Content
Garden bridges are a charming addition to the decoration of the site. Especially if you are the happy owner of a stream, reservoir or small river.
Such an element of landscape design will help:
- connect two banks, isolated from each other;
- easy to cross the body of water;
- to give the design of the site originality, comfort and completeness.
Of course, the main purpose of the garden bridge is usually considered to be the creation of a passage through a reservoir or a natural ravine. But in modern landscape projects they are used in other roles as well. Some designers use them to accentuate the dividing line of reservoirs, zones or objects. The bridge can act in the project as a natural continuation of the garden path.
This option will add novelty, fabulousness and impressions to the journey around the site. Often, for the best functionality of the garden bridge, a "dry" stream or pond is built.
And to increase creativity, some designers install it just on the lawn, among shrubs and even conifers, use it to attach original lamps, flower containers. In this case, it will add not only beauty, originality, but also completeness to a certain object of landscape design. Photo of bridges in landscape design is striking in its variety.
Varieties of designs
The material for the manufacture of decorative garden bridges can be wood, stone, bamboo, metal, concrete. The main criteria that help make a choice are:
Security... The design of the garden bridge should provide ideal conditions for the people on it. There are certain rules to be followed:
- the frame of the garden bridge must support at least 4 people;
- the base must be mounted on a rigid base (soil, foundation);
- the stability of handrails and railings must be reliable;
- lighting is mounted very high quality;
- be sure to opt for a non-slip flooring material.
Reliability... This characteristic is ensured by the selection of materials and devices, high-quality and regular maintenance, and the treatment of parts of the garden bridge with protective compounds.
Attractiveness... The structure should not be bulky, out of the general picture of the site. On the contrary, carefully selected form, material, color, should harmonize the rest of the objects with each other.
Originality... You can make a design from one or more materials. The combination of textures, shades, shapes is sometimes very extraordinary. But, this only adds zest to your structure.
The forms of structures are so unusual that some doubt their ability to make such a structure with their own hands. But, even the most exquisite garden bridge is made from ordinary, familiar to everyone, materials.
Wooden bridges
The most popular type. The reason is quite understandable. Natural wood fits so harmoniously into any natural landscape that it seems impossible to come up with the best combination. Garden bridges made of wood can be very simple, cheap, small in size.
Or, on the contrary, they can be expensive, bulky and intricate. The great popularity of wooden bridges is provided by such qualities as:
- environmental friendliness;
- ease of installation and disassembly;
- light weight;
- durability (subject to high-quality treatment with antiseptics, impregnations, varnishes).
Most often, garden bridges made of wood are chosen for areas on which there are already buildings - gazebos, baths, benches, a well. It is a very noble and practical material. Fits perfectly into any project, organically combines with buildings made of stone, metal, plastic. The most popular species for the construction of garden bridges are such species as pine, oak, cedar.
Bamboo
Looks great in a Japanese-style garden. You can simply select one eastern zone in the project, and place a bamboo bridge in it. It is good if the site already has a gazebo or a bench using bamboo. Such material will cost more, so it is often used only as a decoration. But to emphasize the oriental flavor, to give lightness and airiness to the structures, he succeeds, as possible, better. Especially when your hanging garden viaduct is decorated with Chinese or Japanese lanterns.
Stone
The most majestic, noble, very long serving, garden bridges. Of course, the choice of the type of stone plays an important role. Marble, granite looks good near a large reservoir. A small or "dry" stream can be beaten with an artificial stone. Building a stone garden bridge is costly. If the stone structure is assembled from large boulders, then the involvement of construction equipment will be required. But such garden bridges look very symbolic. Especially on a site made in medieval or antique style. There are a huge number of options for stone structures, but you can build a garden bridge according to your own design.
Your project will be unique.
Metallic
Such designs, like wooden ones, are very diverse. But, their service life is much longer. You can make a garden bridge from metal in the country with your own hands, or you can buy a finished workpiece. Usually, it consists of curved beams and a metal track. Garden bridges made of metal are great for areas made in the Art Nouveau and Gothic style. If you are an adherent of the romantic style, then the dacha will be decorated with forged, carved, ornamented structures. You can vary the degree of curvature of the railings, the presence of patterns, height. Combine with wooden details to create a unique and unique garden bridge.
You can place it near an elegant flower bed, a luxurious ornamental bush, strict junipers. In any combination, the metal option will look organic. The advantage of such structures is durability, practicality, and undemanding maintenance. The main thing is not to forget that metal is susceptible to corrosion and rust. By taking appropriate preventive measures, you will protect your garden bridge from collapsing.
We build ourselves
Garden bridges made of metal are easier to build. You need to choose the structure you like, assemble and fix it correctly. A more common option, which summer residents make on their own, is a garden bridge made of wood. Try to plan your garden bridge carefully before you get started. It is necessary to determine:
- how it will look;
- where is it better to mount it;
- what material to take.
The most basic elements are supports, spans, fencing and flooring. For supports, you can take logs. They will serve well if the length of the bridge is not more than 2.5 m. If the length is longer, you will have to use intermediate supports.
The span is located between the supports. It can be convex or flat. The arc depends on the purpose of the garden bridge. If people walk on it, then a too convex span will create unnecessary inconvenience. But you should not plant tall plants next to the curved garden bridge.
Fences are made one-sided or double-sided.In addition to the safety function, they serve as the main decoration.
The flooring is laid laterally to the supports. The main requirement for the flooring is that it should not bend and slip.
If the garden bridge is conceived only for practical purposes, then it is located in the right place. When the role of a decorative element is still intended for it, it can be placed in any area of the garden or summer cottage. It is very convenient to place it in a recreation area.
Let's get started
Most often, a decorative garden bridge is mounted near a reservoir. Let's consider how to make a bridge on a pond with your own hands without a lot of time and materials. An important preparatory stage that cannot be neglected is the preparation of the site. This includes strengthening the banks of the reservoir. To do this, make a mound of rubble (or a similar material), which is tamped tightly.
Some craftsmen are inclined to believe that it is better to make a foundation. So, you can reliably protect your pets. For the foundation, ordinary concrete or a solid metal (wood) frame is suitable.
Then they start laying the beams - the basis of the garden bridge. In the place where the bars adhere to the ground, a waterproofing material must be laid, and the tree is treated with an antiseptic, then coated with bitumen (can be replaced with roofing material).
Move on to fixing the bars. For a simple garden bridge, it is enough to lay two beams in parallel so that the base is ready. They must be securely fixed with metal pegs and connected with span bars. The span bars are fastened with metal brackets.
The flooring is made from boards of at least 3 cm thick. They are attached to the longitudinal bars, but across. The pressure bars are placed on top and fixed. At this stage, it is already necessary to determine the way by which you will reduce the slip of the flooring.
As soon as the flooring is ready, the railings are fixed and lighting is carried out. For handrails, vertical wooden beams are most often used. They are fixed along the longest sides of the bridge. A railing is already attached to the top of the vertical bars. This stage in the construction of the garden bridge is also very important. To keep the railings stable, you should not skimp on self-tapping screws or fasteners. The railings are carefully sanded so that they are smooth.
At the final stage, the creation of the design begins. The garden bridge can be decorated with various stylish elements, painted in an extraordinary shade.
And you can beautifully process the tree, leaving its natural color. In any case, your bridge will be great!
Video: we build in one day:
