A wooden arbour. The very words conjure up an image of gentle charm and relaxation, of peace, quiet and beauty within a lovely garden setting. Small wonder then that wooden arbours are frequently chosen by novelists as the perfect romantic setting in which their lovers can meet. So it抯 hardly more surprising that a wooden arbour is also one of everyone抯 favourite places to sit and read a romantic novel, take refreshments or listen to the buzzing bees. And with so many wooden arbours to choose from, you抎 think there would be no problem in finding the perfect one with which you can live happily ever after. But of course nothing in life ever seems to work out quite as simply as that does it!
But before you start searching on websites for a wooden arbour or paying a visit to your local garden centre or DIY superstore to look at potential wooden arbours, just remember that love isn抰 always at first sight and it pays to think before committing yourself. The first thing to consider about wooden arbours is location in either a sunny or a shady spot and how much seating you need. Then, to imagine how your wooden arbour will look, why not lash some old garden canes together to resemble a rough outline and place this in your chosen spot. Once you抮e happy with the size and location you then need to consider the ideal design style to suit your planting and hard landscaping.
When you start looking in detail at the vast range of wooden arbours on the market, you抣l soon realize that there is something to suit every style, taste and budget. And although they say love is blind, putting a maharajah抯 temple in a small modern garden might not be everyone抯 idea of a match made in heaven. The perfect wooden arbour for you will always look attractive and never out of place at every season of the year and will be one that you won抰 quickly tire of. Many things that look attractive at first sight are quickly tired of and it抯 as true of wooden arbours as it is of just about anything else.
On a purely practical level, consider whether you want a wooden arbour with underseat storage, side or back windows, trellised back and sides for planting up or any other requirement because there really is plenty to choose from. With so many wooden arbours available you could rapidly become swamped if you don抰 have a clear plan. Remember too that lowest price doesn抰 always mean longest life and it抯 worth paying extra for lasting quality. Another consideration is maintenance. All wooden arbours will need a bit of a makeover with passing time, but if you choose wisely, your wooden arbour and you will have a happy relationship that is the envy of the entire neighbourhood and will last for years to come.
