Wooden or aluminum pergola for the garden?

A well-kept garden is the perfect place to catch your breath after a hard day. If you have climbing plants in your garden, it is worth using a garden pergola to support them.

Use of pergola

The pergola is a very functional element of small garden architecture, it is used mainly to support plants such as, among others:

• grapes,
• ivies,
• climbing roses,
• clematis.

The best height of a garden pergola is 2.5-3 m, and the width should be adjusted to individual needs. Garden pergolas can be divided into:

• simple – finished at the top with simple bolts;
• arched – finished with an arch at the top;
• with a simple structure – consist only of structural beams;
• of complex construction – they have for example: benches, platforms, flower pots or other additional structural elements;
• free-standing – the most popular, the pergola is an independent building;
• adjacent to the house – the pergola has one wall in common with the building, with which it creates an interesting and practical structure. Such a place can be used for example to park a car.

>> See also: TOP 5 most popular plants for pergolas

With the help of the pergola you can:

• create very interesting arrangements in the garden, such as walkways, tunnels;
• hide unattractive elements in the garden such as gas meter;
• create a place to rest – in stores there are garden pergolas with benches;
• create a place to store small garden tools;

Wooden pergola

Wooden pergolas are very popular, mainly due to their price. The most popular are tall wooden trellises that are climbed by plants. A wooden pergola can have a classic or modern look.

When buying garden pergolas, it is advisable to choose those impregnated under pressure, because the impregnator is then better absorbed by the wood, and thus the protection is more effective.

Metal pergolas

Metal pergolas are usually made of weather-resistant alloys, the most expensive are those galvanized. If the structure has not been protected by the manufacturer, it is worth painting it with anti-corrosion paint.

Differences between metal and wooden pergola

Wood and metal are the two most popular materials for building pergolas. Each of them should be additionally impregnated, thanks to which the construction will be more resistant to changing weather conditions.

The most important differences between the materials are:

• resistance – galvanized metal pergolas are much more resistant to atmospheric factors than wood;
• cleaning and maintenance – galvanized metal does not require any maintenance, and only a damp cloth is needed for cleaning. Wood requires regular impregnation with high quality preparations;
• appearance – metal pergolas are mainly chosen for modern gardens, where they are part of small garden architecture. The wooden pergola will be perfect for classic gardens;
• price – wooden and metal pergolas are priced very similarly. The most expensive are the galvanized metal ones.

Where is it best to place the pergola in the garden?

The location of the pergola in the garden should always be determined by the plants it is to be planted with. If the pergola is to be planted with roses or clematis, it is advisable to choose the sunniest possible location in the garden. If the pergola is to be planted in the shade, choose ivy or clematis to plant it.

The pergola is part of the small garden architecture, so it should always match the style of the garden. The material of which the pergola will be made should be chosen according to individual needs.