Arches in the garden landscape

The issue of upgrading and decorating a suburban area is not at all from the category of lungs. Sometimes landscapes twist serious puzzles, which can only be solved by including imagination and introducing exclusive elements.

The most prominent representatives of the latter are garden arches. They can be made of the most unusual shapes and placed in the most unexpected places. We will talk about these interesting architectural inclusions today.

What is it, a garden arch?

The arch is not only unique, but also diverse in its functional. It can be both a pearl of landscape design, and an effective component of landing compositions. As for the functional, the arch can serve:

1. Support for plants.

2. A bright stylistic stroke of the general architectural design of the site.

3. Strengthening and supporting the supporting pillars (refers to the structures located above the wicket).

4. The delimiting and zoning element.

5. A frame base for hanging a hammock or arranging a swing.

6. A kind of lamppost, etc.

Of what garden arches are designed

From what to make an arch, decide, proceeding from the reasons of harmony of a combination of a material with the general designer’s vision of a variant of finishing of territory as a whole. The design should fit into the decor of the yard and garden decor.

Deficiency in proposals is not observed. It remains only to analyze the pros and cons of each.

Wooden arches

“Garden arches made of wood do not tolerate wind loads: they can be twisted or even knocked down altogether”

Wooden arches refer to traditional models. Designs of wood like for the relative simplicity in the manufacture, the ability to variously decorate them and cheap. Wooden arch is easy to adapt to almost all styles. It can be weaved from rods or collected from sawn timber.

Of shortcomings in the first place is a short service life. Next comes the need for enhanced protection from decay and light weight. Even the garden arches made of wood are poorly tolerated by wind loads: they can warp or even fall down altogether.

Metal arches

The element is durable and durable. It occurs in a welded version and more prestigious – forged. The structures are massive and stable, but are afraid of corrosion, so they need regular renewal of the protective layer of varnish or paint.

Stone arches

Very solid and almost eternal structures, though not applicable in the designs of small gardens and ridiculously looking against the background of simple wooden houses. Their appearance in these cases will bring with it proportional and stylistic disharmony. To put such monumental garden arches will have to look for a skilled mason.

A stone of any kind can go into work:

1. Natural.

2. Artificial.

3. Brick.

Laying can be left in its original form or plastered.

Plastic arches

“When choosing a plastic garden arch, be sure to inquire about the frost resistance of the model”

These designs are from the modern category. They are relatively inexpensive, durable and do not need care. In the operational plan, you will not find more attractive offers.

Plastic arches are produced in assortment and stylistic diversity. In terms of color, everything is not so rosy, although the most popular shades can be found. When choosing a plastic garden arch, be sure to inquire about the frost resistance of the model. You will know whether it is possible to leave this decor element for wintering on the street or the construction will have to be hidden somewhere in the back rooms.

Combined arches

To the mixing of materials resorted, if necessary, to strengthen the alliance of the useful properties of the structure or to make it more expressive. Good looks and long serves the arch with a concrete or stone base, crowned with a vault from the budget tree. Massive structures are not afraid of winds, contact with the ground.

Forms of arches

Arched constructions in modern design differ in the form of the arch. He can be:

1. The arc-shaped.

2. Gable (like a roof).

3. Straight line.

If you need non-standard solutions, then you can install round garden arches that will add to the surrounding space creativity, or semi-arches. The latter are a great way to decorate narrow alleys or passages along the fence.

How to assemble the arch with your own hands

The arch can be constructed from such lumber as cedar, pine, pressed wood, finished sets of processed wood, or go looking for timber, boards and slats for an individual project on a local sawmill. From tools it is necessary to arm with a jig saw, a circular saw, a drill and a screwdriver.

To attach to the pillars of the head crossbeams, on their tops are cut grooves for fastening.

The assembly of the construction starts from the top. After fixing the crossbars, the space beneath them is decorated with semicircular overlays.

