Best Garden Bridges

Archive for the ‘Guide To Backyard Bridges’ Category

There are many styles and materials in which you can choose from when selecting one.

Many often decide to get a garden bridge without putting much thought into the style. They simply want a bridge to go across their pond or cover a rough part of their landscaping. The fact is a garden bridge can be used to liven up the scenery of your landscaping and add to the style of your garden.

There are many styles and materials in which you can choose from. A Victorian-styled bridge can certainly add elegance and charm to any garden and depending upon the material, you can paint in in colors to compliment your flower choices. You may even find the Victorian-style available in wrought iron.

Other styles may be more simple, such as a red-cedar, two-rail garden bridge. These, of course, also add charm to the garden and can be quite economical. Many are now available in maintenance free composite decking, allowing you to enjoy them without having to constantly work to keep them in good condition.

When deciding upon the style you wish to have, take in your surroundings. For example, if you live on a farm type setting and have a big, red barn in the background, work this them into your garden by choosing a covered garden bridge. This will certainly add the country charm to your landscape. Or, if your garden and landscaping has a clean and refined look to it, a more formal garden bridge painted white may be more to your liking.

The most important thing in choosing the style of your garden bridge is to choose one that you will enjoy. Whether you want a more relaxed atmosphere and someplace you can sit close to the pond or a structure to simply separate one area from another, the style of your garden bridge should reflect what atmosphere you are trying to create.

Garden bridges can fit into every sized space and budget.

What gives an outside area that extra touch of glamour and drama?

Many homeowners and businesses utilize professional landscapers, purchase spot lighting and place garden statuary. However, taking the backyard décor to the next level requires a bit more planning. Landscape designers can assess the land’s topography for optimum use of plants, trees, and flower beds. They can also and assist with the logistics of water features such as fountains, waterfalls or ponds. Once those are in place, the finishing touch can be provided by a garden bridge. A decorative bridge adds emphasis to the landscaping, while a traffic bridge allows more intimate garden enjoyment by bringing visitors directly above the flower beds, ponds or waterfalls!

Garden bridges can fit into every sized space and budget. Lengths are available from three to thirty feet, and widths from two to six feet. Garden bridges usually have a low or high arch instead of being straight. Most commonly seen materials are pine or cedar (stained or natural), with some types resistant to decay and insects. For those concerned with upkeep, there are considerations such as maintenance free versions, vinyl posts and railings, and bridges constructed by man-made materials.

Some garden bridges have no hand railings, but most are designed with railings on both sides. Some models are “double railings”, meaning there is another lower horizontal bar for aesthetic appeal or a tyke’s shorter arms! Bridges are even found with decorative chains or ropes replacing the railings. Posts can be widely spread out (in some oriental designs), or spaced close together (like a picket fence). Finials, or decorative shapes, are often seen on the end, or all, posts. Models that utilize ornate latticework in place of posts are available if a buyer wishes to splurge!

For customers who want their garden bridge to be a true focal point, there are fun designs which appear to be “wavy” and downsized versions of “covered bridges” that can be bought or designed for above the walkway.

Smaller wooden garden bridges usually have a 400 pound weight capacity, while longer “trail” or traffic ones handle approximately 2000 pounds.

Dozens of build-it-yourself plans exist for the handy carpenter, but professional garden bridge suppliers take the responsibility of ensuring the end result is safely constructed. Custom garden bridge designers will assure safety as well as unique ownership. However, all garden bridges are artwork that will give enjoyment for decades!

The easiest place to start on a landscape enhancement like a bridge is to decide what you want to do.

I have been contemplating the building of a first class garden bridge for some time now and am writing my thoughts down in hopes of helping anyone who is thinking about improving a piece of land of whatever dimensions in an elegant direction.

The easiest place to start on a landscape enhancement like a garden bridge is to decide what you want to do. What’s your budget? What is the problem you are looking to solve or what are you contemplating? Too many stones? Too much water? Want to enhance your property by adding elegance and comfort? If you are on the web and you see something that interests you, just click. The web is always a good place to start. Be sure to carefully examine the summaries, get into the fine details and choose the most pertinent and appealing. Try to figure out all the steps you are going to take to reach a quality conclusion. What are the possible pitfalls along the way? Make sure you can handle the nitty gritty details that are likely to pop up without prior warning.

When considering constructing anything, you have to be sure of your game plan and the equipment you are going to use and work with. Possible construction materials have to be considered. They determine the final look and aesthetic value of the project. Will it be made of steel, wood, brick, stone or something else? What sort of custom detail do you want to add? For example, a bench to sit on and enjoy the view, especially on a nice, breezy day, would be a quality architectural addition. So would be an overhead canopy.

Checking out other neighborhood landscape enhancements to help organize your thoughts and to get some practical ideas can always be a positive experience. Think and plan. That’s the game especially about points that you feel are important. Make a check list of things you want to be sure you understand and need to get right. Finally, the total joy of inspecting an elegant garden bridge that has been completed is an experience that people remember for a long time. After all, a bridge of beauty is a link to enjoy into the future. Think about it.

Creating a rustic yet stylish garden bridge using pine logs is easy and will add so much character to your your yard.

For the average handyman, building bridges seems to be a daunting task. Yet, when using pine logs, half the work is already done. Pine logs do not need reinforcement across small spans, so all you will need is enough logs to cover the distance of the bridge.

A number of simple tools are all that are needed for this project. You will need a chain saw, a tape measure, carriage bolts, and a heavy duty drill with a bit to drive the carriage bolts into the wood.

First, you will need to determine how long and how wide of a bridge you wish to build. This will tell you how many feet of logs you will need. Eight foot logs are the easiest to work with.

