explore ideas on different types and styles to suit your garden.
Pergola Planting Hanging Baskets
I've shown you mine. Now you can upload pictures of your hanging baskets and tell us about them. It'll be fun! We'll be looking at the different types of container and how to plant up, too...
Garden Design Questions
This garden design question is about being overwhelmed by an over-run garden. Make your garden makeover manageable and enjoyable by using these easy ways to organise your garden makeover.
Climbing Roses
Advice on beautiful climbing roses to grow over your pergola or garden structure for colour and scent.
Wooden Pergola Kits
Get ideas for different wooden pergola kits. Be inspired by some wonderful designs and styles, and find out where to buy your pergola kit.
Vinyl Pergola Kits
Vinyl pergola kits and other plastic products are becoming more popular today because of their 'maintenance free' characteristics. Find further information and ideas here...
Hanging Chair
Great ideas for a hanging chair, to make your outdoor space into a fun and interesting place to relax, with suggestions for a patio canopy swing seat and wooden hanging bench...
Outdoor Beanbag
Fun and funky or classy and elegant. Relax in the garden with an outdoor beanbag. Find which colour and style are right for your outdoor living space.
Pergola Questions and Answers
Do you have pergola questions about constuction, beautiful climbing plants or using wonderful accessories? Find out what others have asked, with the answers to their questions...
Fabulous Attached Lean-To Pergola
Pam and Brian sent over this photo of their fantastic attached lean-to pergola, and what a brilliant job they made!
These are the original plans. It's easy to see how they come from the same plan, although the plans can be adapted to make any lean-to pergola of any size or shape.
It shows how they adapted the plans to create something that fitted perfectly in their space.
It has created this amazing outdoor room attached their house, one I'm sure they use a lot, right through from spring to autumn for relaxing and parties!
See other pergolas that have been built from the plans. There are some really impressive ones...
Pitched Roof Hexagonal Pergola
How to build a stunning pitched roof hexagonal pergola with gorgeous angled rafters from the plans! Use for entertaining, garden features or attached to the house...
Triangular Pergola
How to adapt the corner pergola plans to build a fantastic triangular pergola based on the original design.
James's Pergola Pictures
James built this excellent pergola and shared a picture with us. Doesn't it look great!
We often know, when setting out on our pergola building project, whether we are going to use a pergola kit, or go the whole hog and get down and dirty in the sawdust.
Often we can find pergola kits to suit, and if you'd rather put something up rather than making from scratch, a pergola kit can save time, and be an ideal solution.
Building your own may be more up your street, though - the challenge, the sweat...! And, of course, there are those awkward to fit spaces, which is where a DIY pergola comes into its own. In which case, use either the free pergola plans, or the arbour pergola plans.
So if you wanted a similar manufactured pergola kit to James's DIY pergola, here is that very one.
It comes as a standard pergola, an arch, a pergola with deck, and with attached trellis, too.
Even though most people would use this as a patio pergola in their garden, this one is shown as a walkway. Imagine it with flowering roses and clematis climbing over the rafters. Beautiful. And the smell!
Exciting New Pergola Pictures!
Wow, isn't this great! We've had five new pergolas recently.
Tony and Chris's corner pergolas (both from the same plan, but very different), Jeff's oriental-style Asian pergola with gorgeous curved rafters, and Kevin's gone for the double with the superb attached lean-to patio pergola, shown here, and a beautifully crafted seated arbour in the garden (he's been a very busy man!)
What a fantastic achievement.
They should all be very proud!
Tips For Building Your Corner Pergola
Firstly, the work hurdles as I saw them.. • I had a really bad and unproductive corner of the garden to fill but the corner is not a right-angle,
Beautiful Metal Hanging Bench
What about this for a hanging bench!
I came across it when I was looking for interesting accessories for my metal pergola page. A few cushions, a throw, maybe a parasol, and there we are in Pride and Prejudice. (Mr. Darcy, eat you heart out!)
One of the best things about this bench - apart from it being ever so romantic! - is the fact that it is plastic dip-coated (so no rust staining the crinoline).
Metal can be fashioned into such intricate designs, and this is the epitome of traditional beauty.
Now...exactly where could I hang one of these, do you think?
Kevin's Lean-To Pergola
If you'd like to build Kevin's lean-to pergola, or one similar, and create a fantastic outdoor room in your own back yard, here's how to do it, with the pergola plans for beginners!
Pergola Planting - Hydrangeas
The pergola planting series looks at how to make your pergola and patio absolutely magnificent! Here we cover the care and pruning of hydrangeas for maximum blooms...
Proud Pergola Owners
We were very impressed by the plans on your website and sent off for the Asian Pergola plans. We have an excellent carpenter who followed them to
New Lean-to Pergola Kits!
If you'd like a fabulous outdoor room for a fantastic price, these pergola kits might be just the job!
Lean-to pergolas and canopies are two most popular designs at the moment. Lots of people ask me to recommend pergola kits in these styles (or how to build their own!), where they can relax in the sun and have BBQs with friends.
I came across these the other day. They are well-made, with sturdy posts, planed and treated timber and well balanced rafter tail ends. Of course, being manufactured pergola kits, all the cutting and notching is done for you, which is handy.
We all like a bit of instant gratification occasionally, and this pergola could be up in half a day - certainly with the smaller sizes...
...and the range of sizes is quite amazing! They start at around 6 ft in length, and the largest I could find was 21 ft. The width varies too - giving lots of choice. (Size is often the main issue with pergola kits, but there are so many here that one is sure to fit.)
The most surprising part was the price - need a good quality, cheap pergola to transform your garden instantly...go for it!
Beautiful Swing Seat for an Arbour or Pergola!
If you are thinking of building a lean to pergola, or swinging arbour, one of these wooden swing seats is just the job.
They are not always easy to get hold of. I found this one, with the metal arm rests when I was searching for other pergola 'stuff', but, because of the time of the year, this example is no longer available, although there is this entirely wooden pergola bench (a little more like Jeff's in the picture below) in either 4ft or 5ft lengths.
They make fantastic porch and patio swings. Everyone will want a go! They really are a heavenly place to relax.
Jeff attached one to his lean to pergola, and it looks a treat. You may have seen it already.
He made the area very special by using interesting accessories and furniture, lighting, a patio heater and souvenirs from his holidays...and the hanging patio swing. Of course, the bench swing is the main attraction!
Lots of people have asked about making a swinging arbour. It's fairly plain sailing, really. Build an arbour from the free pergola plans or the arbour pergola plans, and then, instead of putting a seat inside the abour...
...hang the swing instead. Easy Peasy!
For other interesting hanging chairs in fabric and rattan......
Continue reading "Beautiful Swing Seat for an Arbour or Pergola!"
Recent Articles
-
Garden Furniture Products
Apr 24, 24 11:23 AM
Cool and contemporary or fun and funky. Ideas for using garden furniture products to enhance your outdoor living space. -
Fantastic Pergola Offers
Mar 06, 24 08:47 AM
Here are the latest updated garden bargains and voucher codes. Finding fantastic pergola offers and gardening discounts can mean big savings! -
Pergola Swing Bench
Feb 17, 24 08:17 AM
Brian asked how to build an hexagonal pergola with a swing bench. Any pergola style can have a cosy and romantic hanging bench adorning its rafters. Get ideas here....
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