Installation of garden arches occurs by digging into the ground. For better stability, the depth of the wells must be at least 70 centimeters. The underground part is treated with rotting preventing compounds and covered with a waterproof resin layer. Having established an arch, organize temporary lateral supports and fall asleep in pits rubble. Pouring of concrete is carried out only after control of the standing vertical produced by the plumb. The above-ground part of the structure is treated with stain or covered with wood varnish.

Make sure that the lumber used for work is well dried, otherwise there is a risk of serious deformation of the creation of your hands.

Where to put the arch?

Garden arches – this is just the element of decor, which alone will be “in the field of a warrior.” Separately installed structures will become a very effective point accent and at the same time it does not matter where they will be used: at the entrance to private territory or on the open spaces of the site. From them it will be possible to “dance” as from a stove, creating a unique design for the rest of the landscape.

It will look good arch on the garden path, especially if the latter passes through a green lawn. Make it bright, conspicuous, can be snow-white. On a green background this will look just gorgeous.

Under the canopy of garden arches, twined by plants, you can equip a cozy swing. A series of such designs can also be arranged along the central alley or make a decorative element in a single copy and send it to the secret secluded corner of the site. Beautiful and functional, because it protects from heat, calms nerves and gives pleasure to pastime on a soft sofa.

Do you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages? Then think about the garden arches made of stone. The landscape composition will be truly fascinating and even a bit mystical.

A separate sub-point is to allocate the justification for using arches when decorating fences in their entrance area, because it is from here that the tone of the rest of the territory begins to be set.

Arched integration

“Modern decorative garden arches are distinguished by expressiveness of color and scope of dimensions”

Adding arches can not only the entrance gates, but also the decorative fence that delimits the garden, and it is absolutely not necessary that both parts of the composite solution be made of an identical material. On the contrary, in such garden arches the game of invoice contrasts is valuable.

Integration of the bench will be justified in an arch-shaped arched structure made of wrought iron. This will add the latest stiffness and aesthetics. Added to the composition of the pillow and the lantern suspended under the roof, will enable you to have a great evening.

Unusually it will look like an arch in the porch area. The facade of the house immediately acquires a prestigious appearance.

It is possible to integrate additional elements into the design of the arch itself. This move allows us to extend the functional of the construction. The most successful symbiosis with flower containers. The weight of the boxes with the earth gives the light garden arches the desired stability.

Decorative elements from this category can replace trellises in the flowerbed. More original supports for flowers and look for it is not necessary. Not less relevant here will be elegant arches made of fine metal. With their appearance, the flowerbed becomes a two-level, which automatically makes it a unique part of the landscape.

The openings of the arched form with a vegetative decoration in the enclosing garden, the wall, will contribute to the perception of the landscape as pictures.

Modern decorative garden arches are distinguished by the expressiveness of color and scope of dimensions. They do not just set the pattern of space rhythm, they open the prospect of its development in a new quality. This is a non-standard reception for decorating a suburban area, however, now it is in service with every designer.

When integrating arches into the landscape of the garden, one must take into account the proportionality of their dimensions. For example, for simply a portal composition or a selection of a rest corner, the height and width will not be so important, but if the task of the garden arches emphasizes the beauty of a fountain or a sculptural group, their proportions are selected from such a calculation that the so-called “frame effect” removal.

The depth of the arch is directly related to its immediate purpose. In supporting structures, it is usually minimal. If it is planned to place any zone under it, that is, use the object’s arch as a roof, and the space below it as a playground or a relaxation zone, then the arch will have to be made deep enough and better openwork, rather than monolithic. The last point is the guarantee of good illumination of space inside the architectural form. And yet this technique will not turn the deep garden arches into draft tunnels.

Than green arched elements

Living decor for the arch should be perennials from the class of curly, which in their weaves have beautiful curls of unusual shape. The design can be safely issued:

– Climbing rose;

– Clematis;

– sweet peas;

– Honeysuckle;

– Chinese magnolia vine;

– grapes;

– hop.

Conclusion

Garden arches are the most aesthetic elements of landscape design. Their presence will not only accentuate the beauty of the garden, but fill its space with some mystery. Do not miss the chance to make its territory particularly attractive.

Photo gallery – garden arches

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Author: Mikhail Bond

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