A four foot span makes the work simple and allows you to use less logs. You will need two logs cut to the length you wish the main portion of the bridge to be. Four logs will need to be cut to the height off the surface plus two feet to bury in the ground. If building over water, these should be at least two feet above the water surface. On each end of the bridge, you will need two ramp logs, which will serve to gradually incline to the main body of the bridge.

Begin by digging holes for each of the four upright supports. The holes should be at least 24 inches deep. Line the bottom of the holes with rocks and/or gravel. Keep the support log straight and level as you backfill the hole.

Lay each of the rails logs over the support logs, centering the ends over the supports. Use the drill and carriage bolts to attach the logs together. Next, lay out the ramp rails, again centering the end to butt against the bridge rails on the support log. Attach rails with carriage bolts.

Now that the supports are complete, lay each of your span logs side by side, starting from the ground level end of the ramp support. Each log will require a carriage bolt on each end. Once you’ve completed adding all logs from end to end, your next task will be to add a hand rail if desired. To do this, repeat the procedure for constructing the main part of the bridge, adding a post in the center for stability.

This is a great weekend project that will add beauty and style to your garden, yard or small pond. It will be strong and study and should give you many years of enjoyment.

A garden bridge can “bridge” together your garden and your own unique personality and style, to create a garden that is truly-Yours!

Your have planned the layout of your garden with care. You’ve made sure to include plenty of your favorite plants and flowers. You even ‘fussed’ over selecting just the right accessories to decorate your garden with. . Why did you go to so much trouble to create your garden? You did so because you wanted your garden to be: Yours- a true reflection of you and your hopes and dreams. You’ve worked hard, yet find that there is still a small- gap between the look and feel of your garden and the full-essence of your personality. Why not bridge this gap between the two with the addition of a garden bridge that allows your personality to “boldly” stand-out in your garden?

They can be placed within a garden and used in two different manners depending upon your desires. Made available in a variety of styles and constructed using various materials to make it easier for you to find the one that best represents your personality and own sense of style. One manner of use involves a small unit meant for decorative purposes only. With this you might place a small plant or yard ornament atop the bridge that draws your attention to it. The other manner in which they can be used is as a functional bridge that provides a raised walkway over a garden or even a pond within the garden for a splendid and unique view of your garden.

Does your budget only allow for a small bridge but you want to jazz it up a bit? Put it in the center of your garden pond and rig it to function as a fountain, place a low-cost, solar-powered light nearby to cast a glow on it to make your garden bridge fountain visible, even at night. Or use outdoor paint and stenciling to inscribe ‘inspirational statements’ such as: “Love and Compassion bridges all Differences” on your garden bridge. If budgeting isn’t a concern, consider installing multi-colored lighting on, under, and around yours to cast a multi-colored glow about your whole garden at night. You might also consider adding other accessories to it to make it more functional or to lend more of your personality to it.

They can be used throughout your yard for other purposes besides crossing small streams or ponds.

Many may consider a garden bridge as a means to traverse a pond or other body of water. However, innovative garden landscaping can allow a small bridge to be used in unique ways such as an alternative for a step into a tiered garden.

Several manufacturers provide pre-built versions in a variety of widths and lengths and some of these bridge structures can be obtained for less than $100.

Choices include Teak, Bamboo, Cedar, and Redwood to name but a few. The construction of a stone bridge can add an old world charm to a garden, but typically is not a time friendly option due to the need for onsite construction.

Time is such a harsh taskmaster which is why the purchase of a pre-manufactured garden bridge if often the best choice for conscious consumers.

Your landscape might be more traditional, or it might be a Japanese style garden. Some will develop a landscape design centered around a customized pond. In all cases there are bridge structures that can be drop shipped directly to your location fully assembled and ready for placement.

Traditional style bridges are designed with and without handrails based entirely on the custom of the bridge design. For example, a traditional Japanese garden bridge most likely would be devoid of hand rails while European influenced garden bridge designs would contain intricate handrail designs.

The cost of these structures varies widely and it is not out of the realm of possibility that you might pay as much as $2,000 or more based on the size requirements you are after. You might also look for outlets that provide free shipping due to the significant weight of the wooden structure. You most likely will find that the price will be a bit higher for those items with free shipping, but it may be a good idea to compare the overall price in either scenario.

Whether you are looking for a small bridge as an accent or a larger bridge to allow comfortable access to portions of your landscape, a fully assembled bridge may be the easy alternative that allows you to take your landscaping dreams to the next level.

If you are trying to think of a way to spruce up your landscaping, why not consider decorative bridge?

The fact is many individuals use bridges to add that something extra to their yards and find that it is easy to do and the end result was better than they expected.

If you have a pond already in your backyard or garden, a garden bridge will help you to bring attention to it and provide you with a peaceful spot in which you can relax. If you don’t have a pond, consider adding one. However, if a pond is not what you want, you can add a garden bridge to a rough landscape and use it as an entry from one area to another.

When you decide to add a bridge to your landscape, you’ll want to sit down and think about the options. Knowing what the purpose of your garden bridge is will help you to decide upon the style and materials. Is it for looks only and you want to decorate with flowering vines? Or is it for a tranquil place to sit?

You’ll also need to decide whether you want to purchase one or have one built by a professional or yourself. You’ll find many on the market with a wide variety of styles and materials available. If you decide to build one on your own, you’ll find that you can find many styles to choose from online. You’ll also find you save a ton of money and will love showing off the work you accomplished.

When you decide to improve your landscape with a bridge, you are doing yourself a great service. A garden bridge can provide comfort and class to any garden setting, whether it is placed over a pond or rough terrain. Either way, it is a sure way to liven up your landscaping.