Popular Post Chet Posted April 19, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 This was my weekend project. Its a redwood pergola for a patio we are adding in the back yard. 6 X 6 posts and 2 X 8 and 2 X 2 for the pergola. We had three large trees along the back wall that gave us some nice shade but they all died about two years ago dew to the drought I am guessing. And because of said drought and not wanting to wait ten years for them to grow we decided to go this route instead of replacing he trees. It took about 20 hours, I know, it would have taken Shane 3 - 5 hours, but I got it done in 2 1/2 days. I have to trim out the bases of the posts and then the patio itself which will be crushed granite. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Nice job, Chet, looks neat. I'm sure there's some kind of drought-tolerant flowering vine that you can plant, and in a few years it will bolster your shade. I think pergolas look cooler covered in foliage too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Very well done Chet! Are you going to cover the top to shed the rain 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 20 minutes ago, Eric. said: Nice job, Chet, looks neat. I'm sure there's some kind of drought-tolerant flowering vine that you can plant, and in a few years it will bolster your shade. I think pergolas look cooler covered in foliage too. WE have been thinking about maybe doing that with Wisteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Nicely done Chet! If memory serves me, you had another thread about duplicating the ends on thos? If that was you, what did you decided to do? I certainly can't tell any difference in them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Kev I did it with my jig saw and your belt sander just as you suggested. There were 14 pieces so 28 ends and it took me about 21/2 - 3 hours, went real well. Also I meant to give credit to my wife in the original post, she ran the chop saw cutting all of the 2 X 2 to length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Looks fantastic Chet ! Id say 20 hours is pretty quick! Good job! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 1 hour ago, Chet K. said: WE have been thinking about maybe doing that with Wisteria. Be careful with wisteria, it tends to take over, Consider grapes...two for one..shade and snacks! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Nice work Chet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Thats a great idea Richard. Do you know if something like that would grow in barrels or does it have to be in the ground. It is going to be a little hard to plant anything right by the post, the footing is 16 inches square and 18 inches deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Looks very nice, Chet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 19, 2016 Report Share Posted April 19, 2016 Chet, look into luffa vines. They grow nice big leaves for shade, the 'fruit' makes those bathtub scrubby things, and they die back in winter, so can't 'take over' like wisteria. Or there's always Kudzu.... the flowers of kudzu are used to make a jelly that tastes like grapes & lavendar. Of course, your entire property will be covered by the end of summer. With a bit of rain, kudzu grows up to 14" per DAY! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 Looks great Chet. +1 to the grape idea. I don't know how well they grow in barrels but they grow very well in general and wouldn't have any trouble bridging the gap if you did plant them in the ground. The grape vines that my dad grow have been known to jump a couple feet between sections of fence. I don't know how our grapes would fare out there though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 The fact that your wife maned the chop saw, kudos ( not to be mistaken with kudzu) to you and your wife! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 2 hours ago, Chet K. said: Thats a great idea Richard. Do you know if something like that would grow in barrels or does it have to be in the ground. It is going to be a little hard to plant anything right by the post, the footing is 16 inches square and 18 inches deep. I can't answer that for you, but a little research should solve that! I live in the boonies, so barrels are not in my flight plan, unless they're full Jack Daniels barrels, that I would have to empty one shot at a time! Willingly! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-MattK- Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 That's a great pergola, Chet! I grew up in San Ramon - not too far from you - we had beautiful mature wisteria growing up a pergola in the backyard, I think it's great for the climate. It was growing next to the pool patio, so I don't think it would be a big deal next to your posts. We didn't have problems with it taking over too much. The only problems I foresee with grapes (or any fruit, really) is if the birds get to them or if you don't get the fruit and it ends up on the ground... it can be a real (sticky) mess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 I wouldn't try to grow a vine big enough to cover a decent amount of that pergola in a barrel . However you could cut a big hole in the bottom of the barrel and let the roots grow down for more room if you just like the look of the barrel. Considering your drought prone area digging and improving the soil in an oversized hole that is much wider and deeper than recommended would be smart. Your hole could be several feet from the post & footing. A vine can easily be trained to reach the post and go up. I built an arbor and planted 2 muscadine vines (wild grape variety) over 25 years ago. Once it got established I haven't had to do much but prune off excess vines that go in the wrong direction. Over 5 gallons of grapes a year per vine plus what all the neighborhood kids eat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtboy Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 Looks great, Chet! Sounds like you have some great ideas above, but I'll add another. Jasmine is another good and easy to care for option. I don't mind admitting I could happily smell jasmine all day! Grows well around here too - have a neighbor who has it wrapped up and over their entire fence, looks and smells amazing. Another neighbor has it climbing up an entry way by their main door. Given the recent rains, may be a good time to plant! We had several things die last season too - bummer. Also - this may be a good resource with some ideas for you: http://www.shadefxcanopies.com/pergola-plants-guide/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 Yea ctjboy we have jasmine in the front yard. I really like it too. Its funny it always seems it needs to be trimmed right at the hight of it's flowering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 9 minutes ago, Chet K. said: Yea ctjboy we have jasmine in the front yard. I really like it too. Its funny it always seems it needs to be trimmed right at the hight of it's flowering. We have the same problem as we have it growing around the mail box and the carrier has allergies. I offered her a dust mask and she left the mail on the ground. No sense of humor what so ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 Do any Government employees have a sense of humor ? Or even any common sense ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 8 hours ago, wdwerker said: Do any Government employees have a sense of humor ? Or even any common sense ? I met one. Just for the humor part though, i can't speak for the common sense part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 20, 2016 Report Share Posted April 20, 2016 8 hours ago, wdwerker said: Do any Government employees have a sense of humor ? Or even any common sense ? My wife is one. She has both. Thanks for the stupid comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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