How do I make a pergola &greenhouse for a yard with west setting sun?
by
Tanya
I serious need shade for the West side of our house. It has 4 French doors, and patio with the blazing heat of the West setting sun. A green house to grow vegetables in would be a dream come true, we are semi rural and over run by local "johnson" grass which is invasive. So gardening is a nightmare, and the ground under a pergola needs serious thought
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All things that can be addressed one by one. For your French doors, you can use blackout type curtains during the summer months and switch to something more sheer during the winter months when you want the sun.
Here are a bunch of free pergola plans:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a760/how-to-build-a-pergola-plans/
https://www.familyhandyman.com/garden-structures/how-to-build-a-pergola/view-all/
https://morningchores.com/pergola-plans/
Here are a bunch of greenhouse plans too:
https://morningchores.com/greenhouse-plans/
To prevent grass from growing in your garden, add a border or build raised beds.
Vinegar kills grass and is cheap, $2 a gallon at Costco, Sam's Club or restaurant supply houses. Apply liberally in the sun and it will be gone quick.
Tackle one project at a time and before you know it, these will be crossed off your to do list, just in time for more to be added!!! 🌞
Hi Tanya, if you like copper pipe, sharkbite connectors, brick and Bamboo Shades [or Burlap with Velcro Glued On, recommended] you can make a great sized pergola for less than $800. You dig holes, drive the pipes into the holes, stack bricks in small squares or shapes of your choice with 4 to 6 bricks each level around the pipe, mortar each level and stack these at least 12 levels high, up to 20 levels. [No fewer than 320 bricks]
You build these 4 times, once at each corner.
Then once that mortar is pretty much set, you level the pipes to the center of the brick forms, secure them, and pour concrete in the brick to hold the pipe to be level.
After those 4 are done you need elbows 90° to place, these preferably create so your Top [Bamboo Shade or Burlap with Velcro Glued on it] has the area which has the Strings facing east.
You then place your 2 Connecting pipes into those elbows. Connect these all up with Sharkbite Connectors and voila, all you need to do is place your top onto the crosspipes, and if you really want, you can get pebble stone to make floor.