Do you have plans for a approximately 8' x 4' outside arbor for orchids?

Question

I live in FL.

Answer 1

I figured an excellent pergola/trellis/arbor that is very inexpensive to build.

You buy 6 of those yard timbers that are round in two sides, and a single bundle of wall lath (pressure treated) four giant nails and a batch of little galvanized nails 1 1/5 to two inches long.

You lay out a rectangle 3x5 feet and dig four narrow holes just under 3 ft deep but all the same depth.

Then you place in 4 yard timbers with the curved sid the short way, and make sure they are in straight, and pack the holes tight.

Then you can lay the other posts across the top so it sticks out 1 1/2 feet each side, You then drill holes to match the big nails and pound them in the top. The cross posts should now be aligned and parallel, and the bottoms just over 6 feet high.

You then cut the bundle of rough lath exactly in half making two bundles about 4' long.

By putting them tight against each other (laying flat) and nailing in every third one they should come out just about perfect with 4 left over. These you nail in an x pattern on the close uprights, to stiffen the whole setup.

I have three of them in a row and it looks really good, and cost about $25 each , they have been up for 6-7 years and are doing fine. I have big pots with plants between the legs and hanging pots in the trellises.

You could put another pair of posts lower and have a seat or table, but I have not done that.